One of the most emblematic sites in the historic section of Praia is the National Palace of Culture, named in honor of Ildo Lobo. The Cabo Verdean Government dedicated the building to the vocalist-musician -- described as Cabo Verde's greatest male singer -- following his death in 2004.
A panoramic view of Palmarejo, a subdivision of Praia, with Monte Vermelho in the background. The exact date of Praia's founding is unclear, but it was sometime in the 16th century. Praia attained the status of a city, as well as its designation as the capital of Cabo Verde, in 1858; it is the economic, political, and cultural center of Cape Verde.
A view of Praia, the capital of Cabo Verde, from the air. The city is located on the southern coast of Sao Tiago Island, the largest of the Cabo Verde islands and the most important agricultural center, and it is home to more than half the nation's population.
One of the most emblematic sites in the historic section of Praia is the National Palace of Culture, named in honor of Ildo Lobo. The Cabo Verdean Government dedicated the building to the vocalist-musician -- described as Cabo Verde's greatest male singer -- following his death in 2004.
A panoramic view of Palmarejo, a subdivision of Praia, with Monte Vermelho in the background. The exact date of Praia's founding is unclear, but it was sometime in the 16th century. Praia attained the status of a city, as well as its designation as the capital of Cabo Verde, in 1858; it is the economic, political, and cultural center of Cape Verde.
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Cabo Verde Factbook Data
Diplomatic representation from the US
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
65 years and over: 6.4% (2024 est.) (male 15,049/female 24,103)
This is the population pyramid for Cabo Verde. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.
Geographic coordinates
16 00 N, 24 00 W
Sex ratio
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.)
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
Area - comparative
slightly larger than Rhode Island
Military service age and obligation
18-35 years of age for male and female selective compulsory military service; 24-month conscript service obligation; 17 years of age for voluntary service (with parental consent) (2024)
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.
Environment - current issues
deforestation due to demand for firewood; water shortages; droughts; desertification; soil erosion; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing
Environment - 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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Military expenditures
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.)
Population below poverty line
35.2% (2015 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.2% (2015 est.)
highest 10%: 32.3% (2015 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Exports - partners
Spain 46%, Portugal 9%, Togo 7%, Italy 7%, India 6% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
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
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Climate
temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and erratic
Coastline
965 km
Constitution
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
Flag description
five unequal horizontal bands; the top-most band of blue -- equal to half the width of the flag -- is followed by three narrow bands of white, red, and white, and a bottom stripe of blue; a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the red stripe and sits toward the left side of the flag; blue stands for the sea and sky; the stripes symbolize the country's formation through peace (white) and effort (red); the circle of stars represents the 10 major islands
Independence
5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Industries
food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair
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)
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
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Land use
agricultural land: 19.6% (2022 est.)
arable land: 12.4% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 1% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 6.2% (2022 est.)
forest: 11.5% (2022 est.)
other: 68.9% (2022 est.)
Legal system
civil law system of Portugal
Legislative branch
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)
salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum
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)
Economic overview
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
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Terrain
steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Government type
parliamentary republic
Country 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 the Cape Verde (Green Cape) peninsula on the Senegalese coast, the westernmost point of Africa and the nearest mainland to the islands
Location
Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
Map references
Africa
Irrigated land
35 sq km (2012)
Diplomatic representation in the US
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
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Total renewable water resources
300 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2018)
Urbanization
urban population: 68% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.83% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
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)
This is an audio of the National Anthem for Cabo Verde. The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.
Major urban areas - population
168,000 PRAIA (capital) (2018)
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Physician density
0.73 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density
2 beds/1,000 population (2018 est.)
National symbol(s)
ten five-pointed yellow stars
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 76.1% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 21.8% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 20.1% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 38.4% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -56.4% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Dependency ratios
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.)
Citizenship
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
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
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 97.1% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 95.3%
electrification - rural areas: 96.9%
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
D4
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 91.7% 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.)
Ethnic groups
Creole (Mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Religions
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.)
Languages
Portuguese (official), Crioulo (a Portuguese-based creole language with two main dialects)
Imports - partners
Portugal 29%, Saudi Arabia 11%, Netherlands 9%, Spain 8%, China 7% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Elevation
highest point: Mt. Fogo (a volcano on Fogo Island) 2,829 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Contraceptive prevalence rate
55.8% (2018)
Health expenditure
6.9% of GDP (2021)
16.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
the FACV has approximately 1,000-1,500 active personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the FACV has a limited amount of mostly dated or second-hand equipment, largely from China, some European countries, and the former Soviet Union (2024)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 1.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 400,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 30 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 132,555 tons (2012 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 31.08 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
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)
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Cidade Velha; Historic Center of Ribeira Grande
Electricity generation sources
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.)