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Economy of Cape Verde vs Iraq compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Cape Verde has a GDP of $3.06B compared to $254B for Iraq, ranking 172/197 and 54/197 by economy size, respectively.

Cape Verde has $3.09B in government debt (101% of GDP), compared to $137B (53.9% of GDP) in Iraq.

Cape Verde vs Iraq GDP by year

Cape Verde
Iraq
1x
Year GDP, current $
Cape Verde Iraq
2025 $3,056,630,435 $254,367,293,538
2024 $2,713,721,857 $279,641,257,615
2023 $2,504,525,538 $268,881,051,644
2022 $2,247,003,344 $287,372,232,138
2021 $2,051,842,619 $209,691,945,713
2020 $1,821,565,614 $180,898,797,517
2019 $2,252,177,124 $233,636,097,800
2018 $2,205,099,507 $227,367,469,034
2017 $1,996,741,540 $187,217,660,051
2016 $1,849,789,986 $166,743,557,748
2015 $1,749,857,620 $166,774,104,959
2014 $2,041,930,125 $228,415,656,175
2013 $2,028,910,915 $234,637,675,129
2012 $1,913,081,210 $218,002,476,129
2011 $2,046,817,987 $185,749,664,444
2010 $1,824,751,468 $138,516,722,650
2009 $1,852,334,575 $111,657,580,326
2008 $1,959,620,648 $131,614,434,154
2007 $1,649,621,739 $88,837,057,320
2006 $1,107,571,458 $65,147,051,918
2005 $972,241,677 $50,065,104,668
2004 $924,940,012 $36,633,669,269
2003 $813,260,469 $21,921,569,479
2002 $620,507,387 $32,928,454,672
2001 $563,090,490 $36,176,430,129
2000 $539,227,278 $48,364,250,944
1999 $592,416,703 $36,881,601,584
1998 $521,910,561 $20,617,405,044
1997 $490,608,658 $20,764,857,056
1996 $501,979,270 $10,433,698,621
1995 $487,148,994 $12,894,029,888
1994 $406,580,652 $3,991,349,283
1993 $490,417,390 $1,031,944,881
1992 $357,160,985 $553,671,958
1991 $319,827,059 $407,796,350
1990 $306,890,963 $180,408,064,516
1989 $267,448,571 $65,831,935,484
1988 $264,308,140 $62,684,516,129
1987 $235,253,065 $56,774,193,548
1986 $190,651,168 $47,264,516,129
1985 $137,728,205 $48,425,161,290
1984 $132,019,039 $46,938,387,097
1983 $138,476,176 $40,712,903,226
1982 $140,630,679 $42,382,333,333
1981 $139,468,209 $37,823,000,000
1980 $142,246,815 $52,569,000,000
1979 - $37,816,457,839
1978 - $23,762,275,652
1977 - $19,838,130,715
1976 - $17,754,825,601
1975 - $13,458,516,763
1974 - $11,516,762,614
1973 - $5,134,367,778
1972 - $4,113,848,002
1971 - $3,865,346,535
1970 - $3,281,318,687
1969 - $3,007,758,797
1968 - $2,896,598,841
1967 - $2,551,522,656
1966 - $2,530,306,096
1965 - $2,335,785,506
1964 - $2,136,408,198
1963 - $1,805,901,510
1962 - $1,784,174,541
1961 - $1,671,960,965
1960 - $1,537,252,193

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/cape-verde/iraq | CC BY

GDP per capita in Cape Verde vs Iraq by year

Cape Verde
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Iraq
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Cape Verde Iraq
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $5,796 - $5,410 -
2024 $5,170 $11,195 $6,074 $14,464
2023 $4,795 $10,242 $5,965 $14,653
2022 $4,323 $9,481 $6,521 $14,391
2021 $3,971 $7,685 $4,868 $12,732
2020 $3,539 $6,853 $4,295 $10,574
2019 $4,381 $8,646 $5,672 $12,249
2018 $4,295 $7,916 $5,647 $12,034
2017 $3,893 $7,936 $4,759 $10,192
2016 $3,609 $7,351 $4,334 $9,079
2015 $3,415 $6,773 $4,440 $9,334
2014 $3,986 $6,417 $6,249 $13,168
2013 $3,961 $6,367 $6,650 $14,669
2012 $3,737 $6,318 $6,478 $14,402
2011 $4,002 $6,384 $5,776 $12,912
2010 $3,579 $6,039 $4,462 $12,186
2009 $3,660 $5,901 $3,715 $11,687
2008 $3,909 $6,011 $4,543 $11,657
2007 $3,325 $5,567 $3,129 $10,783
2006 $2,257 $4,758 $2,277 $10,223
2005 $2,004 $4,324 $1,762 $9,457
2004 $1,929 $3,969 $1,328 $9,290
2003 $1,718 $3,551 $818 $6,068
2002 $1,329 $3,388 $1,266 $9,682
2001 $1,223 $3,217 $1,436 $10,720
2000 $1,190 $3,124 $1,980 $10,628
1999 $1,327 $2,714 $1,560 $9,194
1998 $1,187 $2,443 $901 $7,964
1997 $1,134 $2,182 $936 $6,020
1996 $1,180 $1,963 $485 $5,034
1995 $1,165 $1,762 $619 $4,598
1994 $991 $1,540 $198.2 $4,560
1993 $1,220 $1,291 $53.7 $4,509
1992 $908 $1,186 $30.3 $3,547
1991 $832 $1,069 $23 $2,694
1990 $817 $1,044 $10,261 -
1989 $727 - $3,791 -
1988 $729 - $3,707 -
1987 $658 - $3,436 -
1986 $541 - $2,940 -
1985 $396 - $3,088 -
1984 $385 - $3,066 -
1983 $410 - $2,743 -
1982 $423 - $2,942 -
1981 $425 - $2,700 -
1980 $440 - $3,868 -
1979 - - $2,871 -
1978 - - $1,863 -
1977 - - $1,609 -
1976 - - $1,489 -
1975 - - $1,166 -
1974 - - $1,031 -
1973 - - $476 -
1972 - - $394 -
1971 - - $384 -
1970 - - $337 -
1969 - - $320 -
1968 - - $319 -
1967 - - $290.6 -
1966 - - $298.2 -
1965 - - $284.8 -
1964 - - $269.4 -
1963 - - $235.5 -
1962 - - $240.7 -
1961 - - $232.4 -
1960 - - $218.9 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/cape-verde/iraq | CC BY

Cape Verde's GDP per capita is $5,796, ranking 116/197, compared to $5,410 in Iraq, ranking 119/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Cape Verde ranks 129th at $11,195, while Iraq ranks 115th at $14,464.

Economic indicators

Cape Verde Iraq
Gross domestic product
$3.06B
2025
$254B
2025
GDP rank
172/197
2025
54/197
2025
GDP growth
6.3%
2024-2025
-2.16%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$5,796
2025
$5,410
2025
GDP per capita rank
116/197
2025
119/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$11,195
2024
$14,464
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
129/197
2024
115/197
2024
Government debt
$3.09B
2025
$137B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
101%
2025
53.9%
2025
Government debt per person
$5,854
2025
$2,917
2025
Government debt per person rank
77/185
2025
108/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,506
2026
$6,782
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.3%
2015
24.2%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
2.2%
2015
3.7%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27%
2025
42.7%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
2.3%
2024-2025
0.3%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
1.5%
2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
11.3%
2019
16.2%
2021
Population
530853
48531417

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Cape Verde
Spending

Debt
Iraq
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Cape Verde Iraq
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 27% 101% 42.7% 53.9%
2024 26.1% 112.8% 41.7% 45.2%
2023 25.7% 117.5% 41.2% 42.1%
2022 26.6% 127.6% 33.9% 39%
2021 30.8% 149.5% 36.3% 54.7%
2020 34.5% 149.1% 41.9% 72.5%
2019 27.5% 109.8% 34.7% 41.7%
2018 27.5% 112.3% 31.1% 44.4%
2017 28% 113% 35.5% 55.9%
2016 26.6% 115.6% 42.4% 60.3%
2015 28.7% 115.7% 43.5% 48.3%
2014 27.8% 105.7% 43.8% 27.6%
2013 30.9% 93.5% 48.2% 32%
2012 31.6% 82.9% 42.9% 34.8%
2011 30.3% 71.6% 43.4% 40.7%
2010 35.7% 66.2% 49.6% 53.5%
2009 30.6% 58.8% 61.1% 87.4%
2008 27.6% 57.5% 57.3% 74.2%
2007 27.1% 59.6% 44% 117.1%
2006 28.4% 66.2% 50.3% 143.2%
2005 26.2% 66.7% 63.2% 227.3%
2004 26.3% 67.8% 91.5% 344%
2003 23.4% 65.6% - -
2002 28.5% 64.7% - -
2001 24.2% 62.2% - -
2000 36.7% 71.9% - -
1999 35% 66.4% - -
1998 29.8% 72.9% - -
1997 34.8% 79.3% - -
1996 38.9% 85.7% - -
1995 44.5% 74.3% - -
1994 48.1% 73.4% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1994–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1994–1996, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/cape-verde/iraq | CC BY

In 2025, Cape Verde's government spending was $827M, accounting for 27% of its GDP, while Iraq spent $109B, or 42.7% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 101% in Cape Verde and 53.9% in Iraq, ranking 23/185 and 95/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Cape Verde

Iraq
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Cape Verde Iraq
2025 1.06% -6.41%
2024 -1.07% -3.45%
2023 -0.28% -1.14%
2022 -4.25% 8.1%
2021 -7.51% -0.38%
2020 -9.29% -12.8%
2019 -1.62% 0.83%
2018 -2.36% 7.69%
2017 -2.63% -1.52%
2016 -2.73% -14.4%
2015 -4.16% -12.8%
2014 -6.93% -5.63%
2013 -8.49% -6.06%
2012 -9.36% 4.09%
2011 -6.98% 4.74%
2010 -9.6% -4.18%
2009 -5.32% -14.9%
2008 -1.42% -0.86%
2007 -0.86% 9.98%
2006 -4.32% 10.7%
2005 -4.69% 4.07%
2004 -2.98% -35.4%
2003 -3.63% -
2002 -6.14% -
2001 -5.03% -
2000 -15.5% -
1999 -10.9% -
1998 -3.16% -
1997 -10.2% -
1996 -11.2% -
1995 -11.1% -
1994 -12.8% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1994–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/cape-verde/iraq | CC BY

In 2025, Cape Verde's government surplus, the difference between spending and revenue, was $32.3M, equivalent to 1.06% of GDP. This compares to Iraq's deficit of $16.3B, or 6.41% of GDP.

Over the past 22 years, Cape Verde recorded a fiscal deficit in 21 of those years, while Iraq ran a deficit in 14 years. On average, Cape Verde posted an annual deficit equal to 4.35% of GDP, compared to deficit of 3.17% of GDP for Iraq.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Cape Verde

Iraq
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Cape Verde Iraq
2025 2.3% 0.3%
2024 1.1% 2.61%
2023 3.7% 4.36%
2022 7.9% 4.99%
2021 1.9% 6.04%
2020 0.6% 0.57%
2019 1.1% -0.2%
2018 1.3% 0.37%
2017 0.8% 0.18%
2016 -1.4% 0.56%
2015 0.1% 1.39%
2014 -0.2% 2.24%
2013 1.5% 1.88%
2012 2.5% 6.09%
2011 4.5% 5.6%
2010 2.1% 2.43%
2009 1% 6.87%
2008 6.8% 12.7%
2007 4.4% -10.1%
2006 4.8% 53.2%
2005 0.4% 37%
2004 -1.9% 27%
2003 1.2% 33.6%
2002 1.9% 19.3%
2001 3.7% 16.4%
2000 -2.4% 4.98%
1999 4.3% 12.6%
1998 4.4% 14.8%
1997 8.6% 23.1%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/cape-verde/iraq | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Cape Verde has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.31%, compared with 10% in Iraq. In 2025, inflation was 2.3% in Cape Verde and 0.3% in Iraq.

Balance of trade

Cape Verde Iraq
Current account balance
$108M
2025
$8.37B
2024
Current account balance ranking
63/190
2025
27/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+3.53%
2025
+2.99%
2024
Goods imports
$1.29B
2025
$74.3B
2024
Goods exports
$344M
2025
$101B
2024
Service imports
$350M
2025
$30.2B
2024
Service exports
$940M
2025
$10.2B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53.4%
2025
37.4%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
42%
2025
39.8%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Cape Verde Iraq
Economic freedom 71.4 15.6
Economic freedom ranking 32/197 196/197
Property rights 72.7 8.3
Government integrity 63.3 20.2
Judicial effectiveness 77.1 5.8
Tax burden 84.4 85.5
Government spending 79.5 65.3
Fiscal health 74.4 95.7
Business freedom 78.9 42.8
Labor freedom 59.5 60.6
Monetary freedom 80.4 68.6
Trade freedom 66.6 40
Investment freedom 60 10
Financial freedom 60 10

Economic freedom comparison by year

Cape Verde
Iraq
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Cape Verde Iraq
2026 71.4 -
2025 68.7 -
2024 62.9 -
2023 65.8 -
2022 66.7 -
2021 63.8 -
2020 63.6 -
2019 63.1 -
2018 60 -
2017 56.9 -
2016 66.5 -
2015 66.4 -
2014 66.1 -
2013 63.7 -
2012 63.5 -
2011 64.6 -
2010 61.8 -
2009 61.3 -
2008 57.9 -
2007 56.5 -
2006 58.6 -
2005 57.8 -
2004 58.1 -
2003 56.1 -
2002 57.6 15.6
2001 56.3 17.2
2000 51.9 17.2
1999 50.7 17.2
1998 48 17.2
1997 47.7 17.2
1996 49.7 17.2

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/cape-verde/iraq | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Cape Verde is 71.4, ranking 32/197, compared to 15.6 for Iraq, ranking 196/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Cape Verde Iraq
Services, % of GDP
67.9%
2025
52.3%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
10.7%
2025
45.4%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
5.04%
2025
3.41%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$2.95B
2025
$267B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$12,010
2025
$14,290
2025
Total reserves including gold
$1.26B
2025
$101B
2024
Total reserves ranking
138/177
2025
30/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$130M
2025
$8.09B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$110M
2024
-$7.65B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$20.8M
2024
$439M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
5.72%
2024
1.22%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
24.8%
2023
17.5%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
17.4%
2025
19.1%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/cape-verde/iraq | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1994–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1994–1996, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.