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Cape Verde vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank

Cape Verde has a population of 527K (ranked 169/197), compared with 64.7M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Cape Verde's land area is 1,556 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 167th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Cape Verde ranks 172/197 ($3.06B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($427B). By GDP per capita, Cape Verde ranks 116/197 ($5,796), while South Africa ranks 109/197 ($6,598).

Main facts and rankings

Cape Verde South Africa
Population
530853
65829368
Population rank 169/197 24/197
GDP
$3.06B
2025
$427B
2025
GDP rank 172/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$5,796
2025
$6,598
2025
GDP per capita rank 116/197 109/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$11,195
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$3.09B
2025
$336B
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
101%
2025
78.6%
2025
Government debt per person
$5,854
2025
$5,189
2025
Government debt per person rank 77/185 84/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$2,506
2026
$4,738
2026
Land area 1,556 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
340 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.51
2024
2.21
2024
Median age
30 years
2025
29.7 years
2025
Life expectancy
76.6 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Cape Verde and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Cape Verde and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Cape Verde

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Cape Verde South Africa
2025 $3,056,630,435 $427,184,325,997
2024 $2,713,721,857 $401,144,998,374
2023 $2,504,525,538 $381,440,724,491
2022 $2,247,003,344 $407,596,043,068
2021 $2,051,842,619 $419,986,284,375
2020 $1,821,565,614 $337,974,655,408
2019 $2,252,177,124 $389,330,032,224
2018 $2,205,099,507 $405,260,723,893
2017 $1,996,741,540 $381,448,814,653
2016 $1,849,789,986 $323,585,509,674
2015 $1,749,857,620 $346,709,790,459
2014 $2,041,930,125 $381,198,869,776
2013 $2,028,910,915 $400,886,013,596
2012 $1,913,081,210 $434,400,545,086
2011 $2,046,817,987 $458,199,494,831
2010 $1,824,751,468 $417,363,822,802
2009 $1,852,334,575 $329,754,060,647
2008 $1,959,620,648 $316,131,258,616
2007 $1,649,621,739 $333,077,117,254
2006 $1,107,571,458 $303,858,675,364
2005 $972,241,677 $288,867,217,197
2004 $924,940,012 $255,806,908,595
2003 $813,260,469 $197,018,965,309
2002 $620,507,387 $129,087,556,612
2001 $563,090,490 $135,429,905,923
2000 $539,227,278 $151,752,757,215
1999 $592,416,703 $151,516,957,079
1998 $521,910,561 $152,982,984,557
1997 $490,608,658 $168,978,057,328
1996 $501,979,270 $163,234,925,381
1995 $487,148,994 $171,735,933,897
1994 $406,580,652 $153,512,712,382
1993 $490,417,390 $147,194,747,566
1992 $357,160,985 $146,956,150,987
1991 $319,827,059 $135,203,698,238
1990 $306,890,963 $126,048,140,142
1989 $267,448,571 $108,055,624,082
1988 $264,308,140 $103,976,831,871
1987 $235,253,065 $96,535,763,418
1986 $190,651,168 $73,354,771,399
1985 $137,728,205 $64,459,376,087
1984 $132,019,039 $84,870,163,366
1983 $138,476,176 $96,204,110,942
1982 $140,630,679 $85,904,057,409
1981 $139,468,209 $93,141,472,164
1980 $142,246,815 $89,411,864,402
1979 - $63,038,658,089
1978 - $51,607,412,902
1977 - $45,328,411,332
1976 - $41,150,460,288
1975 - $42,906,905,672
1974 - $41,389,186,095
1973 - $33,262,772,008
1972 - $24,515,919,217
1971 - $23,411,076,638
1970 - $21,218,391,513
1969 - $19,256,992,297
1968 - $17,124,793,150
1967 - $15,821,393,671
1966 - $14,211,394,315
1965 - $13,068,994,772
1964 - $11,955,995,218
1963 - $10,854,195,658
1962 - $9,813,996,074
1961 - $9,225,996,310
1960 - $8,748,596,501

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

GeoRank.org/facts/cape-verde/south-africa | CC BY

Cape Verde and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Cape Verde

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Cape Verde South Africa
2025 $5,796 $6,598
2024 $5,170 $6,267
2023 $4,795 $6,034
2022 $4,323 $6,534
2021 $3,971 $6,829
2020 $3,539 $5,581
2019 $4,381 $6,534
2018 $4,295 $6,914
2017 $3,893 $6,618
2016 $3,609 $5,651
2015 $3,415 $6,112
2014 $3,986 $6,857
2013 $3,961 $7,332
2012 $3,737 $8,077
2011 $4,002 $8,646
2010 $3,579 $7,973
2009 $3,660 $6,375
2008 $3,909 $6,185
2007 $3,325 $6,592
2006 $2,257 $6,077
2005 $2,004 $5,837
2004 $1,929 $5,221
2003 $1,718 $4,062
2002 $1,329 $2,688
2001 $1,223 $2,847
2000 $1,190 $3,218
1999 $1,327 $3,242
1998 $1,187 $3,310
1997 $1,134 $3,700
1996 $1,180 $3,618
1995 $1,165 $3,856
1994 $991 $3,489
1993 $1,220 $3,400
1992 $908 $3,462
1991 $832 $3,243
1990 $817 $3,093
1989 $727 $2,727
1988 $729 $2,702
1987 $658 $2,586
1986 $541 $2,027
1985 $396 $1,839
1984 $385 $2,504
1983 $410 $2,938
1982 $423 $2,717
1981 $425 $3,050
1980 $440 $3,029
1979 - $2,202
1978 - $1,852
1977 - $1,671
1976 - $1,559
1975 - $1,670
1974 - $1,656
1973 - $1,369
1972 - $1,038
1971 - $1,020
1970 - $952
1969 - $891
1968 - $817
1967 - $779
1966 - $722
1965 - $685
1964 - $646
1963 - $605
1962 - $563
1961 - $546
1960 - $532

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

GeoRank.org/facts/cape-verde/south-africa | CC BY

Cape Verde vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Cape Verde

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Cape Verde South Africa
2026 76.6 66.7
2025 76.4 66.5
2024 76.2 66.3
2023 76.1 66.1
2022 75.9 65.5
2021 74.4 62
2020 73.8 65.2
2019 75.4 66.1
2018 74.8 65.7
2017 74.7 65.4
2016 74.4 64.7
2015 74.1 64.1
2014 73.8 63.2
2013 73.5 62.4
2012 73.3 61.7
2011 72.9 60.6
2010 72.5 58.9
2009 72.1 57.4
2008 71.9 56
2007 71.5 54.9
2006 71.3 54.2
2005 70.9 53.9
2004 70.5 54
2003 70 54.2
2002 69.4 55.6
2001 68.7 57.2
2000 68.1 58.4
1999 67.4 59.2
1998 66.7 59.9
1997 66.1 60.5
1996 65.5 61.1
1995 63.7 61.6
1994 64.6 62.1
1993 64.5 62.6
1992 64.3 62.8
1991 64.1 63
1990 63.9 62.9
1989 63.6 63
1988 63.2 62.9
1987 62.9 62.7
1986 62.6 62.4
1985 62.3 62.2
1984 61.8 61.8
1983 61.8 61.4
1982 61.5 60.9
1981 61.3 60.4
1980 61 60
1979 60.7 59.5
1978 60.4 59
1977 60 58.5
1976 59.4 58
1975 59 57.6
1974 58.4 57.1
1973 58 56.7
1972 57.5 56.4
1971 57 56
1970 56.6 55.7
1969 56 55.4
1968 55.4 55.2
1967 54.7 55
1966 53.9 54.7
1965 53 54.4
1964 52.1 54.2
1963 51.1 53.9
1962 50.2 53.6
1961 49.4 53.1
1960 48.7 52.6
1959 48.2 51.9
1958 47.7 51.1
1957 47.4 50.2
1956 47.1 49.2
1955 46.9 48.2
1954 46.6 47.1
1953 46.4 46.1
1952 46.2 45
1951 45.6 44.1
1950 44.9 43.1

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/facts/cape-verde/south-africa | CC BY

Cape Verde and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Cape Verde

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Cape Verde South Africa
2025 527,326 64,747,319
2024 524,877 64,007,187
2023 522,331 63,212,384
2022 519,741 62,378,410
2021 516,649 61,502,603
2020 514,679 60,562,381
2019 514,104 59,587,885
2018 513,415 58,613,001
2017 512,893 57,635,162
2016 512,554 57,259,551
2015 512,394 56,723,537
2014 512,326 55,594,838
2013 512,225 54,678,791
2012 511,955 53,782,567
2011 511,447 52,995,205
2010 509,784 52,344,051
2009 506,141 51,728,516
2008 501,355 51,114,599
2007 496,190 50,528,584
2006 490,728 49,998,277
2005 485,115 49,490,033
2004 479,370 48,991,421
2003 473,383 48,500,348
2002 467,046 48,019,415
2001 460,293 47,566,800
2000 453,317 47,159,719
1999 446,519 46,730,335
1998 439,784 46,223,880
1997 432,798 45,666,838
1996 425,581 45,123,018
1995 418,104 44,541,554
1994 410,228 44,004,139
1993 401,965 43,297,156
1992 393,415 42,443,509
1991 384,586 41,687,898
1990 375,428 40,746,268
1989 367,803 39,628,575
1988 362,329 38,480,649
1987 357,302 37,326,190
1986 352,312 36,180,515
1985 347,365 35,042,093
1984 342,505 33,892,788
1983 337,654 32,739,304
1982 332,724 31,615,339
1981 327,846 30,541,044
1980 323,301 29,518,857
1979 319,480 28,634,162
1978 316,147 27,869,507
1977 312,834 27,118,952
1976 309,455 26,395,450
1975 305,847 25,690,940
1974 302,570 24,989,108
1973 299,881 24,294,263
1972 297,386 23,609,456
1971 294,046 22,942,143
1970 287,885 22,279,984
1969 279,248 21,614,676
1968 270,164 20,957,287
1967 261,404 20,314,066
1966 252,976 19,690,087
1965 244,856 19,089,380
1964 237,006 18,511,361
1963 229,373 17,954,564
1962 221,919 17,418,522
1961 215,087 16,908,035
1960 210,024 16,440,172

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

GeoRank.org/facts/cape-verde/south-africa | CC BY

Fertility rates in Cape Verde and South Africa

Fertility rate
Cape Verde

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Cape Verde South Africa
2024 1.51 2.21
2023 1.52 2.22
2022 1.53 2.23
2021 1.55 2.25
2020 1.59 2.26
2019 1.7 2.26
2018 1.8 2.27
2017 1.93 2.28
2016 1.97 2.26
2015 1.97 2.36
2014 2.03 2.42
2013 2.07 2.43
2012 2.15 2.45
2011 2.33 2.44
2010 2.33 2.44
2009 2.25 2.5
2008 2.3 2.68
2007 2.41 2.55
2006 2.56 2.55
2005 2.73 2.51
2004 2.9 2.44
2003 3.03 2.36
2002 3.19 2.32
2001 3.37 2.37
2000 3.55 2.41
1999 3.73 2.56
1998 3.9 2.63
1997 4.05 2.73
1996 4.26 2.99
1995 4.49 3.17
1994 4.72 3.26
1993 4.95 3.37
1992 5.12 3.48
1991 5.26 3.62
1990 5.36 3.72
1989 5.45 3.98
1988 5.55 4.18
1987 5.68 4.35
1986 5.81 4.41
1985 5.92 4.5
1984 5.97 4.57
1983 6.07 4.63
1982 6.17 4.7
1981 6.27 4.71
1980 6.38 4.78
1979 6.47 4.82
1978 6.56 4.85
1977 6.65 4.94
1976 6.71 5.07
1975 6.77 5.19
1974 6.82 5.3
1973 6.86 5.41
1972 6.89 5.49
1971 6.91 5.57
1970 6.94 5.63
1969 6.95 5.72
1968 6.97 5.78
1967 6.98 5.85
1966 6.99 5.91
1965 6.99 5.89
1964 6.99 5.96
1963 6.98 6.01
1962 6.95 6.05
1961 6.92 6.08
1960 6.89 6.11

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/facts/cape-verde/south-africa | CC BY

Cape Verde and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Cape Verde

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Cape Verde South Africa
2025 30 29.7
2024 29.4 29.5
2023 28.8 29.2
2022 28.3 28.9
2021 27.8 28.6
2020 27.3 28.3
2019 27 27.9
2018 26.6 27.5
2017 26.2 27
2016 25.7 26.7
2015 25.2 26.4
2014 24.7 26
2013 24.2 25.7
2012 23.6 25.3
2011 23.1 25
2010 22.6 24.6
2009 22.1 24.3
2008 21.7 24
2007 21.3 23.8
2006 20.8 23.5
2005 20.4 23.3
2004 19.9 23.1
2003 19.6 22.8
2002 19.2 22.4
2001 18.9 22.2
2000 18.6 21.9
1999 18.3 21.6
1998 18.1 21.4
1997 17.9 21.2
1996 17.7 21.2
1995 17.5 21.5
1994 17.4 22
1993 17.2 21.9
1992 17.1 21.5
1991 17 21.5
1990 17 21.3
1989 16.9 21.1
1988 16.8 20.9
1987 16.8 20.7
1986 16.7 20.5
1985 16.6 20.4
1984 16.5 20.2
1983 16.4 20
1982 16.3 19.8
1981 16.1 19.6
1980 16.1 19.4
1979 16.2 19.3
1978 16.4 19.2
1977 16.6 19.1
1976 16.8 19
1975 17 18.9
1974 17.2 18.9
1973 17.2 18.8
1972 17.2 18.8
1971 17.2 18.8
1970 17.2 18.8
1969 17.1 18.8
1968 17 18.8
1967 17 18.8
1966 17.1 18.8
1965 17.2 18.8
1964 17.4 18.9
1963 17.7 18.9
1962 18.1 18.9
1961 18.6 19
1960 19 19

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

GeoRank.org/facts/cape-verde/south-africa | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Cape Verde South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$2.95B
2025
$406B
2025
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27%
2025
34.2%
2025
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4.35%
2023
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
0.62%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
1,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+1.06%
2025
-5.78%
2025
Unemployment rate
11.3%
2019
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
67.9%
2025
63.1%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
10.7%
2025
24.1%
2025
Economic freedom index
71.4
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
32.3%
2015
42.1%
2022
Income share by poorest 10%
2.2%
2015
1.4%
2022
Number of millionaires n/a
97,000
2026
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.23%
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
7
2026
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00002%
2026
Listed domestic companies n/a
212
2025
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$1.4T
2025
Total reserves including gold
$1.26B
2025
$76B
2025
Personal remittances received
$334M
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
180,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
39.9%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share n/a
81.1%
2024

Energy

Cape Verde South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
207.6 kg
2007
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$26.8
2007
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
0.68 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
1.29 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2007
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
21.8%
2022
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share n/a
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
18.3%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
98.6%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Cape Verde South Africa
% of world population
0.006%
2025
0.79%
2025
Annual migration change
-1,284
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
77.6%
2025
63.8%
2025
Male:Female ratio
50.9:49.1
2025
48.7:51.3
2025
Average male height
5.78 ft
2026
5.56 ft
2026
Average female height
5.35 ft
2026
5.2 ft
2026
Quality of life index
46.3
2026
37.7
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
62
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
26
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
7
2020
43.7
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
26.8
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
74
2026
109
2026
Adult literacy rate
88.5%
2024
91.2%
2024
English speaking
8%
2026
50.7%
2026
People using the Internet
74.7%
2024
78.4%
2024

Health

Cape Verde South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$290.1
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$74.7
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
76.6 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
11%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.73
2023
0.79
2022
Maternal mortality per 100K births
40
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
11.1
2024
35.1
2024
Obesity rate
16.4%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.8%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
29
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
10.4%
2024
23.7%
2024
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
6.01 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Cape Verde South Africa
% of world land
0.003%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
2,951 sq mi
2025
7,234 sq mi
2025
Agricultural land area
305 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
180 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
839 mi
2013
466,028 mi
2016

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  9. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  10. Passport Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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