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Economy of Cape Verde vs Samoa compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Cape Verde has a GDP of $2.73B compared to $1.18B for Samoa, ranking 172/197 and 185/197 by economy size, respectively.

Cape Verde has $3.03B in government debt (111.2% of GDP), compared to $296M (25.2% of GDP) in Samoa.

Cape Verde vs Samoa GDP by year

Cape Verde
Samoa
1x
Year GDP, current $
Cape Verde Samoa
2024 $2,725,414,151 $1,175,749,786
2023 $2,504,525,549 $1,044,909,500
2022 $2,247,003,344 $889,554,712
2021 $2,051,842,619 $859,724,936
2020 $1,821,565,614 $868,884,903
2019 $2,252,177,124 $912,950,466
2018 $2,205,099,507 $878,448,433
2017 $1,996,741,540 $884,844,384
2016 $1,849,789,986 $843,924,797
2015 $1,749,857,620 $824,150,499
2014 $2,041,930,125 $796,683,520
2013 $2,028,910,915 $797,736,334
2012 $1,913,081,210 $773,141,661
2011 $2,046,817,987 $744,097,050
2010 $1,824,751,468 $680,260,907
2009 $1,852,334,575 $628,006,115
2008 $1,959,620,648 $641,346,192
2007 $1,649,621,739 $573,548,460
2006 $1,107,571,458 $499,923,758
2005 $972,241,677 $476,801,793
2004 $924,940,012 $407,747,565
2003 $813,260,469 $333,426,188
2002 $620,507,387 $281,790,134
2001 $563,090,490 $266,299,591
2000 $539,227,278 $258,856,140
1999 $592,416,703 $255,408,060
1998 $521,910,561 $269,485,244
1997 $490,608,658 $285,475,592
1996 $501,979,270 $249,907,869
1995 $487,148,994 $224,865,731
1994 $406,580,652 $221,098,107
1993 $490,417,390 $133,122,897
1992 $357,160,985 $132,303,041
1991 $319,827,059 $125,597,205
1990 $306,890,963 $125,766,270
1989 $267,448,571 $122,888,610
1988 $264,308,140 $133,016,065
1987 $235,253,065 $111,713,922
1986 $190,651,168 $100,947,849
1985 $137,728,205 $95,572,173
1984 $132,019,039 $109,200,934
1983 $138,476,176 $111,862,824
1982 $140,630,679 $121,221,652
1981 $139,468,209 $118,190,655
1980 $142,246,815 $125,747,038
1979 - $122,257,393
1978 - $108,223,444
1977 - $98,295,671
1976 - $85,003,078
1975 - $93,489,283
1974 - $93,549,611
1973 - $82,452,985
1972 - $62,566,116
1971 - $53,719,569
1970 - $45,208,338

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

GDP per capita in Cape Verde vs Samoa by year

Cape Verde
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Samoa
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Cape Verde Samoa
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $5,192 $11,195 $5,393 $8,737
2023 $4,795 $10,242 $4,823 $8,195
2022 $4,323 $9,481 $4,132 $6,909
2021 $3,971 $7,685 $4,022 $6,350
2020 $3,539 $6,853 $4,100 $6,451
2019 $4,381 $8,646 $4,352 $6,638
2018 $4,295 $7,916 $4,232 $6,318
2017 $3,893 $7,936 $4,308 $6,280
2016 $3,609 $7,351 $4,147 $6,141
2015 $3,415 $6,773 $4,084 $5,682
2014 $3,986 $6,417 $3,983 $5,468
2013 $3,961 $6,367 $4,024 $5,387
2012 $3,737 $6,318 $3,935 $5,339
2011 $4,002 $6,384 $3,822 $5,494
2010 $3,579 $6,039 $3,524 $5,229
2009 $3,660 $5,901 $3,279 $4,906
2008 $3,909 $6,011 $3,374 $4,939
2007 $3,325 $5,567 $3,039 $4,713
2006 $2,257 $4,758 $2,663 $4,592
2005 $2,004 $4,324 $2,550 $4,379
2004 $1,929 $3,969 $2,189 $3,997
2003 $1,718 $3,551 $1,798 $3,792
2002 $1,329 $3,388 $1,528 $3,553
2001 $1,223 $3,217 $1,454 $3,335
2000 $1,190 $3,124 $1,425 $3,062
1999 $1,327 $2,714 $1,417 $2,871
1998 $1,187 $2,443 $1,506 $2,792
1997 $1,134 $2,182 $1,608 $2,722
1996 $1,180 $1,963 $1,419 $2,681
1995 $1,165 $1,762 $1,288 $2,478
1994 $991 $1,540 $1,277 $2,294
1993 $1,220 $1,291 $775 $2,323
1992 $908 $1,186 $777 $2,198
1991 $832 $1,069 $742 $2,166
1990 $817 $1,044 $744 $2,148
1989 $727 - $728 -
1988 $729 - $790 -
1987 $658 - $666 -
1986 $541 - $604 -
1985 $396 - $573 -
1984 $385 - $655 -
1983 $410 - $671 -
1982 $423 - $728 -
1981 $425 - $713 -
1980 $440 - $765 -
1979 - - $751 -
1978 - - $671 -
1977 - - $615 -
1976 - - $541 -
1975 - - $610 -
1974 - - $626 -
1973 - - $563 -
1972 - - $433 -
1971 - - $377 -
1970 - - $322 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Cape Verde's GDP per capita is $5,192, ranking 118/197, compared to $5,393 in Samoa, ranking 117/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Cape Verde ranks 129th at $11,195, while Samoa ranks 137th at $8,737.

Economic indicators

Cape Verde Samoa
Gross domestic product
$2.73B
2024
$1.18B
2024
GDP rank
172/197
2024
185/197
2024
GDP growth
7.24%
2023-2024
4.75%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$5,192
2024
$5,393
2024
GDP per capita rank
118/197
2024
117/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$11,195
2024
$8,737
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
129/197
2024
137/197
2024
Government debt
$3.03B
2024
$296M
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
111.2%
2024
25.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$5,776
2024
$1,357
2024
Government debt per person rank
76/185
2024
135/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,576
2026
$3,750
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.3%
2015
31.3%
2013
Income share by poorest 10%
2.2%
2015
2.7%
2013
Government expenditure, % of GDP
26.1%
2024
26.3%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
1%
2023-2024
2.17%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
1.5%
2024
0.37%
2024
Unemployment rate
11.3%
2019
5.05%
2022
Population
530391
220932

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Cape Verde
Spending

Debt
Samoa
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Cape Verde Samoa
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 26.1% 111.2% 26.3% 25.2%
2023 25.7% 117.5% 28.8% 31.8%
2022 26.6% 127.6% 31.1% 41%
2021 30.8% 149.5% 34.1% 45.4%
2020 34.5% 144.3% 30.5% 43.2%
2019 27.5% 109.8% 31.8% 44.3%
2018 27.5% 112.3% 30% 49.4%
2017 28% 113% 30.9% 46.7%
2016 26.6% 115.6% 27.3% 49%
2015 28.7% 115.7% 30.5% 56.4%
2014 27.8% 105.7% 35.3% 54.9%
2013 30.9% 93.5% 30.7% 54.1%
2012 31.6% 82.9% 33.6% 50.9%
2011 30.3% 71.6% 33.7% 41.5%
2010 35.7% 73.5% 29.4% 40.3%
2009 30.6% 58.8% 31.5% 33.3%
2008 27.6% 57.5% 27.7% 28.2%
2007 27.1% 59.6% 31.1% 31.5%
2006 28.4% 66.2% 27.7% 33.5%
2005 26.2% 66.7% 30.6% 34.2%
2004 26.3% 67.8% 27.3% 39.8%
2003 23.4% 65.6% 28.5% 42.8%
2002 28.5% 64.7% 30.7% 50.3%
2001 24.2% 62.2% 30% 53.8%
2000 36.7% 71.9% 30.4% 55.8%
1999 35% 66.4% 33.8% 59.4%
1998 29.8% 72.9% 28.1% 58.9%
1997 34.8% 79.3% 31% -
1996 38.9% 85.7% 38.9% -
1995 44.5% 74.3% 42.2% -
1994 48.1% 73.4% 54.1% -
1993 - - 49.5% -
1992 - - 43.4% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1994–1996, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Cape Verde's government spending was $711M, accounting for 26.1% of its GDP, while Samoa spent $310M, or 26.3% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 111.2% in Cape Verde and 25.2% in Samoa, ranking 16/185 and 165/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Cape Verde

Samoa
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Cape Verde Samoa
2024 -1.07% 9.29%
2023 -0.28% 2.7%
2022 -4.25% 5.03%
2021 -7.51% 1.71%
2020 -9.29% 5.41%
2019 -1.62% 1.51%
2018 -2.36% 0.06%
2017 -2.63% -1.98%
2016 -2.73% -0.35%
2015 -4.16% -3.79%
2014 -6.93% -5.38%
2013 -8.49% -3.82%
2012 -9.36% -7.43%
2011 -6.98% -5.25%
2010 -9.6% -5.49%
2009 -5.32% -2.98%
2008 -1.42% -0.36%
2007 -0.86% 0.55%
2006 -4.32% -0.44%
2005 -4.69% 0.23%
2004 -2.98% -0.74%
2003 -3.63% -0.51%
2002 -6.14% -1.77%
2001 -5.03% -1.96%
2000 -15.5% -0.62%
1999 -10.9% 0.27%
1998 -3.16% 1.64%
1997 -10.2% 1.92%
1996 -11.2% 1.21%
1995 -11.1% -5.82%
1994 -12.8% -9.51%
1993 - -13.2%
1992 - -9.89%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

In 2024, Cape Verde's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $29.1M, equivalent to 1.07% of GDP. This compares to Samoa's surplus of $109M, or 9.29% of GDP.

Over the past 31 years, Cape Verde recorded a fiscal deficit in 31 of those years, while Samoa ran a deficit in 18 years. On average, Cape Verde posted an annual deficit equal to 6.02% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.86% of GDP for Samoa.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Cape Verde

Samoa
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Cape Verde Samoa
2024 1% 2.17%
2023 3.7% 7.92%
2022 7.9% 11%
2021 1.9% 3.13%
2020 0.6% -1.57%
2019 1.1% 0.98%
2018 1.3% 4.2%
2017 0.8% 1.75%
2016 -1.4% 1.3%
2015 0.1% 0.72%
2014 -0.2% -0.41%
2013 1.5% 0.61%
2012 2.5% 2.05%
2011 4.5% 5.24%
2010 2.1% 0.78%
2009 1% 6.32%
2008 6.8% 11.6%
2007 4.4% 5.58%
2006 4.8% 3.7%
2005 0.4% 1.86%
2004 -1.9% 16.3%
2003 1.2% 0.12%
2002 1.9% 8.05%
2001 3.7% 3.84%
2000 -2.4% 0.97%
1999 4.3% 0.27%
1998 4.4% 2.22%
1997 8.6% 6.86%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the past 28 years, Cape Verde has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.31%, compared with 3.84% in Samoa. In 2024, inflation was 1% in Cape Verde and 2.17% in Samoa.

Balance of trade

Cape Verde Samoa
Current account balance
$107M
2024
$65.6M
2024
Current account balance ranking
67/190
2024
72/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+3.91%
2024
+5.58%
2024
Goods imports
$1.17B
2024
$448M
2024
Goods exports
$328M
2024
$42.2M
2024
Service imports
$298M
2024
$128M
2024
Service exports
$830M
2024
$327M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
54%
2024
48.9%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
42.5%
2024
30.7%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Cape Verde Samoa
Economic freedom 71.4 68
Economic freedom ranking 32/197 52/197
Property rights 72.7 77.1
Government integrity 63.3 64.1
Judicial effectiveness 77.1 77.6
Tax burden 84.4 79.3
Government spending 79.5 75.2
Fiscal health 74.4 98.7
Business freedom 78.9 63.7
Labor freedom 59.5 73.7
Monetary freedom 80.4 69.4
Trade freedom 66.6 67.2
Investment freedom 60 40
Financial freedom 60 30

Economic freedom comparison by year

Cape Verde
Samoa
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Cape Verde Samoa
2026 71.4 68
2025 68.7 66.6
2024 62.9 67.2
2023 65.8 68.3
2022 66.7 68.3
2021 63.8 61.9
2020 63.6 62.1
2019 63.1 62.2
2018 60 61.5
2017 56.9 58.4
2016 66.5 63.5
2015 66.4 61.9
2014 66.1 61.1
2013 63.7 57.1
2012 63.5 60.5
2011 64.6 60.6
2010 61.8 60.4
2009 61.3 59.5
2008 57.9 -
2007 56.5 -
2006 58.6 -
2005 57.8 -
2004 58.1 -
2003 56.1 -
2002 57.6 -
2001 56.3 63.1
2000 51.9 60.8
1999 50.7 58.7
1998 48 49.9
1997 47.7 51.5
1996 49.7 47.6

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

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

The Economic Freedom Index for Cape Verde is 71.4, ranking 32/197, compared to 68 for Samoa, ranking 52/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Cape Verde Samoa
Services, % of GDP
68.7%
2024
69.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
10.7%
2024
10.6%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
4.92%
2024
9.8%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$2.6B
2024
$1.1B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$11,000
2024
$8,620
2024
Total reserves including gold
$783M
2024
$508M
2024
Total reserves ranking
144/177
2024
155/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$89.2M
2024
-$1.69M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$110M
2024
$3.74M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$20.8M
2024
$2.05M
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
5.69%
2024
3.15%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
24.8%
2023
21.9%
2018
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
16.4%
2024
29%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1970–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1992–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1996–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1994–1996, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  7. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

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.