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Economy of Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Cape Verde has a GDP of $3.06B compared to $1.28T for Saudi Arabia, ranking 172/197 and 19/197 by economy size, respectively.

Cape Verde has $3.09B in government debt (101% of GDP), compared to $405B (31.7% of GDP) in Saudi Arabia.

Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia GDP by year

Cape Verde
Saudi Arabia
1x
Year GDP, current $
Cape Verde Saudi Arabia
2025 $3,056,630,435 $1,276,942,933,333
2024 $2,713,721,857 $1,254,140,800,000
2023 $2,504,525,538 $1,218,584,800,000
2022 $2,247,003,344 $1,239,075,200,000
2021 $2,051,842,619 $982,661,066,667
2020 $1,821,565,614 $767,951,200,000
2019 $2,252,177,124 $888,890,133,333
2018 $2,205,099,507 $886,564,800,000
2017 $1,996,741,540 $741,266,133,333
2016 $1,849,789,986 $689,279,466,667
2015 $1,749,857,620 $693,414,400,000
2014 $2,041,930,125 $787,153,066,667
2013 $2,028,910,915 $769,755,733,333
2012 $1,913,081,210 $751,921,333,333
2011 $2,046,817,987 $680,660,800,000
2010 $1,824,751,468 $528,207,466,667
2009 $1,852,334,575 $429,097,866,667
2008 $1,959,620,648 $519,796,800,000
2007 $1,649,621,739 $415,964,509,673
2006 $1,107,571,458 $376,900,133,511
2005 $972,241,677 $328,459,608,764
2004 $924,940,012 $258,742,133,333
2003 $813,260,469 $215,807,733,333
2002 $620,507,387 $189,605,866,667
2001 $563,090,490 $184,137,600,000
2000 $539,227,278 $189,514,933,333
1999 $592,416,703 $161,717,066,667
1998 $521,910,561 $146,775,466,667
1997 $490,608,658 $165,963,684,913
1996 $501,979,270 $158,662,483,311
1995 $487,148,994 $143,343,124,166
1994 $406,580,652 $135,174,899,866
1993 $490,417,390 $132,967,957,276
1992 $357,160,985 $137,087,850,467
1991 $319,827,059 $132,223,230,975
1990 $306,890,963 $117,630,173,565
1989 $267,448,571 $95,344,459,279
1988 $264,308,140 $88,256,074,766
1987 $235,253,065 $85,695,861,148
1986 $190,651,168 $86,961,922,765
1985 $137,728,205 $103,897,846,494
1984 $132,019,039 $119,624,858,116
1983 $138,476,176 $129,171,635,311
1982 $140,630,679 $153,240,313,858
1981 $139,468,209 $184,291,360,139
1980 $142,246,815 $164,539,660,725
1979 - $111,858,444,786
1978 - $80,266,516,687
1977 - $74,188,986,586
1976 - $64,005,665,722
1975 - $46,773,208,643
1974 - $45,412,957,746
1973 - $14,947,435,499
1972 - $9,664,267,087
1971 - $7,184,806,909
1970 - $5,377,333,333
1969 - $4,485,777,644
1968 - $4,187,777,711
1967 - $3,257,022,223
1966 - $2,920,555,557
1965 - $2,647,955,558
1964 - $2,371,808,713
1963 - $2,207,393,172
1962 - $2,130,606,532
1961 - $1,920,811,284
1960 - $1,748,124,064

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

GeoRank.org/economy/cape-verde/saudi-arabia | CC BY

GDP per capita in Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia by year

Cape Verde
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Saudi Arabia
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Cape Verde Saudi Arabia
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $5,796 - $34,537 -
2024 $5,170 $11,195 $35,528 $71,375
2023 $4,795 $10,242 $36,157 $71,565
2022 $4,323 $9,481 $38,510 $71,968
2021 $3,971 $7,685 $31,921 $62,690
2020 $3,539 $6,853 $24,339 $47,518
2019 $4,381 $8,646 $29,567 $59,560
2018 $4,295 $7,916 $29,360 $59,378
2017 $3,893 $7,936 $23,929 $53,120
2016 $3,609 $7,351 $22,268 $49,937
2015 $3,415 $6,773 $23,256 $53,931
2014 $3,986 $6,417 $27,805 $62,578
2013 $3,961 $6,367 $27,865 $62,203
2012 $3,737 $6,318 $28,733 $65,034
2011 $4,002 $6,384 $27,127 $64,125
2010 $3,579 $6,039 $22,028 $58,829
2009 $3,660 $5,901 $17,718 $54,787
2008 $3,909 $6,011 $22,320 $57,236
2007 $3,325 $5,567 $18,596 $55,030
2006 $2,257 $4,758 $17,564 $54,639
2005 $2,004 $4,324 $15,976 $53,548
2004 $1,929 $3,969 $13,154 $51,225
2003 $1,718 $3,551 $11,487 $48,078
2002 $1,329 $3,388 $10,586 $45,466
2001 $1,223 $3,217 $10,805 $47,381
2000 $1,190 $3,124 $11,715 $48,644
1999 $1,327 $2,714 $10,452 $47,495
1998 $1,187 $2,443 $9,836 $48,867
1997 $1,134 $2,182 $11,545 $48,796
1996 $1,180 $1,963 $11,472 $48,569
1995 $1,165 $1,762 $10,786 $48,052
1994 $991 $1,540 $10,602 $48,904
1993 $1,220 $1,291 $10,885 $49,503
1992 $908 $1,186 $11,730 $50,355
1991 $832 $1,069 $11,847 $49,295
1990 $817 $1,044 $11,055 $46,214
1989 $727 - $9,414 -
1988 $729 - $9,165 -
1987 $658 - $9,386 -
1986 $541 - $10,078 -
1985 $396 - $12,745 -
1984 $385 - $15,541 -
1983 $410 - $17,810 -
1982 $423 - $22,454 -
1981 $425 - $28,703 -
1980 $440 - $27,206 -
1979 - - $19,612 -
1978 - - $14,914 -
1977 - - $14,595 -
1976 - - $13,313 -
1975 - - $10,266 -
1974 - - $10,503 -
1973 - - $3,640 -
1972 - - $2,474 -
1971 - - $1,929 -
1970 - - $1,509 -
1969 - - $1,313 -
1968 - - $1,276 -
1967 - - $1,032 -
1966 - - $961 -
1965 - - $904 -
1964 - - $840 -
1963 - - $812 -
1962 - - $813 -
1961 - - $760 -
1960 - - $718 -

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

GeoRank.org/economy/cape-verde/saudi-arabia | CC BY

Cape Verde's GDP per capita is $5,796, ranking 116/197, compared to $34,537 in Saudi Arabia, ranking 36/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Cape Verde ranks 129th at $11,195, while Saudi Arabia ranks 24th at $71,375.

Economic indicators

Cape Verde Saudi Arabia
Gross domestic product
$3.06B
2025
$1.28T
2025
GDP rank
172/197
2025
19/197
2025
GDP growth
6.3%
2024-2025
4.5%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$5,796
2025
$34,537
2025
GDP per capita rank
116/197
2025
36/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$11,195
2024
$71,375
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
129/197
2024
24/197
2024
Government debt
$3.09B
2025
$405B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
101%
2025
31.7%
2025
Government debt per person
$5,854
2025
$10,956
2025
Government debt per person rank
77/185
2025
57/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,506
2026
$22,010
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$2.36T
2025
Number of millionaires n/a
348,000
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
15
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.3%
2015
n/a
Income share by poorest 10%
2.2%
2015
n/a
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27%
2025
29%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
2.3%
2024-2025
2.08%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
1.5%
2024
4.25%
2025
Unemployment rate
11.3%
2019
3.24%
2025
Population
530853
37955120

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Cape Verde
Spending

Debt
Saudi Arabia
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Cape Verde Saudi Arabia
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 27% 101% 29% 31.7%
2024 26.1% 112.8% 29.2% 25.9%
2023 25.7% 117.5% 28.3% 23%
2022 26.6% 127.6% 25.3% 21.3%
2021 30.8% 149.5% 28.2% 25.5%
2020 34.5% 149.1% 37.4% 29.7%
2019 27.5% 109.8% 31.8% 20.3%
2018 27.5% 112.3% 32.4% 16.8%
2017 28% 113% 30.9% 15.9%
2016 26.6% 115.6% 33.3% 12.2%
2015 28.7% 115.7% 38.5% 5.47%
2014 27.8% 105.7% 38.6% 1.5%
2013 30.9% 93.5% 34.5% 2.08%
2012 31.6% 82.9% 32.5% 2.97%
2011 30.3% 71.6% 32.4% 5.31%
2010 35.7% 66.2% 33% 8.43%
2009 30.6% 58.8% 37.1% 14%
2008 27.6% 57.5% 26.7% 12.1%
2007 27.1% 59.6% 29.5% 17.1%
2006 28.4% 66.2% 27.3% 25.8%
2005 26.2% 66.7% 28.2% 37.3%
2004 26.3% 67.8% 31.1% 62.9%
2003 23.4% 65.6% 33.1% 81.6%
2002 28.5% 64.7% 35.9% 96.4%
2001 24.2% 62.2% 36.9% 93.1%
2000 36.7% 71.9% 33.1% 86.7%
1999 35% 66.4% 30.3% 103%
1998 29.8% 72.9% 34.5% 101.5%
1997 34.8% 79.3% 35.6% 76.7%
1996 38.9% 85.7% 33.3% 75.2%
1995 44.5% 74.3% 32.4% 74.2%
1994 48.1% 73.4% 33.8% 67.9%
1993 - - 37.7% 58.6%
1992 - - 41.2% 47.8%
1991 - - 34.9% 39.4%
1990 - - 39.3% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1994–1996, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/cape-verde/saudi-arabia | CC BY

In 2025, Cape Verde's government spending was $827M, accounting for 27% of its GDP, while Saudi Arabia spent $370B, or 29% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 101% in Cape Verde and 31.7% in Saudi Arabia, ranking 23/185 and 151/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Cape Verde

Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Cape Verde Saudi Arabia
2025 1.06% -5.77%
2024 -1.07% -2.46%
2023 -0.28% -1.77%
2022 -4.25% 2.24%
2021 -7.51% -1.99%
2020 -9.29% -10.2%
2019 -1.62% -3.96%
2018 -2.36% -5.21%
2017 -2.63% -8.57%
2016 -2.73% -13.2%
2015 -4.16% -14.9%
2014 -6.93% -3.4%
2013 -8.49% 5.47%
2012 -9.36% 11.7%
2011 -6.98% 11.4%
2010 -9.6% 4.39%
2009 -5.32% -5.38%
2008 -1.42% 29.8%
2007 -0.86% 11.8%
2006 -4.32% 20.8%
2005 -4.69% 18%
2004 -2.98% 9.72%
2003 -3.63% 1.2%
2002 -6.14% -5.91%
2001 -5.03% -3.91%
2000 -15.5% 3.18%
1999 -10.9% -5.99%
1998 -3.16% -8.88%
1997 -10.2% -2.51%
1996 -11.2% -3.25%
1995 -11.1% -5.12%
1994 -12.8% -8.31%
1993 - -9.33%
1992 - -8.12%
1991 - -3.28%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1991–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/cape-verde/saudi-arabia | 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 Saudi Arabia's deficit of $73.7B, or 5.77% of GDP.

Over the past 32 years, Cape Verde recorded a fiscal deficit in 31 of those years, while Saudi Arabia ran a deficit in 20 years. On average, Cape Verde posted an annual deficit equal to 5.8% of GDP, compared to surplus of 0.28% of GDP for Saudi Arabia.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Cape Verde

Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Cape Verde Saudi Arabia
2025 2.3% 2.08%
2024 1.1% 1.69%
2023 3.7% 2.33%
2022 7.9% 2.47%
2021 1.9% 3.06%
2020 0.6% 3.37%
2019 1.1% -1.19%
2018 1.3% 2.47%
2017 0.8% -0.83%
2016 -1.4% 2.05%
2015 0.1% 1.22%
2014 -0.2% 2.24%
2013 1.5% 3.51%
2012 2.5% 2.87%
2011 4.5% 5.83%
2010 2.1% 5.34%
2009 1% 5.06%
2008 6.8% 9.87%
2007 4.4% 4.17%
2006 4.8% 2.21%
2005 0.4% 0.48%
2004 -1.9% 0.52%
2003 1.2% 0.61%
2002 1.9% 0.25%
2001 3.7% -1.12%
2000 -2.4% -1.12%
1999 4.3% -1.33%
1998 4.4% -0.37%
1997 8.6% 0.06%

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/saudi-arabia | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Cape Verde has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 2.31%, compared with 1.99% in Saudi Arabia. In 2025, inflation was 2.3% in Cape Verde and 2.08% in Saudi Arabia.

Top exports between countries

Cape Verde
Export category Export value
Saudi Arabia
Export category Export value
Textiles & consumer goods $2.48M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $247K
Chemicals & pharma $81K
Animal & marine products $23K
Metals $16K
Machinery & equipment $1K
Miscellaneous $1K

Balance of trade

Cape Verde Saudi Arabia
Current account balance
$108M
2025
-$32.7B
2025
Current account balance ranking
63/190
2025
185/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
+3.53%
2025
-2.56%
2025
Goods imports
$1.29B
2025
$230B
2025
Goods exports
$344M
2025
$311B
2025
Service imports
$350M
2025
$129B
2025
Service exports
$940M
2025
$69.4B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53.4%
2025
28.2%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
42%
2025
29.7%
2025

Economic freedom indices

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

Cape Verde Saudi Arabia
Economic freedom 71.4 65.4
Economic freedom ranking 32/197 65/197
Property rights 72.7 51.4
Government integrity 63.3 52.7
Judicial effectiveness 77.1 38.2
Tax burden 84.4 99.2
Government spending 79.5 77
Fiscal health 74.4 97.9
Business freedom 78.9 71.2
Labor freedom 59.5 41.8
Monetary freedom 80.4 81.2
Trade freedom 66.6 73.8
Investment freedom 60 50
Financial freedom 60 50

Economic freedom comparison by year

Cape Verde
Saudi Arabia
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Cape Verde Saudi Arabia
2026 71.4 65.4
2025 68.7 64.4
2024 62.9 61.9
2023 65.8 58.3
2022 66.7 55.5
2021 63.8 66
2020 63.6 62.4
2019 63.1 60.7
2018 60 59.6
2017 56.9 64.4
2016 66.5 62.1
2015 66.4 62.1
2014 66.1 62.2
2013 63.7 60.6
2012 63.5 62.5
2011 64.6 66.2
2010 61.8 64.1
2009 61.3 64.3
2008 57.9 62.5
2007 56.5 60.9
2006 58.6 63
2005 57.8 63
2004 58.1 60.4
2003 56.1 63.2
2002 57.6 65.3
2001 56.3 62.2
2000 51.9 66.5
1999 50.7 65.5
1998 48 69.3
1997 47.7 68.7
1996 49.7 68.3

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

GeoRank.org/economy/cape-verde/saudi-arabia | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Cape Verde is 71.4, ranking 32/197, compared to 65.4 for Saudi Arabia, ranking 65/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Cape Verde Saudi Arabia
Services, % of GDP
67.9%
2025
48.9%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
10.7%
2025
43%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
5.04%
2025
2.59%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$2.95B
2025
$1.33T
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$12,010
2025
$74,400
2025
Total reserves including gold
$1.26B
2025
$505B
2025
Total reserves ranking
138/177
2025
8/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$130M
2025
-$5.6B
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$110M
2024
$21.3B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$20.8M
2024
$27.6B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
5.72%
2024
n/a
Poverty at national poverty lines
24.8%
2023
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
17.4%
2025
31.6%
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/saudi-arabia | 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 (1990–2025, 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. TradeMap (2020–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1994–1996, 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.