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Economy of Cape Verde vs Mauritania compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Cape Verde has a GDP of $3.06B compared to $11.7B for Mauritania, ranking 172/197 and 153/197 by economy size, respectively.

Cape Verde has $3.09B in government debt (101% of GDP), compared to $4.68B (40.1% of GDP) in Mauritania.

Cape Verde vs Mauritania GDP by year

Cape Verde
Mauritania
1x
Year GDP, current $
Cape Verde Mauritania
2025 $3,056,630,435 $11,679,910,946
2024 $2,713,721,857 $10,879,212,033
2023 $2,504,525,538 $10,687,541,640
2022 $2,247,003,344 $9,562,497,461
2021 $2,051,842,619 $9,221,044,667
2020 $1,821,565,614 $8,260,567,357
2019 $2,252,177,124 $7,894,764,886
2018 $2,205,099,507 $7,475,471,310
2017 $1,996,741,540 $6,812,472,965
2016 $1,849,789,986 $6,407,900,701
2015 $1,749,857,620 $6,182,303,677
2014 $2,041,930,125 $6,615,483,550
2013 $2,028,910,915 $7,230,646,063
2012 $1,913,081,210 $6,728,208,836
2011 $2,046,817,987 $6,764,627,746
2010 $1,824,751,468 $5,628,878,798
2009 $1,852,334,575 $4,714,595,548
2008 $1,959,620,648 $5,206,437,194
2007 $1,649,621,739 $4,346,212,355
2006 $1,107,571,458 $3,919,577,286
2005 $972,241,677 $2,936,019,526
2004 $924,940,012 $2,362,501,023
2003 $813,260,469 $2,051,147,607
2002 $620,507,387 $1,777,057,481
2001 $563,090,490 $1,746,063,558
2000 $539,227,278 $1,779,520,886
1999 $592,416,703 $1,985,922,776
1998 $521,910,561 $2,032,347,665
1997 $490,608,658 $2,071,996,564
1996 $501,979,270 $2,132,087,009
1995 $487,148,994 $2,091,726,101
1994 $406,580,652 $1,944,876,755
1993 $490,417,390 $1,847,353,211
1992 $357,160,985 $2,164,298,425
1991 $319,827,059 $2,133,692,697
1990 $306,890,963 $1,506,914,408
1989 $267,448,571 $1,450,647,019
1988 $264,308,140 $1,414,951,290
1987 $235,253,065 $1,344,664,725
1986 $190,651,168 $1,186,628,778
1985 $137,728,205 $1,009,723,326
1984 $132,019,039 $1,074,373,230
1983 $138,476,176 $1,165,171,263
1982 $140,630,679 $1,108,776,653
1981 $139,468,209 $1,105,494,682
1980 $142,246,815 $1,047,925,106
1979 - $951,900,945
1978 - $804,629,877
1977 - $799,030,017
1976 - $775,045,517
1975 - $703,377,837
1974 - $613,010,553
1973 - $493,237,876
1972 - $391,669,449
1971 - $335,568,907
1970 - $309,405,316
1969 - $295,062,308
1968 - $311,395,937
1967 - $282,615,310
1966 - $266,533,605
1965 - $255,340,475
1964 - $224,495,744
1963 - $168,186,297
1962 - $164,271,558
1961 - $159,213,430

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

GDP per capita in Cape Verde vs Mauritania by year

Cape Verde
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Mauritania
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Cape Verde Mauritania
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $5,796 - $2,198 -
2024 $5,170 $11,195 $2,105 $7,369
2023 $4,795 $10,242 $2,128 $6,966
2022 $4,323 $9,481 $1,961 $6,485
2021 $3,971 $7,685 $1,947 $5,837
2020 $3,539 $6,853 $1,796 $5,741
2019 $4,381 $8,646 $1,767 $5,610
2018 $4,295 $7,916 $1,723 $5,429
2017 $3,893 $7,936 $1,618 $5,353
2016 $3,609 $7,351 $1,568 $4,683
2015 $3,415 $6,773 $1,559 $3,978
2014 $3,986 $6,417 $1,719 $3,865
2013 $3,961 $6,367 $1,936 $3,831
2012 $3,737 $6,318 $1,859 $3,465
2011 $4,002 $6,384 $1,931 $3,271
2010 $3,579 $6,039 $1,660 $3,178
2009 $3,660 $5,901 $1,435 $3,159
2008 $3,909 $6,011 $1,636 $3,236
2007 $3,325 $5,567 $1,405 $3,278
2006 $2,257 $4,758 $1,301 $3,342
2005 $2,004 $4,324 $999 $2,809
2004 $1,929 $3,969 $824 $2,570
2003 $1,718 $3,551 $732 $2,447
2002 $1,329 $3,388 $649 $2,296
2001 $1,223 $3,217 $652 $2,280
2000 $1,190 $3,124 $681 $2,304
1999 $1,327 $2,714 $781 $2,411
1998 $1,187 $2,443 $821 $2,355
1997 $1,134 $2,182 $859 $2,325
1996 $1,180 $1,963 $904 $2,436
1995 $1,165 $1,762 $905 $2,306
1994 $991 $1,540 $865 $2,114
1993 $1,220 $1,291 $850 $2,209
1992 $908 $1,186 $1,036 $2,122
1991 $832 $1,069 $1,062 $2,116
1990 $817 $1,044 $772 $2,070
1989 $727 - $762 -
1988 $729 - $762 -
1987 $658 - $746 -
1986 $541 - $677 -
1985 $396 - $593 -
1984 $385 - $650 -
1983 $410 - $725 -
1982 $423 - $710 -
1981 $425 - $729 -
1980 $440 - $711 -
1979 - - $664 -
1978 - - $578 -
1977 - - $590 -
1976 - - $589 -
1975 - - $551 -
1974 - - $494 -
1973 - - $410 -
1972 - - $335 -
1971 - - $296 -
1970 - - $281.3 -
1969 - - $276.6 -
1968 - - $301 -
1967 - - $281.5 -
1966 - - $273.6 -
1965 - - $270 -
1964 - - $244.3 -
1963 - - $188.2 -
1962 - - $189 -
1961 - - $188.2 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Cape Verde's GDP per capita is $5,796, ranking 116/197, compared to $2,198 in Mauritania, ranking 156/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Cape Verde ranks 129th at $11,195, while Mauritania ranks 147th at $7,369.

Economic indicators

Cape Verde Mauritania
Gross domestic product
$3.06B
2025
$11.7B
2025
GDP rank
172/197
2025
153/197
2025
GDP growth
6.3%
2024-2025
4.03%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$5,796
2025
$2,198
2025
GDP per capita rank
116/197
2025
156/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$11,195
2024
$7,369
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
129/197
2024
147/197
2024
Government debt
$3.09B
2025
$4.68B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
101%
2025
40.1%
2025
Government debt per person
$5,854
2025
$881
2025
Government debt per person rank
77/185
2025
147/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,506
2026
$2,242
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.3%
2015
24.6%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
2.2%
2015
3.1%
2019
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27%
2025
23.4%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
2.3%
2024-2025
1.55%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
1.5%
2024
n/a
Unemployment rate
11.3%
2019
10.4%
2019
Population
530853
5539189

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Cape Verde
Spending

Debt
Mauritania
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Cape Verde Mauritania
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 27% 101% 23.4% 40.1%
2024 26.1% 112.8% 23.6% 45.1%
2023 25.7% 117.5% 24.8% 48.6%
2022 26.6% 127.6% 28.7% 50.3%
2021 30.8% 149.5% 20.8% 54.5%
2020 34.5% 149.1% 18.5% 56.5%
2019 27.5% 109.8% 17.8% 57.7%
2018 27.5% 112.3% 19% 59.2%
2017 28% 113% 20.3% 55.7%
2016 26.6% 115.6% 20.8% 57.6%
2015 28.7% 115.7% 25.7% 59.9%
2014 27.8% 105.7% 23.9% 49.5%
2013 30.9% 93.5% 20.1% 40.7%
2012 31.6% 82.9% 21.5% 39.3%
2011 30.3% 71.6% 17% 38.8%
2010 35.7% 66.2% 17.3% 43.9%
2009 30.6% 58.8% 19.6% 54.3%
2008 27.6% 57.5% 19.8% 57.2%
2007 27.1% 59.6% 19.7% 61.5%
2006 28.4% 66.2% 19% 38%
2005 26.2% 66.7% 21.3% 71.1%
2004 26.3% 67.8% 23.9% 22%
2003 23.4% 65.6% - 22.9%
2002 28.5% 64.7% - 59.5%
2001 24.2% 62.2% - 63.5%
2000 36.7% 71.9% - 55.5%
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/mauritania | CC BY

In 2025, Cape Verde's government spending was $827M, accounting for 27% of its GDP, while Mauritania spent $2.73B, or 23.4% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 101% in Cape Verde and 40.1% in Mauritania, ranking 23/185 and 134/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Cape Verde

Mauritania
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Cape Verde Mauritania
2025 1.06% -0.3%
2024 -1.07% -1.35%
2023 -0.28% -2.45%
2022 -4.25% -3.09%
2021 -7.51% 2.6%
2020 -9.29% 2.78%
2019 -1.62% 2.65%
2018 -2.36% 3.23%
2017 -2.63% 0.53%
2016 -2.73% 0.13%
2015 -4.16% -2.44%
2014 -6.93% -2.64%
2013 -8.49% -0.66%
2012 -9.36% 1.67%
2011 -6.98% 0.07%
2010 -9.6% -0.45%
2009 -5.32% -3.59%
2008 -1.42% -3.32%
2007 -0.86% -1.38%
2006 -4.32% 2.05%
2005 -4.69% -3.16%
2004 -2.98% -3.06%
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/mauritania | 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 Mauritania's deficit of $34.8M, or 0.3% of GDP.

Over the past 22 years, Cape Verde recorded a fiscal deficit in 21 of those years, while Mauritania ran a deficit in 13 years. On average, Cape Verde posted an annual deficit equal to 4.35% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.55% of GDP for Mauritania.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Cape Verde

Mauritania
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Cape Verde Mauritania
2025 2.3% 1.55%
2024 1.1% 2.49%
2023 3.7% 4.95%
2022 7.9% 9.53%
2021 1.9% 3.57%
2020 0.6% 2.39%
2019 1.1% 2.3%
2018 1.3% 3.07%
2017 0.8% 2.25%
2016 -1.4% 1.47%
2015 0.1% 3.25%
2014 -0.2% 3.53%
2013 1.5% 4.13%
2012 2.5% 4.9%
2011 4.5% 5.69%
2010 2.1% 6.28%
2009 1% 2.22%
2008 6.8% 7.35%
2007 4.4% 7.25%
2006 4.8% 6.24%
2005 0.4% 12.1%
2004 -1.9% 10.4%
2003 1.2% 5.15%
2002 1.9% 3.9%
2001 3.7% 4.71%
2000 -2.4% 3.25%
1999 4.3% 4.07%
1998 4.4% 8.03%
1997 8.6% 4.63%

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/mauritania | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Cape Verde has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.31%, compared with 4.85% in Mauritania. In 2025, inflation was 2.3% in Cape Verde and 1.55% in Mauritania.

Top exports between countries

Cape Verde
Export category Export value
Mauritania
Export category Export value
Animal & marine products $93K
Chemicals & pharma $11K
Textiles & consumer goods $6K

Balance of trade

Cape Verde Mauritania
Current account balance
$108M
2025
-$1.04B
2024
Current account balance ranking
63/190
2025
118/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+3.53%
2025
-9.55%
2024
Goods imports
$1.29B
2025
$4.32B
2024
Goods exports
$344M
2025
$3.83B
2024
Service imports
$350M
2025
$1.05B
2024
Service exports
$940M
2025
$230M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53.4%
2025
54.2%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
42%
2025
39.9%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Cape Verde Mauritania
Economic freedom 71.4 53.9
Economic freedom ranking 32/197 136/197
Property rights 72.7 32.6
Government integrity 63.3 24.5
Judicial effectiveness 77.1 26.4
Tax burden 84.4 75.5
Government spending 79.5 80.2
Fiscal health 74.4 87.9
Business freedom 78.9 38.7
Labor freedom 59.5 53.6
Monetary freedom 80.4 77.8
Trade freedom 66.6 59.6
Investment freedom 60 50
Financial freedom 60 40

Economic freedom comparison by year

Cape Verde
Mauritania
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Cape Verde Mauritania
2026 71.4 53.9
2025 68.7 54.9
2024 62.9 55.3
2023 65.8 55.3
2022 66.7 55.3
2021 63.8 56.1
2020 63.6 55.3
2019 63.1 55.7
2018 60 54
2017 56.9 54.4
2016 66.5 54.8
2015 66.4 53.3
2014 66.1 53.2
2013 63.7 52.3
2012 63.5 53
2011 64.6 52.1
2010 61.8 52
2009 61.3 53.9
2008 57.9 55.2
2007 56.5 53.6
2006 58.6 55.7
2005 57.8 59.4
2004 58.1 61.8
2003 56.1 59
2002 57.6 52.5
2001 56.3 48.5
2000 51.9 46
1999 50.7 42.8
1998 48 43.7
1997 47.7 47
1996 49.7 45.5

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

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Cape Verde is 71.4, ranking 32/197, compared to 53.9 for Mauritania, ranking 136/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Cape Verde Mauritania
Services, % of GDP
67.9%
2025
42.4%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
10.7%
2025
29.7%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
5.04%
2025
20%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$2.95B
2025
$11.8B
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$12,010
2025
$7,640
2025
Total reserves including gold
$1.26B
2025
$2.04B
2021
Total reserves ranking
138/177
2025
127/177
2021
Net foreign direct investment
-$130M
2025
-$1.44B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$110M
2024
$1.44B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$20.8M
2024
$3.9M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
5.72%
2024
3.83%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
24.8%
2023
31.8%
2019
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
17.4%
2025
44.3%
2025

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/mauritania | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1961–2025, 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. TradeMap (2020–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. 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.