Cabo Verde

Country Overview

Cabo Verde is a sovereign Atlantic island republic in Western Africa, comprising ten main islands west of the African mainland, nine of them inhabited. Its capital is Praia, on Santiago. Portuguese settlement began in the fifteenth century, and the islands gained independence from Portugal on July 5, 1975. Cabo Verde developed a competitive multiparty constitutional order in the early 1990s. Its service-oriented economy depends heavily on tourism and external connections, while preserved fish dominates recorded merchandise exports. Following the May 2026 parliamentary election, President José Maria Neves serves alongside Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho. ^{[15] [9] [8] [2] [3] [10]}

Reference status: Contemporary edition • Verified: November 5, 2026 • All economic and population figures retain their source years.

Population comparability: The definitive 2021 national census counted 491,233 residents, while a 2024 INE projection put the 2025 resident population at 513,997. The World Bank’s separate 2025 series estimates 527,326. These are different vintages and methodologies, not interchangeable counts. ^{[5] [6] [1]}

Identity and State Formation

Official name

Republic of Cabo Verde; República de Cabo Verde. ^[7]

Common name

Cabo Verde; formerly widely rendered in English as Cape Verde. Nationality: Cabo Verdean.

Capital

Praia, on Santiago Island. ^[7]

Continent / UN subregion

Africa / Western Africa under the UN M49 geographic classification; an Atlantic archipelago west of mainland Africa. ^{[21] [4]}

Portuguese settlement

Portuguese settlement on Santiago began in 1462, following fifteenth-century voyages; the archipelago became part of Portuguese overseas possessions. ^[9]

Colonial history

The islands were a major Atlantic trade and slave-trading entrepôt. Enslaved Africans and European settlers shaped local language and culture; drought and migration became recurrent historical forces. ^[9]

Independence movement

The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cabo Verde (PAIGC), associated with Amílcar Cabral and other activists, organized against Portuguese colonial rule. ^[9]

Independence

July 5, 1975, from Portugal; this is the national independence and founding date of the sovereign republic. ^{[8] [9]}

First republican constitution

Approved September 5, 1980; the post-independence political framework initially operated under a single-party system. ^[8]

Transition to multiparty politics

Constitutional revision on September 28, 1990 facilitated political pluralism; competitive legislative and presidential elections followed in 1991. ^[8]

Current constitutional foundation

Constitution adopted August 5, 1992, subsequently amended, notably in 2010; distinct from the 1975 independence date. ^{[8] [7]}

Recent national election

May 17, 2026: PAICV won 37 of 72 National Assembly seats and formed a new government. ^[10]

National day

Independence Day, July 5. ^[8]

ISO 3166-1 codes

CV (alpha-2); CPV (alpha-3); 132 (numeric). ^[21]

Internet country-code domain

.cv

International telephone code

+238

Historical context: Portuguese settlement, Atlantic slavery, the anticolonial independence movement, the end of single-party rule, and the creation of a pluralist constitutional republic are separate stages in Cabo Verde’s history. The independence date should not be mistaken for the date of its current constitutional order. ^{[9] [8]}

Geography and Population

Geographic position

Volcanic archipelago in the eastern North Atlantic, west of Senegal and Mauritania; no international land borders. ^[15]

Total surface area

4,033 km² (approximately 1,557 square miles; UNdata reference). ^[4]

Archipelago

Ten major islands, nine permanently inhabited; Santa Luzia is uninhabited. Numerous smaller islets. ^[15]

Northern island group

Barlavento (windward): Santo Antão, São Vicente, Santa Luzia, São Nicolau, Sal, and Boa Vista.

Southern island group

Sotavento (leeward): Maio, Santiago, Fogo, and Brava.

Largest island

Santiago, which includes the capital, Praia. ^[7]

Highest point

Pico do Fogo, approximately 2,829 metres (9,281 feet), on the volcanic island of Fogo.

World Bank population estimate

527,326 residents in 2025 (World Bank population series). ^[1]

National statistical projection

513,997 for 2025 (INE 2024 revision of its demographic projection). This is a different population series from the World Bank estimate. ^[6]

2021 national census, resident population

491,233 residents (final RGPH-2021 count). ^[5]

2021 census, total persons enumerated

505,044 persons, including nonresident visitors and other categories; not equivalent to the resident count of 491,233. ^[5]

Estimated population density

Approximately 130.8 people per km² (2025 UNdata model/area basis). ^[4]

Capital municipality, 2021 census

Praia: approximately 145,378 residents in the municipality; not a 2025 city-proper estimate. ^[5]

Other major population centre

Mindelo, on São Vicente; the São Vicente municipality recorded 75,845 residents in the 2021 census. ^[5]

National demographic growth

Approximately 0.5% (2025 World Bank estimate); population development is strongly affected by emigration and migration. ^[1]

Climate

Predominantly arid to semiarid tropical maritime climate, with erratic rainfall, drought vulnerability and distinctive island microclimates.

Natural hazards

Droughts, flash flooding, coastal erosion and volcanic hazards; activity is particularly associated with Fogo.

Maritime geography

Atlantic maritime territory is central to fisheries, tourism, ocean transport and the country’s external trade.

Geographic and demographic comparability: Area covers the islands’ surface area, not the Atlantic exclusive economic zone. The 2021 census reports usual residents separately from all persons enumerated; INE demographic projections and World Bank international estimates are separate statistical series. ^{[4] [5] [6] [1]}

Economy and International Trade

Economic system

Small, service-oriented island economy with major tourism, transport, finance, construction, public administration and related activities. ^[2]

Nominal GDP

Approximately US$3.0566 billion (2025, current dollars, World Bank; rounded display US$3.06 billion). ^[1]

Nominal GDP per capita

Approximately US$5,796.5 (2025, current dollars, World Bank); GDP per capita is not average earnings. ^[1]

Real GDP growth

6.3% in 2025 (World Bank, annual real output growth). ^{[1] [2]}

Consumer price inflation

2.3% in 2025 (World Bank annual CPI series). ^[1]

Currency

Cabo Verdean escudo (CVE); the country does not use the euro as its national currency. ^{[4] [16]}

Euro exchange-rate arrangement

Fixed parity of EUR 1 = CVE 110.265, distinct from floating CVE rates against other currencies. ^[16]

Principal services exports

International tourism and associated travel, hospitality and transport services, together with other services. ^[2]

Services exports as share of GDP

30.5% of GDP in 2025, as reported in the World Bank 2026 Economic Update; distinct from merchandise-export totals. ^[2]

Merchandise exports

US$68.2 million in 2024 (WTO / UN Comtrade data as presented by the WTO). ^[3]

Merchandise imports

US$915.7 million in 2024 on the same WTO trade-data basis. ^[3]

Goods-trade balance

Approximately US$847.5 million deficit in 2024, calculated from WTO merchandise exports and imports; excludes services. ^[3]

Leading goods export categories

Prepared and preserved tuna, mackerel and other fish; fish products, selected footwear components and apparel. ^[3]

Goods export destination

European Union represented 97.6% of recorded 2024 merchandise export value in the WTO country profile; the EU is a trading bloc, not a single country. ^[3]

Goods import origin

European Union accounted for 71.5% of recorded 2024 goods imports; China, Brazil and other partners supplied smaller shares. ^[3]

Tourism concentration

Sal and Boa Vista attract a high share of international tourism; European-origin visitors dominate arrivals, creating concentrated external exposure. ^[2]

External accounts

Current-account surplus estimated at 3.6% of GDP in 2025 in the World Bank 2026 country update, despite a significant goods-trade deficit. ^[2]

Remittances

Remittances from Cabo Verdeans abroad are an important source of household and external income; World Bank country indicators report about 11.7% of GDP for 2025. ^[1]

Transport constraint

Inter-island air and maritime connectivity materially affects prices, market access, tourism dispersion and regional development. ^[2]

Trade interpretation

The recorded merchandise export total measures physical goods; travel spending and other services appear in separate balance-of-payments accounts. ^{[3] [2]}

Principal Export Categories (2024)

The goods-product percentages are based on 2024 WTO trade reporting. The services measure is from the 2026 World Bank economic update and refers to 2025. ^{[3] [2]}

People and Society

Official language

Portuguese, as specified in Article 9 of the Constitution. ^[7]

Widely spoken language

Cabo Verdean Creole (Kriolu/Krioulu), the everyday first language of much of the population; it is distinct from Portuguese and has multiple island varieties. ^{[7] [9]}

Language-law distinction

The Constitution instructs the state to promote conditions for official recognition of the Cabo Verdean mother tongue in parity with Portuguese; it does not itself make Creole an existing second official language. ^[7]

Other languages

English, French and other languages appear in education, tourism, expatriate communities and international commerce.

Religious profile, census basis

Roman Catholic: about 73% in the 2021 census as summarized by the U.S. State Department; figures refer to a dated census, not a 2026 survey. ^[14]

Other Christian traditions

2021 census reported about 2% Seventh-day Adventist, 2% Nazarene and 2% Christian Rationalist, alongside other Protestant and independent churches. ^[14]

Muslim population

About 1% in the reported 2021 census religious breakdown. ^[14]

No religious identification

About 16% reported no religious affiliation in the 2021 census figures cited by the U.S. State Department. ^[14]

Freedom of religion

Freedom of conscience, worship and religious choice is protected within Cabo Verde’s constitutional order. ^{[7] [14]}

Cultural traditions

Cabo Verdean cultural traditions include morna, coladeira, funaná, batuque, literature, community festivals and island-specific music.

Diaspora

Large Cabo Verdean communities reside abroad, including in Portugal, the United States and other Atlantic and European destinations. ^[9]

Life expectancy

Approximately 76 years (World Bank, 2024; rounded). ^[1]

National identity

Cabo Verdean identity developed through Atlantic trade, African and European histories, creole language and long-standing patterns of migration. ^[9]

2021 census comparison

In 2021, the statistical authority distinguished 491,233 usual residents from the broader 505,044 people enumerated; demographic proportions must specify the population base. ^[5]

Religion and language conventions: Religion shares above are attributed to the 2021 census as reported in a 2023 State Department report. They are not measures of 2026 religious affiliation. Portuguese is the constitutionally designated official language; the constitutional provision supporting official recognition of Cabo Verdean Creole does not itself amount to that designation. ^{[14] [7]}

Government and Institutions

Constitutional form

Unitary multiparty constitutional republic with an elected president, prime minister, and government accountable to the unicameral National Assembly. ^{[7] [10]}

Head of state

President José Maria Pereira Neves, in office at the November 5, 2026 editorial cutoff. ^{[12] [10]}

Head of government

Prime Minister Francisco Avelino Vieira de Carvalho (Francisco Carvalho), appointed June 19, 2026. ^{[10] [11]}

Prime minister’s party

African Party for the Independence of Cabo Verde (PAICV), which returned to government after the May 2026 election. ^[10]

Legislature

Unicameral National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional), with 72 elected seats. ^[10]

May 2026 parliamentary election

PAICV won 37 seats; Movement for Democracy (MpD) won 33; UCID won 2, for a 72-seat total. ^[10]

Speaker of the National Assembly

Janira Hopffer Almada, elected June 18, 2026; first woman to preside over the chamber. ^{[10] [13]}

Women in parliament

34 women among the 72 members elected in 2026 (47.2%), according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union. ^[10]

Government programme

The June 2026 government presented its programme for the 2026–2031 legislature in July 2026. ^[11]

Next presidential election

Scheduled for November 15, 2026; this date is in the future relative to the page’s November 5 editorial cutoff. No result is assumed. ^[12]

Judicial order

Constitutionally established judiciary; courts operate separately from the legislature and executive under the constitutional framework. ^[7]

Administrative divisions

22 municipalities (concelhos) distributed among the islands; smaller local administrative units also exist. ^[15]

Local administration

Elected local authorities govern municipalities within the unitary republic, subject to national constitutional and statutory law. ^[7]

Elections and diaspora

Cabo Verde has competitive multiparty elections, with electoral participation from qualified citizens resident abroad. ^{[10] [12]}

Election timing: The presidential election is scheduled for November 15, 2026, ten days after this profile’s editorial cutoff. The page identifies the incumbent as of November 5 and does not project an election winner. ^[12]

International Profile

United Nations

Admitted September 16, 1975, shortly after independence. ^[20]

African Union

Member of the African Union and participant in continent-wide diplomatic and development frameworks.

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Joined in 1977; participates in West African regional cooperation. ^[17]

Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP)

A founding member of the CPLP, established in 1996. ^[19]

World Trade Organization

Member since July 23, 2008. ^[18]

Other international organizations

Participates in the IMF, World Bank, United Nations system and other international and regional institutions. ^[1]

Principal external relationships

Portugal and other European states are prominent for tourism and merchandise trade; diaspora ties extend to Africa and the Americas. ^{[3] [2] [9]}

UN statistical region

Western Africa, a classification that includes Cabo Verde despite its offshore Atlantic location. ^[21]

Time zone

Cabo Verde Time (UTC−01:00), with no regular seasonal daylight-saving change.

International telephone code

+238

Country internet domain

.cv

Currency and exchange-rate regime

Escudo (CVE), at a fixed parity with the euro; monetary arrangements are distinct from EU membership. ^[16]

Sources and Verification

Editorial cutoff: November 5, 2026. Data years are noted individually. The May 2026 parliamentary result and June 2026 leadership change are incorporated; the November 15, 2026 presidential election remains prospective. Values are subject to revision by their publishers.

1. World Bank, Cabo Verde Country Data — 2025 population, nominal GDP, GDP per capita, real growth, inflation, and comparative development indicators.
2. World Bank, Cabo Verde 2026 Economic Update: Inter-Island Connectivity for Inclusive Growth — 2025 tourism, growth, services exports, current-account conditions, and inter-island transport constraints.
3. World Trade Organization, Tariff & Trade Data: Cabo Verde — 2024 merchandise exports, imports, leading goods categories and markets; 2026 tariff reference.
4. United Nations Statistics Division, UNdata Cabo Verde Profile — National area, UN M49 region, population density, capital, country currency and UN admission date.
5. Instituto Nacional de Estatística, Definitive 2021 Census Results (RGPH-2021) — Distinguishes 491,233 residents from 505,044 total persons enumerated, including visitors and others.
6. Instituto Nacional de Estatística, Demographic Estimates and Projections 2010–2040 (2024) — 2025 national projection (513,997), distinct from the World Bank international series; age groups.
7. National Assembly of Cabo Verde, Constitution (2010 consolidated version) — Republican institutions, Portuguese language status, capital, and constitutional safeguards.
8. National Assembly of Cabo Verde, History of the Constitution — 1975 independence, 1980 constitution, 1990 opening to pluralism, and 1992 constitution.
9. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cabo Verde, History — Portuguese settlement, colonial slavery, independence movement, and democratic transition.
10. Inter-Parliamentary Union, National Assembly Election of May 17, 2026 — Election results, party seats, 72-member legislature, women elected, June 2026 leadership changes.
11. Government of Cabo Verde, July 3, 2026 Government Programme for the XI Legislature — Confirmation of Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho and Speaker Janira Hopffer Almada.
12. National Electoral Commission, Presidential Elections 2026 — Presidential election scheduled for November 15, 2026, still prospective at the editorial cutoff.
13. National Assembly, Janira Hopffer Almada Elected Speaker, June 18, 2026 — June 18, 2026 speaker election and constitutive sitting.
14. U.S. Department of State, 2023 International Religious Freedom Report: Cabo Verde — Reported religion shares attributed to the 2021 census; note source uses a broader enumerated count in its description.
15. World Health Organization, Cabo Verde Country Cooperation Strategy 2024–2028 — Archipelagic geography, 10 islands with nine inhabited, 22 municipalities and public-health context.
16. Banco BAI Cabo Verde, Exchange Rates (official bank rates) — Documented fixed euro parity of 110.265 escudos to EUR 1 (rate page dated Nov. 3, 2026).
17. Economic Community of West African States, Creation and History — Cabo Verde joined ECOWAS in 1977; latest membership reference.
18. World Trade Organization, Cabo Verde Accession — WTO accession effective July 23, 2008.
19. Brazilian Government (INEP), Community of Portuguese Language Countries — Cabo Verde among seven founding CPLP members in 1996.
20. United Nations, Member States — Admission of Cabo Verde on September 16, 1975.
21. United Nations Statistics Division, M49 Classification — Western Africa subregional classification and standard country codes.

Data conventions: Nominal GDP uses current U.S. dollars, GDP per capita is a ratio rather than average wages, and real GDP growth is a volume change. The 2024 WTO product breakdown and trade totals concern goods only; 2025 services exports, principally tourism, are separate. National census residents, all persons enumerated, national statistical projections and World Bank population estimates have different definitions or methodologies. Religion statistics come from an older census and should not be presented as a new survey.