CountriesIndicatorsThis week
Country page · Updated 13 Nov 2026

Cabo Verde

Cabo Verde has 527,326 people (World Bank, 2025) and an economy of $3.1 bn a year (World Bank, 2025). It imports all of the oil it uses (EIA, 2024).

Written automatically from the figures on this page.

Population
527,326 (2025)

Boundaries: Natural Earth 1:50m, which shows who controls an area in practice. Borders shown do not imply endorsement.

1

Dependencies at a glance

Cabo Verde imports all of the oil it uses.

Imports mostImports someLow net tradeExporter
Dependence is net imports: imports minus exports, as a share of what the country uses; for potash and phosphate, of its supply (production plus net imports). Arms and chips show supplier concentration only: the main supplier’s share of imports (arms: five-year totals of deliveries in SIPRI’s trend-indicator value, SIPRI’s measure of military capability delivered, not price or number of weapons).
ResourceDependencePositionMain partners
OilImports mostImports all of the oil it usesEIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025No partner data from the source
Natural gasUses no gas, by this source PreliminaryEIA, 2024No partner data from the source
WheatNot reported by this source–
MaizeImports mostImports all of the maize it usesFAOSTAT, use 2017 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil
RiceNot reported by this source–
SoybeansNot reported by this source–
PotashImports mostImports all of its potash supply EstimateFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025Spain, Portugal
PhosphateImports mostImports all of its phosphate supply EstimateFAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025Portugal, Netherlands
ArmsSupplier concentration onlyNo major arms imports recorded, 2021–2025SIPRI, 2021–2025–
ChipsSupplier concentration onlyMain supplier: Portugal, 62% of importsUN Comtrade, 2025Portugal, Spain, Senegal

Dependence is net imports: imports minus exports, as a share of what the country uses; for potash and phosphate, of its supply (production plus net imports). Arms and chips show supplier concentration only: the main supplier’s share of imports (arms: five-year totals of deliveries in SIPRI’s trend-indicator value, SIPRI’s measure of military capability delivered, not price or number of weapons).

  • OilImports most

    Imports all of the oil it uses

    Main partners: No partner data from the source

    EIA, use 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025

  • Natural gas

    Uses no gas, by this source Preliminary

    Main partners: No partner data from the source

    EIA, 2024

  • Wheat

    Not reported by this source

  • MaizeImports most

    Imports all of the maize it uses

    Main partners: Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil

    FAOSTAT, use 2017 · FAOSTAT, imports 2023

  • Rice

    Not reported by this source

  • Soybeans

    Not reported by this source

  • PotashImports most

    Imports all of its potash supply Estimate

    Main partners: Spain, Portugal

    FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025

  • PhosphateImports most

    Imports all of its phosphate supply Estimate

    Main partners: Portugal, Netherlands

    FAOSTAT, supply 2024 · UN Comtrade, imports 2025

  • ArmsSupplier concentration only

    No major arms imports recorded, 2021–2025

    SIPRI, 2021–2025

  • ChipsSupplier concentration only

    Main supplier: Portugal, 62% of imports

    Main partners: Portugal, Spain, Senegal

    UN Comtrade, 2025

Source: EIA; FAOSTAT; UN Comtradeyear in each rowUpdated 13 Nov 2026

Dependencies tool
2

Money and reserves

Cabo Verde’s economy produced $3.1 bn in 2025.

GDP, 2000–2025

$0$1.0 bn$2.0 bn$3.0 bn$4.0 bn200020052010201520202025

Source: World Bank Indicators2000–2025Updated 13 Nov 2026

Economic growth6.3%2025 · 29th of 186 · World Bank
Inflation2.3%2025 · 102nd of 169 · World Bank
Unemployment11.9%2025 · 25th of 181 · World Bank
ReservesUS$783million2024 · 136th of 164 · World Bank
Trade97% of GDP2024 · 62nd of 172 · World Bank
Foreign investment inUS$154million2025 · 146th of 200 · World Bank
3

People

Cabo Verde had 527,326 people in 2025.

Population, 1950–2100

0200,000400,000600,000800,000195019701990200020102030205020702100Projection
Projection: UN projection, medium variant, after 2023Range between the UN low- and high-fertility scenarios

Source: UN World Population ProspectsUpdated 13 Nov 2026Projection

Cabo Verde’s population by age

1950200020502100
MenWomen01020304050607080901000m00m
Millions of people in each five-year age group, men left and women right. Years after 2023 are UN projections (medium variant).

Source: UN World Population Prospects1950–2100Updated 13 Nov 2026Projection

Births per woman1.522023 · 166th of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Median age27.92023 · 148th of 237 · UN WPP 2024
Aged 65 and over7.2%2025, Projection, medium variant · UN WPP 2024
4

Climate and hazards

Cabo Verde emitted 594,000 t of CO2 from fossil fuels and cement in 2024.

Cabo Verde’s CO2 emissions, million tonnes, 1990–2024

0 Mt0.20 Mt0.40 Mt0.60 Mt0.80 Mt1990199520002005201020152024

Source: Our World in Data CO21990–2024Updated 13 Nov 2026

CO2 emissions0.59Mt2024 · 180th of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 per person1.1t2024 · 155th of 213 · Global Carbon Budget
CO2 since 175017Mt2024 · 179th of 214 · Global Carbon Budget
5

More figures

Shown only where a source covers Cabo Verde.

Refugees

0refugees and others in need of protection hosted, 2025
94from it, abroad, 2025

Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder2025

Sanctions

2entries on the US, EU and UK lists give it as an address or nationality: US 1 and UK 1

Counts entries (people, companies, ships and aircraft), not how strict the measures are.

Source: US CSL; EU sanctions list; UK Sanctions ListUpdated 13 Nov 2026

Chinese loans and grants

US$498millioncommitted by Chinese state lenders, 2000–2021

Source: AidData Chinese development finance2000–2021

Cyber incidents

No publicly known incidents affecting Cabo Verde in EuRepoC’s dataset, 2000–2024.

Counts compare documented incidents, not how often a country is targeted.

Source: EuRepoC Global Dataset of Cyber Incidents 1.3.2 (4 Mar 2025), CC BY-NC 4.02000–2024

6

All figures

46 measures on this site have a recent figure for Cabo Verde.

GDP$3.1 bn2025162nd of 186World Bank
GDP per person$5,7962025111th of 186World Bank
Economic growth6.3%202529th of 186World Bank
Inflation2.3%2025102nd of 169World Bank
Government debtEstimate202513th of 191IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026
Government budget balanceEstimate202528th of 195IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026
Current account balanceEstimate202549th of 194IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026
Unemployment11.9%202525th of 181World Bank
Reserves, including gold$783 m2024136th of 164World Bank
Trade97%202462nd of 172World Bank
Foreign investment in$154 m2025146th of 200World Bank
Remittances received12.3%202419th of 162World Bank
Population527,3262025172nd of 216World Bank
Population with UN projections522,3312023175th of 237UN WPP 2024
Births per woman1.522023166th of 237UN WPP 2024
Median age27.92023148th of 237UN WPP 2024
Life expectancy76.12023110th of 237UN WPP 2024
Refugees from the country942025174th of 206UNHCR
Refugees and others needing protection, by host02025171st of 176UNHCR
Refugees hosted per 1,000 people0.02025171st of 176UNHCR
Crude oil production0 kb/d2025100th of 214EIA
Oil consumption5 kb/d2024181st of 212EIA
Natural gas productionPreliminary202497th of 213EIA
Natural gas consumption0.0 bcm2024126th of 213EIA
Electricity generated1 TWh2024170th of 193Ember
Low-carbon electricity31%2024107th of 193Ember
Electricity from coal0%202482nd of 193Ember
Electricity from wind and solar31%202418th of 193Ember
Wheat imports0.0 Mt2024145th of 180FAOSTAT
Maize production0.0 Mt2024161st of 169FAOSTAT
Maize imports0.0 Mt2024126th of 196FAOSTAT
Rice imports0.0 Mt2024131st of 197FAOSTAT
Soybean imports0.0 Mt2024144th of 179FAOSTAT
Potash fertiliser use0.00 Mt2024175th of 199FAOSTAT
Phosphate fertiliser use0.00 Mt2024171st of 199FAOSTAT
CO2 emissions0.59 Mt2024180th of 214Global Carbon Budget
CO2 per person1.1 t2024155th of 213Global Carbon Budget
CO2 emitted since 175017 Mt2024179th of 214Global Carbon Budget
Water from abroad0%2023125th of 193FAO AQUASTAT
Military spending, share of GDP0.7%2025130th of 150World Bank
Military spending$20 m2025146th of 150World Bank
People using the internet75%2024110th of 182World Bank
ICT service exports$12 m2024138th of 162World Bank
ICT service exports, share of service exports1.5%2024134th of 162World Bank
Sanctions list entries (US, EU, UK)22026155th of 181US CSL
Chinese loans and grants committed$2 m2021107th of 122AidData, Global Chinese Development Finance Dataset 3.0

Sources for this page

  • World Bank IndicatorsGDP, GDP per person, Economic growth, Inflation, Unemployment, Reserves, …
  • IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2026Debt, Budget balance, Current account
  • UN World Population ProspectsPopulation (UN), Births per woman, Median age, Life expectancy
  • UNHCR Refugee Data FinderRefugees from, Refugees hosted, Refugees per 1,000
  • U.S. Energy Information AdministrationOil output, Oil use, Gas output, Gas use, Dependencies at a glance
  • Ember electricity dataElectricity, Low-carbon electricity, Electricity from coal, Electricity from wind and solar
  • FAOSTATWheat imports, Maize production, Maize imports, Rice imports, Soybean imports, Potash use, …
  • Our World in Data CO2CO2 emissions, CO2 per person, CO2 since 1750
  • FAO AQUASTATWater from abroad
  • US Consolidated Screening ListSanctions list entries, Sanctions
  • AidData Chinese development financeChinese loans and grants
  • UN ComtradeDependencies at a glance
  • EU financial sanctions listSanctions
  • UK Sanctions ListSanctions
  • EuRepoC cyber incidentsCyber incidents

Page last updated 13 Nov 2026How we measure

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