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

The air is polluted.

Safety
Homicides
7.0per 100,000 people a yearHighUNODC / World Bank · 2020
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$5,590national income per person, US dollarsModerate
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
8.8New York = 100Very affordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 157% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 75% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$7.5K$15K$12,165 PPP$5,796Inflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $2,257 a person, $4,758 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2007, $3,325 a person, $5,567 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2008, $3,909 a person, $6,011 at PPP, inflation 6.8%2009, $3,660 a person, $5,901 at PPP, inflation 1%2010, $3,579 a person, $6,039 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2011, $4,002 a person, $6,384 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2012, $3,737 a person, $6,318 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2013, $3,961 a person, $6,367 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2014, $3,986 a person, $6,417 at PPP, inflation -0.2%2015, $3,415 a person, $6,773 at PPP, inflation 0.1%2016, $3,609 a person, $7,351 at PPP, inflation -1.4%2017, $3,893 a person, $7,936 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2018, $4,295 a person, $7,916 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2019, $4,381 a person, $8,646 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2020, $3,539 a person, $6,853 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2021, $3,971 a person, $7,685 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2022, $4,323 a person, $9,480 at PPP, inflation 7.9%2023, $4,795 a person, $10,251 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2024, $5,170 a person, $11,185 at PPP, inflation 1%2025, $5,796 a person, $12,165 at PPP, inflation 2.3%$0$7.5K$15KInflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $2,257 a person, $4,758 at PPP, inflation 5.4%2007, $3,325 a person, $5,567 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2008, $3,909 a person, $6,011 at PPP, inflation 6.8%2009, $3,660 a person, $5,901 at PPP, inflation 1%2010, $3,579 a person, $6,039 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2011, $4,002 a person, $6,384 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2012, $3,737 a person, $6,318 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2013, $3,961 a person, $6,367 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2014, $3,986 a person, $6,417 at PPP, inflation -0.2%2015, $3,415 a person, $6,773 at PPP, inflation 0.1%2016, $3,609 a person, $7,351 at PPP, inflation -1.4%2017, $3,893 a person, $7,936 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2018, $4,295 a person, $7,916 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2019, $4,381 a person, $8,646 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2020, $3,539 a person, $6,853 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2021, $3,971 a person, $7,685 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2022, $4,323 a person, $9,480 at PPP, inflation 7.9%2023, $4,795 a person, $10,251 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2024, $5,170 a person, $11,185 at PPP, inflation 1%2025, $5,796 a person, $12,165 at PPP, inflation 2.3%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Around the middle for life expectancy

Life expectancy
76.2years, at birthHigh
#79 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
71WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100ModerateWHO · 2023
Air pollution
28.3PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageHighWHO · 2023
Work and internet
Unemployment rate
11.9%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Visas and moving

Digital nomad visaMedium

Minimum income
No minimum
Duration
6 months
Renewable
Yes
Application fee
€59about $65
  • Tax treatmentExempt
  • Processing timeAbout 30 days
  • Health insuranceRequired
  • DependantsAllowed
  • Apply onlineIn person or at a consulate
  • Path to residencyYes
  • NationalitiesSome are restricted
Official page
Aerial view of a city nestled in an arid landscape with distant mountains under a clear sky.
How it changed

Cape Verde's Human Development Index

0.668Medium human development

135th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 13th of 54 in Africa.

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. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #132El Salvador0.678
  2. #133Equatorial Guinea0.674
  3. #135Cape Verde0.668
  4. #136Namibia0.665
  5. #137Guatemala0.662
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 2000

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.585 in 2000 to 0.668 in 2023.

0.550.630.700.6682000201020232000: 0.5852001: 0.5912002: 0.6002003: 0.6062004: 0.6102005: 0.6162006: 0.6312007: 0.6362008: 0.6432009: 0.6442010: 0.6482011: 0.6542012: 0.6552013: 0.6602014: 0.6592015: 0.6582016: 0.6612017: 0.6632018: 0.6632019: 0.6672020: 0.6472021: 0.6512022: 0.6642023: 0.6680.550.630.702000201020232000: 0.5852001: 0.5912002: 0.6002003: 0.6062004: 0.6102005: 0.6162006: 0.6312007: 0.6362008: 0.6432009: 0.6442010: 0.6482011: 0.6542012: 0.6552013: 0.6602014: 0.6592015: 0.6582016: 0.6612017: 0.6632018: 0.6632019: 0.6672020: 0.6472021: 0.6512022: 0.6642023: 0.668

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 24 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
76.2 years2024at birthUp 5.3 years from 70.9 years in 2005
Internet users
75%2024of people onlineUp 68 points from 7% in 2006
Urban population
78%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 19 points from 59% in 2006
Births per woman
1.512024births per womanDown 1.22 from 2.73 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
22%2022of energy usedDown 3 points from 24% in 2004
Access to electricity
98%2024of people with electricityUp 31 points from 67% in 2005
Infant mortality
112024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 13 from 24 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
1.3 t2024of CO2 per person a yearLevel with 2005
Forest area
12%2023of land under forestUp 1 point from 10% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Atlantic island archipelago; a safe, stable African democracy and surfing hotspot. The case against is polluted air.

About 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.

Practical facts

  • CapitalPraia
  • LanguagesPortuguese
  • CurrencyCape Verdean escudo (CVE)
  • Area4,030 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
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Every figure

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Quick answers

What is Cape Verde's Human Development Index?

Cape Verde's Human Development Index is 0.668 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #135 of 193 by UNDP.

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.