GeoRealityMatch
A weathered building with a man sitting outside in the urban streets of Mindelo, Cape Verde.Aerial view of a city nestled in an arid landscape with distant mountains under a clear sky.

Cape Verde

Africa · Western Africa

Affordable Cost of LivingMedium Development
Flawed Democracy
HDI0.661#129 / 191Medium
GDP / Capita$6K#114 / 190Upper-mid
Life Expectancy76 yrs#79 / 195High
Population527K168th
PPP / Capita$12KLow
Gender Inequality0.325Moderate

Atlantic island archipelago; a safe, stable African democracy and surfing hotspot.

At a Glance

89
ModerateInfant survivalIndex. 10.6 infant deaths per 1,000 live births
64
AffordableCost of LivingHigher is cheaper to live in
92
HighWater AccessShare of people with basic water access
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Cape Verde's Human Development Index

0.661

Medium human development

#129 of 191 countries worldwide, #11 of 54 in Africa.

Higher than 33% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.

Closest indicators in this dataset

Life expectancy at birth76.2 yrs (2024)
GNI per capita$5,590 (2025)

World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.

Nearest countries by HDI

#127Bangladesh0.670#128Nicaragua0.669
#129Cape Verde0.661
#130Tuvalu0.653#131Equatorial Guinea0.650
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →
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Cape Verde

Cape Verde is an Atlantic archipelago off the West African coast with a distinctive Creole culture that blends African and Portuguese influences in its music, food, and way of life. Each island has its own personality, from the lush volcanic interior of Santo Antão to the music-filled streets of São Vicente and the golden dunes of Sal. It suits travellers who want a relaxed, warm-weather destination with a genuine local culture rather than a purely resort experience.

  • No indigenous population — entirely settled by Portuguese colonists and African slaves.
  • One of Africa's most stable democracies, ranked higher than many EU countries for press freedom.
  • Music genre Morna — made famous by Cesária Évora — originated here.
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Quick Facts

Capital

Praia

Language

Portuguese

Currency

Esc CVE

Area

4,030 km²

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Nomad Hub

PlugType C/F
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Digital Nomad Visa

Min. Income

No minimum

Duration

6 months

Renewable

Yes

Application Fee

~€59

~$65

Application difficultyMedium
Tax treatmentExempt
Processing time~30 days
Health insuranceRequired
DependentsYes
Apply onlineIn person / consulate
Path to residencyYes
Open to all nationalitiesRestricted
Official page

GDP / Capita

i

$6K

Lower Mid

PPP / Capita

i

$12K

Upper Mid

Inflation

i

2.3%

Low

Unemployment

i

11.9%

High

Innovation (GII)

i

22.6

Below Avg

GNI / Capita

i

$6K

Lower Mid

Tax Revenue

i

18.4%

FDI Inflows

i

5.0%

Education Spend

i

4.3%

Cost of Living

i

46.3

Affordable

Price Level Index

i

42nd pct

Affordable

20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast

Income & inflation over time

i
+157% nominal+75% real
$5K$9K$14K2%4%6%8%200620102015202020252028
GDPPPPInflationIMF forecast

HDI since 2000

0.590 → 0.661 (+0.071)Year by year →
2000: 0.5902001: 0.5982002: 0.6062003: 0.6122004: 0.6152005: 0.6222006: 0.6332007: 0.6392008: 0.6432009: 0.6452010: 0.6492011: 0.6572012: 0.6572013: 0.6642014: 0.6632015: 0.6582016: 0.6642017: 0.6682018: 0.6642019: 0.6672020: 0.6492021: 0.6502022: 0.661

UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 23 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.

Twenty years here

Year by year →The world report →
Life expectancy at birth70.9 → 76.2 (+5.3)
Internet users7 → 75 (+68)
Urban population59 → 78 (+19)
Births per woman2.73 → 1.51 (-1.22)
Renewable share of energy24 → 22 (-3)
Access to electricity67 → 98 (+31)
Infant mortality24 → 11 (-13)
CO2 emissions per person1.3 → 1.3 (+0)
Forest area10 → 12 (+1)

World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).

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Quick answers

What is Cape Verde's Human Development Index?

Cape Verde's Human Development Index is 0.661 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #129 of 191 countries.

How expensive is Cape Verde?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Cape Verde at 46.3 (New York = 100); that is #85 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Cape Verde?

Life expectancy at birth in Cape Verde is 76.2 yrs (World Bank), ranked #79 of 195 countries.