Statistics Cabo Verde 
Cabo Verde in the World
Cabo Verde - Introduction 2022
top of pageBackground:
The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese 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 Krioulo language, music, and pano textiles. Following independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with Guinea-Bissau, 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 one of its most stable economies, maintaining a currency formerly pegged to the Portuguese escudo and then 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 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 variable. 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. In November 2021, Jose Maria NEVES was sworn in as Cabo Verde's latest president.
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 variable. 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. In November 2021, Jose Maria NEVES was sworn in as Cabo Verde's latest president.
Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguouszone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Land use
Agricultural land: 18.6% (2018 est.)
arable land: 11.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.7% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 6.2% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.7% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 6.2% (2018 est.)
Forest: 21% (2018 est.)
Other: 60.4% (2018 est.)
Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 1.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Industrial: 400,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Agricultural: 25 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Natural hazards: prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active
Geography
Note: strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site; one of four North Atlantic archipelagos that make up Macaronesia; the others are Azores (Portugal), Canary Islands (Spain), and Madeira (Portugal)
Cabo Verde - People 2022
top of pagePopulation
Distribution: among the nine inhabited islands, population distribution is variable; islands in the east are very dry and are only sparsely settled to exploit their extensive salt deposits; the more southerly islands receive more precipitation and support larger populations, but agriculture and livestock grazing have damaged the soil fertility and vegetation; 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 : 596,707 (2022 est.)
Growth rate: 1.21% (2022 est.)
Below poverty line: 35% (2015 est.)
Languages: Portuguese (official), Krioulo (a Portuguese-based Creole language with two main dialects spoken in Cabo Verde and in the Cabo Verdean diaspora worldwide)
Religions: Roman Catholic 77.3%, Protestant 4.6% (includes Church of the Nazarene 1.7%, Adventist 1.5%, Assembly of God 0.9%, Universal Kingdom of God 0.4%, and God and Love 0.1%), other Christian 3.4% (includes Christian Rationalism 1.9%, Jehovah's Witness 1%, and New Apostolic 0.5%), Muslim 1.8%, other 1.3%, none 10.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.)
Demographic profile: 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, Spaniards, and Portuguese Jews. Over the centuries, the country’s overall population size has fluctuated significantly, as recurring periods of famine and epidemics have caused high death tolls and emigration.
Age structure
0-14 years: 27.95% (male 82,010/female 81,012)
15-24 years: 18.69% (male 54,521/female 54,504)
25-54 years: 40.76% (male 115,811/female 121,923)
55-64 years: 7.12% (male 18,939/female 22,597)
65 years and over: 5.48% (male 12,037/female 19,901) (2020 est.)
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 47.2
Youth dependency ratio: 39.2
Elderly dependency ratio: 8
Potential support ratio: 12.5 (2021 est.)
Population distribution: among the nine inhabited islands, population distribution is variable; islands in the east are very dry and are only sparsely settled to exploit their extensive salt deposits; the more southerly islands receive more precipitation and support larger populations, but agriculture and livestock grazing have damaged the soil fertility and vegetation; 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
Urbanization
Urban population: 68% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.83% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment
Current issues: deforestation due to demand for firewood; water shortages; prolonged droughts and improper use of land (overgrazing, crop cultivation on hillsides lead to desertification and erosion); environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing
International 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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 31.99 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 0.54 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 0.13 megatons (2020 est.)
Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate
Total: 23.53 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 27.64 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 19.29 deaths/1000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 73.75 years
Male: 71.41 years
Female: 76.15 years (2022 est.)
Drinking water source
Improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 90% of population
total: 96.7% of population
rural: 90% of population
total: 96.7% of population
Unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 10% of population
total: 3.3% of population (2020 est.)
rural: 10% of population
total: 3.3% of population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access
Improved:
urban: 91.7% of population
rural: 73.3% of population
total: 85.6% of population
rural: 73.3% of population
total: 85.6% of population
Unimproved:
urban: 8.3% of population
rural: 26.7% of population
total: 14.4% of population (2020 est.)
rural: 26.7% of population
total: 14.4% of population (2020 est.)
Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 4.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 2.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 1.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 86.8%
Male: 91.7%
Female: 82% (2015)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 13 years
Male: 12 years
Female: 13 years (2018)
Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15-24 total: 50.4%
Rate ages 15-24 male: 41.4%
Rate ages 15-24 female: 65.3% (2019)
Cabo Verde - Government 2022
top of pageCountry name
Conventional long form: Republic of Cabo Verde
Conventional short form: Cabo Verde
Local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
Local short form: Cabo Verde
Etymology: the name derives from Cap-Vert (Green Cape) on the Senegalese coast, the westernmost point of Africa and the nearest mainland to the islands
Capital
Name: Praia
Geographic coordinates: 14 55 N, 23 31 W
Time difference: UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the earlier Portuguese name was Villa de Praia ("Village of the Beach"); it became just Praia in 1974 (prior to full independence in 1975)
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, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao Lourenco dos Orgaos, Sao Miguel, Sao Salvador do Mundo, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal, Tarrafal de Sao Nicolau
Constitution
History: previous 1981; latest effective 25 September 1992
Amendments: 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; revised 1995, 1999, 2010
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descentonly: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cabo Verde
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Executive branch
Chief of state: President Jose Maria NEVES (since 9 November 2021)
Head of government: Prime Minister Ulisses CORREIA E. SILVA (since 22 April 2016)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
Elections and appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 17 October 2021 (next to be held in October 2026); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president (2021)
Election results:
election results: 2020: Jose Maria NEVES elected president; percent of vote - Jose Maria 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%
election results: 2015: Jorge Carlos FONSECA reelected president; percent of vote - Jorge Carlos FONSECA (MPD) 74.1%, Albertino GRACA (independent) 22.5%, other 3% (2021)
African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (APICV)
Movement for Democracy (MFD)
election results: 2015: Jorge Carlos FONSECA reelected president; percent of vote - Jorge Carlos FONSECA (MPD) 74.1%, Albertino GRACA (independent) 22.5%, other 3% (2021)
African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (APICV)
Movement for Democracy (MFD)
Legislative branch
Description: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections: last held on 18 April 2021 (next to be held in April 2026) (2021)
Election results: percent of vote by party MPD 50.2%, PAICV 39.6%, UCID 9.0%; seats by party - MPD 38, PAICV 30, UCID 4; composition - men 44, women 28, percent of women 37.5% (2021)
Judicial branch
Highest courts: 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
Political parties and leaders: African Party for Independence of Cabo Verde or PAICV [Jose Maria NEVES]
Democratic and Independent Cabo Verdean Union or UCID [João DOS SANTOS LUIS]
Democratic Christian Party or PDC [Manuel RODRIGUES]
Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Victor FIDALGO]
Movement for Democracy or MPD [Ulisses CORREIA E SILVA]
Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO]
Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Anibal MEDINA]
Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM]
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
Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Luis do Livramento MONTEIRO ALVES DE BRITO (since 23 December 2020)
In the us chancery: 3,415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,007
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 965-6,820
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
In the us email address and website:
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador John "Jeff" DAIGLE (since 10 September 2019)
From the us embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 6, Praia
From the us mailing address: 2,460 Praia Place, Washington DC 20,521-2,460
From the us telephone: [238] 260-8,900
From the us FAX: [238] 261-1355
From the us email address and website:
Flag description: five unequal horizontal bands; the top-most band of blue - equal to one half the width of the flag - is followed by three bands of white, red, and white, each equal to 1/12 of the width, and a bottom stripe of blue equal to one quarter of the flag width; a circle of 10 yellow, five-pointed stars is centered on the red stripe and positioned 3/8 of the length of the flag from the hoist side; blue stands for the sea and the sky, the circle of stars represents the 10 major islands united into a nation, the stripes symbolize the road to formation of the country through peace (white) and effort (red)
National anthem
Name: "Cantico da Liberdade" (Song of Freedom)
Lyrics and music: Amilcar Spencer LOPES/Adalberto Higino Tavares SILVA
Note: adopted 1996
Cabo Verde - Economy 2022
top of pageReal gdp purchasing power parity:
$3.36 billion (2020 est.)
$3.94 billion (2019 est.)
$3.73 billion (2018 est.)
$3.94 billion (2019 est.)
$3.73 billion (2018 est.)
Note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real gdp per capita:
$6,000 (2020 est.)
$7,200 (2019 est.)
$6,900 (2018 est.)
$7,200 (2019 est.)
$6,900 (2018 est.)
Note: data are in 2017 dollars
Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 50.1% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 18.3% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 32.2% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 1.9% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 48.6% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -51.1% (2017 est.)
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 8.9% (2017 est.)
Industry: 17.5% (2017 est.)
Services: 73.7% (2017 est.)
Agriculture products: sugar cane, tomatoes, bananas, cabbages, coconuts, cassava, pulses, vegetables, milk, goat milk
Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15-24 total: 50.4%
Rate ages 15-24 male: 41.4%
Rate ages 15-24 female: 65.3% (2019)
Budget
Revenues: $493.5 million (2017 est.)
Expenditures: $546.7 million (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit: $-3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Revenue
From forest resources forest revenues: 0.38% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Exports:
$420 million (2020 est.)
$1 billion (2019 est.)
$960 million (2018 est.)
$1 billion (2019 est.)
$960 million (2018 est.)
Note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.
Partners: Spain 65%, Portugal 14%, Italy 8% (2019)
Commodities: processed and frozen fish, mollusks, clothing, scrap iron (2019)
Imports:
$1.02 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$1.29 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$1.34 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$1.29 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$1.34 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Partners: Portugal 36%, Netherlands 16%, Spain 11%, China 6% (2019)
Commodities: refined petroleum, delivery trucks, coal tar oil, cars, rice (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$617.4 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$572.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$572.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates:
Cabo Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar
101.8 (2017 est.)
99.688 (2016 est.)
99.688 (2015 est.)
99.426 (2014 est.)
83.114 (2013 est.)
101.8 (2017 est.)
99.688 (2016 est.)
99.688 (2015 est.)
99.426 (2014 est.)
83.114 (2013 est.)
Cabo Verde - Energy 2022
top of pageElectricity
Access electrification total population: 96% (2019)
Access electrification urban areas: 99% (2019)
Access electrification rural areas: 89% (2019)
Installed generating capacity: 205,000 kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 436.854 million kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
Transmission distribution losses: 32.146 million kWh (2019 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 80.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources solar: 2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources wind: 17.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal
Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 6,500 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 5,607 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas
Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.002 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 1.002 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Cabo Verde - Communication 2022
top of pageTelephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 57,668 (2020 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2020 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 544,729 (2020 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 98 (2020 est.)
Broadcast media: state-run TV and radio broadcast 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
Users total: 361,392 (2020 est.)
Users percent of population: 65% (2020 est.)
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 24,839 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2020 est.)
Cabo Verde - Military 2022
top of pageMilitary expenditures:
0.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
0.5% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $20 million)
0.5% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $20 million)
0.5% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $20 million)
0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
0.5% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $20 million)
0.5% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $20 million)
0.5% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $20 million)
Military and security forces: Cabo Verdean Armed Forces (FACV): Army (also called the National Guard, GN; includes a small air component), Cabo Verde Coast Guard (Guardia Costeira de Cabo Verde, GCCV); Ministry of Internal Affairs: National Police (2022)
Military service age and obligation: 18-35 years of age for male and female selective compulsory military service; 2-years conscript service obligation; 17 years of age for voluntary service (with parental consent) (2022)
Cabo Verde - Transportation 2022
top of pageNational air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 140,429 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,728,152 (2015) mt-km
Airports
Total: 9 (2021)
With paved runways total: 9
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
With paved runways under 914 m: 2 (2021)
Cabo Verde - Transnational issues 2022
top of pageIllicit drugs: Cabo Verde is a transit hub for cocaine, marijuana, and other drugs trafficked from Latin America to Europe; marijuana, cocaine, hashish, heroin, and methamphetamine are the most frequently consumed drugs in Cabo Verde
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