Parishes constitute the third and most local level of administrative division in Cabo Verde, with 32 parishes distributed across the country's municipalities. These subdivisions primarily serve ecclesiastical and local community organization purposes, reflecting the Portuguese colonial administrative tradition. Parishes function as the smallest recognized territorial units for basic civil registration, religious administration, and community identification. While municipalities handle most governmental services and administrative functions, parishes maintain significance for population census organization, local cultural identity, and coordination of community-level activities. The parish system provides a framework for residents to access certain public services and maintains historical importance in how Cape Verdeans identify their place of origin within their respective islands and municipalities.