Cabo Verde

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. 

16 00 N, 24 00 W

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

slightly larger than Rhode Island

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

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

temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and erratic

965 km

Total: 0 km

Agricultural land: 19.6% (2023 est.)

Arable land: 12.4% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture: 6.2% (2023 est.)

Forest: 12.4% (2023 est.)

Other: 68% (2023 est.)

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Note: Measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

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

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)

steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

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

Africa

35 sq km (2012)

300 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

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

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

Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Total : 4,033 sq km

Land: 4,033 sq km

Water: 0 sq km

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)

At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

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

Total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total population: 88.5% (2024 est.)

Male: 92.9% (2024 est.)

Female: 84.1% (2024 est.)

Noun: Cabo Verdean(s)

Adjective: Cabo Verdean

Total: 13 years (2018 est.)

Male: 13 years (2018 est.)

Female: 14 years (2018 est.)

Urban population: 68% of total population (2023)

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

Improved:

Urban: 93.2% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 82.9% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 89.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 6.8% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 17.1% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 10.1% of population (2022 est.)

168,000 PRAIA (capital) (2018)

0.73 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

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

Total dependency ratio: 48.8 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio: 39.2 (2024 est.)

Elderly dependency ratio: 9.5 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio: 10.5 (2024 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 95.6% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 77.8% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 89.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 4.4% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 22.2% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 10.2% of population (2022 est.)

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

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.)

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

6.9% of GDP (2021)

16.1% of national budget (2022 est.)

1.03 (2024 est.)

45% (2021 est.)

Women married by age 15: 1.8% (2018)

Women married by age 18: 8.4% (2018)

Men married by age 18: 1.5% (2018)

Total: 28.2% (2024 est.)

Male: 24.6% (2024 est.)

Female: 33.8% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 28.8 years (2024 est.)

Male: 27.9 years

Female: 29.6 years

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

2.1 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 611,014 (2024 est.)

Male: 297,106

Female: 313,908

Total: 22.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Male: 26.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 18.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Total: 9.8% (2025 est.)

Male: 15.3% (2025 est.)

Female: 4.5% (2025 est.)

11.8% (2016)

5.7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

17.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

2.2% (2018 est.)

Total: 4.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Beer: 2.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine: 1.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits: 0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total population: 74.3 years (2024 est.)

Male: 72 years

Female: 76.7 years

4.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

13.4% national budget (2024 est.)

1.16% (2024 est.)

Municipal: 155.895 million cubic meters (2022)

Industrial: 5.614 million cubic meters (2022)

Agricultural: 103.217 million cubic meters (2022)

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 132,600 tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.4% (2022 est.)

27.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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

From petroleum and other liquids: 714,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

19.999 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Chief of mission: Ambassador Jennifer ADAMS (since 10 September 2024)

Embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 6, Praia

Mailing address: 2460 Praia Place, Washington DC  20521-2460

Telephone: [238] 260-8900

FAX: [238] 261-1355

Email address and website:
PraiaConsular@state.gov

https://cv.usembassy.gov/

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

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 was shortened to Praia in 1974 

History: Previous 1981; latest effective 25 September 1992

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

Chief of state: President Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 9 November 2021)

Head of government: Prime Minister Jose Ulisses CORREIA e SILVA (since 22 April 2016)

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

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

Most recent election date: 17 October 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%

Expected date of next election: October 2026

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

5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

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

civil law system of Portugal

Legislature name: National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional)

Legislative structure: Unicameral

Number of seats: 72 (all directly elected)

Electoral system: Proportional representation

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 5 years

Most recent election date: 4/18/2021

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%

Expected date of next election: April 2026

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

Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

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 

18 years of age; universal

parliamentary republic

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

Chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Luis do Livramento MONTEIRO ALVES DE BRITO (since 23 December 2020)

Chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007

Telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820

FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207

Email address and website:
Embassy.wdc@mnec.gov.cv

https://www.embcv-usa.gov.cv/

Consulate(s) general: Boston

Title: "Cantico da Liberdade" (Song of Freedom)

Lyrics/music: Amilcar Spencer LOPES/Adalberto Higino Tavares SILVA

History: Adopted 1996

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

ten five-pointed yellow stars

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

Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

Selected World Heritage Site locales: Cidade Velha; Historic Center of Ribeira Grande

blue, white, red, yellow

35.2% (2015 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Lowest 10%: 2.2% (2015 est.)

Highest 10%: 32.3% (2015 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Revenues: $453.182 million (2020 est.)

Expenditures: $623.816 million (2020 est.)

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Cabo Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
101.922 (2024 est.)
101.805 (2023 est.)
104.863 (2022 est.)
93.218 (2021 est.)
96.796 (2020 est.)

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

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

$2.768 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Household consumption: 74.7% (2024 est.)

Government consumption: 20.7% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital: 16% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)

Exports of goods and services: 41.9% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services: -53.2% (2024 est.)

Note: Figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

12.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
12.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
14% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

224,500 (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

$1.385 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

$783.106 million (2024 est.)
$837.881 million (2023 est.)
$729.566 million (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

11.9% (2024 est.)
12% (2023 est.)
12.3% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

18.4% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$5.2 billion (2024 est.)
$4.848 billion (2023 est.)
$4.6 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

1% (2024 est.)
3.7% (2023 est.)
7.9% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

$101.072 million (2024 est.)
-$64.439 million (2023 est.)
-$78.271 million (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$9,900 (2024 est.)
$9,300 (2023 est.)
$8,900 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$1.473 billion (2024 est.)
$1.428 billion (2023 est.)
$1.31 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$1.158 billion (2024 est.)
$972.636 million (2023 est.)
$851.907 million (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

7.3% (2024 est.)
5.4% (2023 est.)
15.8% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

4.4% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Agriculture: 4.7% (2024 est.)

Industry: 10.5% (2024 est.)

Services: 69.4% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Electrification - total population: 97.1% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas: 95.3%

Electrification - rural areas: 96.9%

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.)

Refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity: 200,000 kW (2023 est.)

Consumption: 400 million kWh (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 106 million kWh (2023 est.)

Percent of population: 74% (2023 est.)

.cv

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)

Total subscriptions: 590,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 99 (2022 est.)

Total: 38,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions: 60,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2023 est.)

D4

10 (2025)

Total: 44 (2023)

By type: General cargo 14, oil tanker 2, other 28

0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

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

Note:  the National Police are under the Ministry of Internal Affairs

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

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

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)

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

Stateless persons: 115 (2024 est.)

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/

Total ports: 2 (2024)

Large: 0

Medium: 0

Small: 1

Very small: 1

Ports with oil terminals: 1

Key ports: Porto da Praia, Porto Grande

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

42.4 (2015 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality