Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
7 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
38,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.cv
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
74.74% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
12 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
60,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
112 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
590,354 (2023 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
sugarcane, tomatoes, coconuts, pulses, goat milk, milk, vegetables, bananas, cabbages, onions (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$623.816 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$453.182 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$107.4 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$169.0 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$50.6 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$64.1 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$139.6 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$97.1 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$21.8 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$285.7 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$250.6 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$78.271 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$64.439 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$101.072 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$2.403 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$1.385 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
101.922 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Cabo Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
83.0725 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
83.0345 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
99.3857 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
99.6881 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
97.8069 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
93.4136 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
98.4952 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
96.7957 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
93.2181 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
104.863 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
101.805 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
101.922 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
fish, refined petroleum, railway cargo containers, shellfish, garments (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$672.9 million (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$760.6 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$719.8 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$767.2 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$840.0 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$1.011 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$1.052 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$460.7 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$489.4 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$851.907 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$972.636 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$1.158 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
41.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
20.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
74.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-53.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
16% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
4.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
10.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
69.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$11,195 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.768 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$5.876 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
42.4 (2015 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
32.3% (2015 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.2% (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, aircraft, cars, fish, railway cargo containers (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$1.008 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$925.2 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$997.1 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$1.158 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$1.323 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$1.281 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$967.3 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$1.100 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$1.31 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$1.428 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$1.473 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
4.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
0.13% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
-1.41% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
0.78% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
1.26% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
1.11% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
0.61% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
1.86% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
7.93% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
3.72% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
1.05% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
224,500 (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
24.80% (2023 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
127.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$3.288 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$3.471 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$3.768 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$4.070 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$4.445 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$3.527 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$3.971 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$4.6 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$4.848 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$5.2 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
0.94% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
4.28% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
4.55% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
3.71% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
6.95% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-20.81% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
7.03% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
15.84% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
4.79% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
7.24% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$6,417 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$6,773 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$7,351 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$7,936 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$8,646 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$6,853 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$7,685 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$9,481 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$10,242 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$175.9 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$197.0 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$200.9 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$234.1 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$314.5 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
14% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
12.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
12.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$494.5 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$572.7 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$617.4 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$606.0 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$738.0 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$735.1 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$769.7 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$729.566 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$837.881 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$783.106 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
18.4% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
12.12% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
14.65% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
13.93% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
12.24% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
11.88% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
11.88% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
33.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
24.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
28.2% (2024 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
96.9%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
97.1% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
95.3%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
71.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
14.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
14.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
400 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
200,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
106 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
19.999 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
714,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
714,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and erratic
Environment: Environmental issues
deforestation due to demand for firewood; water shortages; droughts; desertification; soil erosion; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
19.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 12.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 6.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
12.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
68% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
27.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
300 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
103.217 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
5.614 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
155.895 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.83% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
76.77% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
132,600 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
17.4% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly larger than Rhode Island
Geography: Area: land
4,033 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
965 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Mt. Fogo (a volcano on Fogo Island) 2,829 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
16 00 N, 24 00 W
Geography: 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)
Geography: Irrigated land
35 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: total
0 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
19.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 12.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 6.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
12.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
68% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: 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
Geography: 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
Geography: Terrain
steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Government: 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
Government: Capital: etymology
the earlier Portuguese name was Villa de Praia ("Village of the Beach"); it was shortened to Praia in 1974
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
14 55 N, 23 31 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Cabo Verde
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: 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
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1981; latest effective 25 September 1992
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Cabo Verde
Government: Country name: 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
Government: Country name: local long form
Republica de Cabo Verde
Government: Country name: local short form
Cabo Verde
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Jennifer ADAMS (since 10 September 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
PraiaConsular@state.gov https://cv.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Rua Abilio Macedo 6, Praia
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[238] 261-1355
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2460 Praia Place, Washington DC 20521-2460
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[238] 260-8900
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Jose Luis do Livramento MONTEIRO ALVES DE BRITO (since 23 December 2020)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Boston
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
embassy.wdc@mnec.gov.cv https://www.embcv-usa.gov.cv/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 965-1207
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 965-6820
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 9 November 2021)
Government: Executive branch: 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%
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
October 2026
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Jose Ulisses CORREIA e SILVA (since 22 April 2016)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
17 October 2021
Government: 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: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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
Government: 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)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
appeals courts, first instance (municipal) courts; audit, military, and fiscal and customs courts
Government: Legal system
civil law system of Portugal
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
April 2026
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
4/18/2021
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
72 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: 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)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
44.4%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1996
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Amilcar Spencer LOPES/Adalberto Higino Tavares SILVA
Government: 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
Government: National color(s)
blue, white, red, yellow
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Cidade Velha; Historic Center of Ribeira Grande
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Government: National symbol(s)
ten five-pointed yellow stars
Government: 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
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: 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: 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: Military and security service personnel strengths
the FACV has approximately 1,000-1,500 active personnel (2025)
Military and Security: 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 and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
0.51% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
0.55% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
0.47% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
0.49% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
0.43% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
0.62% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.55% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.46% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.57% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.62% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: 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)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
26.4% (male 80,973/female 80,129)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
67.2% (male 201,084/female 209,676)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
6.4% (2024 est.) (male 15,049/female 24,103)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
2.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
4.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
1.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
17.51 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
1.5% (2018)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
1.8% (2018)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
8.4% (2018)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
2.2% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
5.85% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
45% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
5.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
9.5 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
10.5 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
48.8 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
39.2 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 82.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 89.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 93.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 17.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 10.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 6.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
13.4% national budget (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
4.35% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Creole (Mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.02 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
6.9% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
16.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.90% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
2.2 beds/1,000 population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
18.4 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
26.3 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
21.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
79.4 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
73.0 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
84.1% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
92.9% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
88.47% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
168,000 PRAIA (capital) (2018)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
40 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
29.6 years
People and Society: Median age: male
27.9 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Cabo Verdean
People and Society: Net migration rate
-0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
11.8% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.73 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
524,877 (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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
People and Society: Population growth rate
1.12% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
313,908
People and Society: Population: male
297,106
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 77.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 89.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 95.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 22.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 10.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 4.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
14 years (2018 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
13 years (2018 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
13 years (2018 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.01 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.96 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.62 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
4.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
15.3% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
9.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.51 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.83% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
76.77% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
115 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: 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/
Transportation: Airports
10 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
D4
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 14, oil tanker 2, other 28
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
44 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Porto da Praia, Porto Grande
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
1
Transportation: Ports: small
1
Transportation: Ports: total ports
2 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
1
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.