The 9 islands of Cabo Verde constitute the country's first-level administrative divisions, forming the primary organizational structure within the nation's three-tier governance system. These islands serve as the foundational units for territorial administration, each functioning with distinct geographic and administrative boundaries that reflect the archipelago's dispersed nature. At this level, governance typically encompasses the coordination of public services, implementation of national policies adapted to local conditions, and management of resources specific to each island's population and infrastructure needs. The island-based division allows Cabo Verde to address the unique logistical and developmental challenges inherent to governing a scattered island nation, with each island serving as an administrative umbrella for the municipalities and civil parishes that comprise the lower levels of the system.