2020 Edition

Background

The Portuguese discovered and colonized the uninhabited islands of Cabo Verde in the 15th century; Cabo Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. The fusing of European and various African cultural traditions is reflected in Cabo Verde’s Crioulo language, music, and pano textiles. After gaining independence in 1975, a one-party system was established and maintained until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cabo Verde continues to sustain one of Africa's most stable democratic governments and relatively stable economies, maintaining a currency pegged first to the Portuguese escudo and then to the euro since 1998. Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result, Cabo Verde's expatriate population -- concentrated in Boston, Massachusetts and Western Europe -- is greater than its domestic one. Most Cabo Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents. Cabo Verde’s population descends from its first permanent inhabitants in the late 15th-century -- a preponderance of West African slaves, a small share of Portuguese colonists, and even fewer Italians and Spaniards. Among the nine inhabited islands, population distribution is varied. The islands in the east are very dry and are home to the country's growing tourism industry. The more western islands receive more precipitation and support larger populations, but agriculture and livestock grazing have damaged their soil fertility and vegetation. For centuries, the country’s overall population size has fluctuated significantly, as recurring periods of famine and epidemics have caused high death tolls and emigration. 

Area

land

4,033 sq km

total

4,033 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Rhode Island

Climate

temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and erratic

Coastline

965 km

Elevation

highest point

Mt. Fogo (a volcano on Fogo Island) 2,829 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Geographic coordinates

16 00 N, 24 00 W

Geography - note

strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; one of four North Atlantic archipelagos that make up Macaronesia; the others are Azores (Portugal), Canary Islands (Spain), and Madeira (Portugal)

Irrigated land

35 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

19.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 12.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 6.2% (2023 est.)

forest

12.4% (2023 est.)

other

68% (2023 est.)

Location

Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active volcanism: Fogo (2,829 m), which last erupted in 1995, is Cabo Verde's only active volcano

Natural resources

salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum

Population distribution

among the nine inhabited islands, population distribution is variable; islands in the east are very dry and are only sparsely settled; the more southerly islands receive more precipitation and support larger populations; approximately half of the population lives on Sao Tiago Island, which is the location of the capital of Praia; Mindelo, on the northern island of Sao Vicente, also has a large urban population, as shown in this population distribution map

Terrain

steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Age structure

0-14 years

26.4% (male 80,973/female 80,129)

15-64 years

67.2% (male 201,084/female 209,676)

65 years and over

6.4% (2024 est.) (male 15,049/female 24,103)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

2.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

4.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

1.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

17.51 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

men married by age 18

1.5% (2018)

women married by age 15

1.8% (2018)

women married by age 18

8.4% (2018)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.2% (2018 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

45% (2021 est.)

Death rate

5.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

9.5 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

10.5 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

48.8 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

39.2 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 82.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 89.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 93.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 17.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 10.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 6.8% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

13.4% national budget (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups

Creole (Mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%

Gross reproduction rate

1.02 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

6.9% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

16.1% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

2 beds/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

18.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male

26.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total

21.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Portuguese (official), Crioulo (a Portuguese-based creole language with two main dialects)

Life expectancy at birth

female

76.7 years

male

72 years

total population

74.3 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

84.1% (2024 est.)

male

92.9% (2024 est.)

total population

88.5% (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

168,000 PRAIA (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio

40 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

29.6 years

male

27.9 years

total

29.3 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Cabo Verdean

noun

Cabo Verdean(s)

Net migration rate

-0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

11.8% (2016)

Physician density

0.73 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Population

female

313,908

male

297,106

total

611,014 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

1.12% (2025 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 72.5%, Protestant 4% (includes Adventist 1.9%, Nazarene 1.8%, Assembly of God 0.2%, God is Love 0.1%), Christian Rationalism 1.7%, Muslim 1.3%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, Church of Jesus Christ 1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 1.2%, none 15.6%, no response 0.4% (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 77.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 89.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 95.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 22.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 10.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 4.4% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2018 est.)

male

13 years (2018 est.)

total

13 years (2018 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.62 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

4.5% (2025 est.)

male

15.3% (2025 est.)

total

9.8% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.08 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.83% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

68% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

22 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Porto Novo, Praia, Ribeira Brava, Ribeira Grande, Ribeira Grande de Santiago, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina do Fogo, Santa Cruz, São Domingos, São Filipe, São Lourenco dos Orgaos, São Miguel, São Salvador do Mundo, São Vicente, Tarrafal, Tarrafal de São Nicolau

Capital

etymology

the earlier Portuguese name was Villa de Praia ("Village of the Beach"); it was shortened to Praia in 1974

geographic coordinates

14 55 N, 23 31 W

name

Praia

time difference

UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Cabo Verde

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

amendment process

proposals require support of at least four fifths of the active National Assembly membership; amendment drafts require sponsorship of at least one third of the active Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership; constitutional sections, including those on national independence, form of government, political pluralism, suffrage, and human rights and liberties, cannot be amended

history

previous 1981; latest effective 25 September 1992

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Cabo Verde

conventional short form

Cabo Verde

etymology

the name derives from the Cape Verde (Green Cape) peninsula on the Senegalese coast, the westernmost point of Africa and the nearest mainland to the islands

local long form

Republica de Cabo Verde

local short form

Cabo Verde

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Jennifer ADAMS (since 10 September 2024)

email address and website

PraiaConsular@state.gov https://cv.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Rua Abilio Macedo 6, Praia

FAX

[238] 261-1355

mailing address

2460 Praia Place, Washington DC 20521-2460

telephone

[238] 260-8900

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Jose Luis do Livramento MONTEIRO ALVES DE BRITO (since 23 December 2020)

consulate(s) general

Boston

email address and website

embassy.wdc@mnec.gov.cv https://www.embcv-usa.gov.cv/

FAX

[1] (202) 965-1207

telephone

[1] (202) 965-6820

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

chief of state

President Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 9 November 2021)

election results

2020: Jose Maria Pereira NEVES elected president; percent of vote - Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (PAICV) 51.7%, Carlos VEIGA (MPD) 42.4%, Casimiro DE PINA (independent) 1.8%, Fernando Rocha DELGADO (independent) 1.4%, Helio SANCHES (independent) 1.14%, Gilson ALVES (independent) 0.8%, Joaquim MONTEIRO (independent) 3.4% 2016: Jorge Carlos FONSECA reelected president; percent of vote - Jorge Carlos FONSECA (MPD) 74.1%, Albertino GRACA (independent) 22.5%, other 3.4%

election/appointment process

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president

expected date of next election

October 2026

head of government

Prime Minister Jose Ulisses CORREIA e SILVA (since 22 April 2016)

most recent election date

17 October 2021

Flag

description: five unequal horizontal bands; the top band of blue is half the height of the flag; under it are three narrow bands of white, red, and white, and a bottom stripe of blue; a circle of 10 five-pointed yellow stars is centered on the red stripe and sits toward the left side of the flag meaning: blue stands for the sea and sky; the stripes symbolize the country's formation through peace (white) and effort (red); the stars represent the 10 major islands

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief justice and at least 7 judges and organized into civil, criminal, and administrative sections)

judge selection and term of office

judge appointments - 1 by the president of the republic, 1 elected by the National Assembly, and 3 by the Superior Judicial Council (SJC), a 16-member independent body chaired by the chief justice and includes the attorney general, 8 private citizens, 2 judges, 2 prosecutors, the senior legal inspector of the Attorney General's office, and a representative of the Ministry of Justice; chief justice appointed by the president of the republic from among peers of the Supreme Court of Justice and in consultation with the SJC; judges appointed for life

subordinate courts

appeals courts, first instance (municipal) courts; audit, military, and fiscal and customs courts

Legal system

civil law system of Portugal

Legislative branch

electoral system

proportional representation

expected date of next election

April 2026

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional)

most recent election date

4/18/2021

number of seats

72 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

Movement for Democracy (MpD) (38); African Party for the Independence of Cabo Verde (PAICV) (30); Union for an Independent Democratic Cape Verde (UCID) (4)

percentage of women in chamber

44.4%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1996

lyrics/music

Amilcar Spencer LOPES/Adalberto Higino Tavares SILVA

title

"Cantico da Liberdade" (Song of Freedom)

National coat of arms

adopted in 1992, the coat of arms features the national symbol of ten stars that represent the country’s islands; the stylized torch and triangle at the center of the circle symbolize freedom and national unity, and the three blue lines represent the ocean and sky; the name of the country is written in Portuguese, the official language; the plumbob at the top of the circle -- used in construction to make accurate vertical lines -- represents justice, righteousness, and truth; the chain links symbolize a commitment to the people and their well-being

National color(s)

blue, white, red, yellow

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Cidade Velha; Historic Center of Ribeira Grande

total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

National symbol(s)

ten five-pointed yellow stars

Political parties

African Party for Independence of Cabo Verde or PAICV  Democratic and Independent Cabo Verdean Union or UCID  Democratic Christian Party or PDC  Democratic Renewal Party or PRD  Movement for Democracy or MPD  Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD  Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS  Social Democratic Party or PSD 

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

sugarcane, tomatoes, coconuts, pulses, goat milk, milk, vegetables, bananas, cabbages, onions (2023)

Budget

expenditures

$623.816 million (2020 est.)

revenues

$453.182 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022

-$78.271 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$64.439 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

$101.072 million (2024 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$1.385 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview

stable, middle-income, developing island economy; strong GDP growth led by tourism sector recovery; sustained poverty reduction through PEDS II development plan; high reliance on foreign remittances and aid to finance external debt

Exchange rates

Currency

Cabo Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

96.796 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

93.218 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

104.863 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

101.805 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

101.922 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$851.907 million (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$972.636 million (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$1.158 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish, refined petroleum, railway cargo containers, shellfish, garments (2023)

Exports - partners

Spain 46%, Portugal 9%, Togo 7%, Italy 7%, India 6% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

41.9% (2024 est.)

government consumption

20.7% (2024 est.)

household consumption

74.7% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-53.2% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

16% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

0% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

4.7% (2024 est.)

industry

10.5% (2024 est.)

services

69.4% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.768 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015

42.4 (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

32.3% (2015 est.)

lowest 10%

2.2% (2015 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$1.31 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$1.428 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$1.473 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, aircraft, cars, fish, railway cargo containers (2023)

Imports - partners

Portugal 29%, Saudi Arabia 11%, Netherlands 9%, Spain 8%, China 7% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

4.4% (2024 est.)

Industries

food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7.9% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3.7% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

1% (2024 est.)

Labor force

224,500 (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

35.2% (2015 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

127.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$4.6 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$4.848 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$5.2 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

15.8% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

5.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

7.3% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$8,900 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$9,300 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$9,900 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

14% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

12.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

12.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$729.566 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$837.881 million (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$783.106 million (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

18.4% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

12.3% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

12% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

11.9% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

33.8% (2024 est.)

male

24.6% (2024 est.)

total

28.2% (2024 est.)

Electricity

consumption

400 million kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

200,000 kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

106 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

96.9%

electrification - total population

97.1% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

95.3%

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

71.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

14.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

14.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

19.999 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

7 (2023 est.)

total

38,000 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

state-run TV and radio network, plus a growing number of private broadcasters; Portuguese public TV and radio services for Africa are available; transmissions of a few international broadcasters are available (2019)

Internet country code

.cv

Internet users

percent of population

74% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

12 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

60,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

112 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

590,354 (2023 est.)

Airports

10 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

D4

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 14, oil tanker 2, other 28

total

44 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Porto da Praia, Porto Grande

large

0

medium

0

ports with oil terminals

1

small

1

total ports

2 (2024)

very small

1

Military - note

the FACV is responsible for external defense; it also has an internal security role in collaboration with the police if required; its duties include monitoring and patrolling the country's air and maritime spaces, participating in training exercises, conducting search and rescue, countering narcotics and other forms of illicit trafficking, and supporting the police and civil society (2025)

Military and security forces

Cabo Verdean Armed Forces (FACV): National Guard (GN), Cabo Verde Coast Guard (Guardia Costeira de Cabo Verde, GCCV) (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the FACV has approximately 1,000-1,500 active personnel (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the FACV has a limited amount of mostly dated or secondhand equipment, largely from China, some European countries, and the former Soviet Union (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

0.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

0.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary service (with parental consent); 18-35 years of age for selective compulsory service (14-month service obligation) (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons

115 (2024 est.)

Trafficking in persons

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List — Cabo Verde did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/cabo-verde/

Carbon dioxide emissions

from petroleum and other liquids

714,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

714,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

deforestation due to demand for firewood; water shortages; droughts; desertification; soil erosion; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing

International environmental agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Particulate matter emissions

27.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

300 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

103.217 million cubic meters (2022)

industrial

5.614 million cubic meters (2022)

municipal

155.895 million cubic meters (2022)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

132,600 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

17.4% (2022 est.)