The current population of Cape Verde is 530,391 people, as of 2026 based on the adjusted UN estimation. The latest officially reported number was 524,877 in 2024.
- Cape Verde is ranked 169/197 by population and was ranked 166th in 2006.
- Since 2006, population has increased from 491K people to 530K (8.08% growth in 20 years).
- Cape Verde is projected to reach 568K people in 2052.
- Cape Verde accounts for 0.006% of the world's population.
- For the last 20 years, Cape Verde has had an average growth rate of 0.4% per year.
Cape Verde population and growth rate by year
| Year | Population | Growth rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2100 | 420,063 | -1.01% |
| 2099 | 424,339 | -0.98% |
| 2098 | 428,547 | -0.99% |
| 2097 | 432,823 | -0.97% |
| 2096 | 437,079 | -0.98% |
| 2095 | 441,399 | -0.97% |
| 2094 | 445,733 | -0.97% |
| 2093 | 450,100 | -0.95% |
| 2092 | 454,396 | -0.94% |
| 2091 | 458,688 | -0.93% |
| 2090 | 462,998 | -0.94% |
| 2089 | 467,377 | -0.9% |
| 2088 | 471,624 | -0.89% |
| 2087 | 475,845 | -0.87% |
| 2086 | 480,024 | -0.86% |
| 2085 | 484,207 | -0.85% |
| 2084 | 488,361 | -0.81% |
| 2083 | 492,342 | -0.81% |
| 2082 | 496,365 | -0.79% |
| 2081 | 500,326 | -0.77% |
| 2080 | 504,194 | -0.75% |
| 2079 | 507,990 | -0.7% |
| 2078 | 511,571 | -0.68% |
| 2077 | 515,063 | -0.67% |
| 2076 | 518,529 | -0.65% |
| 2075 | 521,923 | -0.62% |
| 2074 | 525,175 | -0.59% |
| 2073 | 528,314 | -0.57% |
| 2072 | 531,359 | -0.54% |
| 2071 | 534,222 | -0.55% |
| 2070 | 537,167 | -0.54% |
| 2069 | 540,078 | -0.51% |
| 2068 | 542,854 | -0.51% |
| 2067 | 545,645 | -0.47% |
| 2066 | 548,241 | -0.43% |
| 2065 | 550,631 | -0.4% |
| 2064 | 552,831 | -0.39% |
| 2063 | 554,976 | -0.37% |
| 2062 | 557,061 | -0.34% |
| 2061 | 558,943 | -0.3% |
| 2060 | 560,606 | -0.28% |
| 2059 | 562,202 | -0.23% |
| 2058 | 563,524 | -0.2% |
| 2057 | 564,676 | -0.17% |
| 2056 | 565,611 | -0.15% |
| 2055 | 566,437 | -0.12% |
| 2054 | 567,099 | -0.06% |
| 2053 | 567,452 | -0.02% |
| 2052 | 567,567 | 0% |
| 2051 | 567,565 | 0.02% |
| 2050 | 567,433 | 0.06% |
| 2049 | 567,091 | 0.08% |
| 2048 | 566,651 | 0.09% |
| 2047 | 566,116 | 0.14% |
| 2046 | 565,314 | 0.17% |
| 2045 | 564,356 | 0.19% |
| 2044 | 563,283 | 0.21% |
| 2043 | 562,118 | 0.22% |
| 2042 | 560,857 | 0.25% |
| 2041 | 559,474 | 0.27% |
| 2040 | 557,962 | 0.3% |
| 2039 | 556,312 | 0.32% |
| 2038 | 554,523 | 0.33% |
| 2037 | 552,714 | 0.33% |
| 2036 | 550,888 | 0.35% |
| 2035 | 548,939 | 0.35% |
| 2034 | 547,001 | 0.34% |
| 2033 | 545,142 | 0.38% |
| 2032 | 543,065 | 0.37% |
| 2031 | 541,069 | 0.43% |
| 2030 | 538,756 | 0.42% |
| 2029 | 536,526 | 0.42% |
| 2028 | 534,280 | 0.42% |
| 2027 | 532,028 | 0.42% |
| 2026 | 529,785 | 0.45% |
| 2025 | 527,409 | 0.48% |
| 2024 | 524,877 | 0.49% |
| 2023 | 522,331 | 0.5% |
| 2022 | 519,741 | 0.6% |
| 2021 | 516,649 | 0.38% |
| 2020 | 514,679 | 0.11% |
| 2019 | 514,104 | 0.13% |
| 2018 | 513,415 | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 512,893 | 0.07% |
| 2016 | 512,554 | 0.03% |
| 2015 | 512,394 | 0.01% |
| 2014 | 512,326 | 0.02% |
| 2013 | 512,225 | 0.05% |
| 2012 | 511,955 | 0.1% |
| 2011 | 511,447 | 0.33% |
| 2010 | 509,784 | 0.72% |
| 2009 | 506,141 | 0.95% |
| 2008 | 501,355 | 1.04% |
| 2007 | 496,190 | 1.11% |
| 2006 | 490,728 | 1.16% |
| 2005 | 485,115 | 1.2% |
| 2004 | 479,370 | 1.26% |
| 2003 | 473,383 | 1.36% |
| 2002 | 467,046 | 1.47% |
| 2001 | 460,293 | 1.54% |
| 2000 | 453,317 | 1.52% |
| 1999 | 446,519 | 1.53% |
| 1998 | 439,784 | 1.61% |
| 1997 | 432,798 | 1.7% |
| 1996 | 425,581 | 1.79% |
| 1995 | 418,104 | 1.92% |
| 1994 | 410,228 | 2.06% |
| 1993 | 401,965 | 2.17% |
| 1992 | 393,415 | 2.3% |
| 1991 | 384,586 | 2.44% |
| 1990 | 375,428 | 2.07% |
| 1989 | 367,803 | 1.51% |
| 1988 | 362,329 | 1.41% |
| 1987 | 357,302 | 1.42% |
| 1986 | 352,312 | 1.42% |
| 1985 | 347,365 | 1.42% |
| 1984 | 342,505 | 1.44% |
| 1983 | 337,654 | 1.48% |
| 1982 | 332,724 | 1.49% |
| 1981 | 327,846 | 1.41% |
| 1980 | 323,301 | 1.2% |
| 1979 | 319,480 | 1.05% |
| 1978 | 316,147 | 1.06% |
| 1977 | 312,834 | 1.09% |
| 1976 | 309,455 | 1.18% |
| 1975 | 305,847 | 1.08% |
| 1974 | 302,570 | 0.9% |
| 1973 | 299,881 | 0.84% |
| 1972 | 297,386 | 1.14% |
| 1971 | 294,046 | 2.14% |
| 1970 | 287,885 | 3.09% |
| 1969 | 279,248 | 3.36% |
| 1968 | 270,164 | 3.35% |
| 1967 | 261,404 | 3.33% |
| 1966 | 252,976 | 3.32% |
| 1965 | 244,856 | 3.31% |
| 1964 | 237,006 | 3.33% |
| 1963 | 229,373 | 3.36% |
| 1962 | 221,919 | 3.18% |
| 1961 | 215,087 | 2.41% |
| 1960 | 210,024 | - |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/cape-verde | CC BY 
Cape Verde has a population of 530K as of 2026, compared to 513K in 2016, 491K in 2006, and 426K in 1996.
Over the past 10 years, the population has had a trend to increase by an average of 0.35% per year. Cape Verde is ranked 152nd out of 197 countries by a 10-year average growth rate.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that with changing growth rate trends in 20 years (in 2046) Cape Verde will have 565,314 people (6.58% growth) with a rank change from 169th to 168th.
By the year 2100, Cape Verde's population is projected to decline by 20.8% from its current level to 420K people.
Natural change and net migration by year
| Year | Population change | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Natural | Net migration | |
| 2025 | - | - | -1,284 |
| 2024 | - | - | -1,209 |
| 2023 | 2,572 | 3,798 | -1,226 |
| 2022 | 2,611 | 3,864 | -1,253 |
| 2021 | 3,575 | 3,575 | 0 |
| 2020 | 372 | 3,734 | -3,362 |
| 2019 | 772 | 4,773 | -4,001 |
| 2018 | 603 | 5,282 | -4,679 |
| 2017 | 443 | 5,993 | -5,550 |
| 2016 | 234 | 6,238 | -6,004 |
| 2015 | 88 | 6,314 | -6,226 |
| 2014 | 44 | 6,622 | -6,578 |
| 2013 | 158 | 6,780 | -6,622 |
| 2012 | 378 | 7,157 | -6,779 |
| 2011 | 648 | 7,874 | -7,226 |
| 2010 | 2,677 | 7,746 | -5,069 |
| 2009 | 4,598 | 7,216 | -2,618 |
| 2008 | 4,973 | 7,313 | -2,340 |
| 2007 | 5,359 | 7,559 | -2,200 |
| 2006 | 5,572 | 7,980 | -2,408 |
| 2005 | 5,660 | 8,428 | -2,768 |
| 2004 | 5,832 | 8,825 | -2,993 |
| 2003 | 6,139 | 9,037 | -2,898 |
| 2002 | 6,527 | 9,278 | -2,751 |
| 2001 | 6,982 | 9,510 | -2,528 |
| 2000 | 6,980 | 9,752 | -2,772 |
| 1999 | 6,618 | 9,989 | -3,371 |
| 1998 | 6,855 | 10,187 | -3,332 |
| 1997 | 7,112 | 10,323 | -3,211 |
| 1996 | 7,316 | 10,613 | -3,297 |
| 1995 | 7,639 | 10,764 | -3,125 |
| 1994 | 8,111 | 11,410 | -3,299 |
| 1993 | 8,412 | 11,805 | -3,393 |
| 1992 | 8,684 | 11,915 | -3,231 |
| 1991 | 8,975 | 11,899 | -2,924 |
| 1990 | 9,340 | 11,738 | -2,398 |
| 1989 | 5,904 | 11,608 | -5,704 |
| 1988 | 5,049 | 11,523 | -6,474 |
| 1987 | 5,008 | 11,426 | -6,418 |
| 1986 | 4,981 | 11,295 | -6,314 |
| 1985 | 4,913 | 11,105 | -6,192 |
| 1984 | 4,800 | 10,835 | -6,035 |
| 1983 | 4,902 | 10,736 | -5,834 |
| 1982 | 4,968 | 10,597 | -5,629 |
| 1981 | 4,786 | 10,470 | -5,684 |
| 1980 | 4,296 | 10,276 | -5,980 |
| 1979 | 3,348 | 10,223 | -6,875 |
| 1978 | 3,319 | 10,152 | -6,833 |
| 1977 | 3,306 | 10,036 | -6,730 |
| 1976 | 3,444 | 9,833 | -6,389 |
| 1975 | 3,772 | 9,601 | -5,829 |
| 1974 | 2,783 | 9,295 | -6,512 |
| 1973 | 2,593 | 9,003 | -6,410 |
| 1972 | 2,400 | 8,716 | -6,316 |
| 1971 | 4,274 | 8,359 | -4,085 |
| 1970 | 8,050 | 7,878 | 172 |
| 1969 | 9,233 | 7,625 | 1,608 |
| 1968 | 8,929 | 7,408 | 1,521 |
| 1967 | 8,590 | 7,214 | 1,376 |
| 1966 | 8,269 | 7,039 | 1,230 |
| 1965 | 7,970 | 6,877 | 1,093 |
| 1964 | 7,731 | 6,725 | 1,006 |
| 1963 | 7,534 | 6,589 | 945 |
| 1962 | 7,372 | 6,468 | 904 |
| 1961 | 6,296 | 6,247 | 49 |
| 1960 | 3,831 | 6,098 | -2,267 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/cape-verde | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 56.4% of the population change in Cape Verde is from natural causes (a gain of 50,193 people) and 43.6% is from migration (a loss of 38,879 people).
As of 2024, 16,515 residents or 3.1% of the population were not native-born in Cape Verde, compared to 14,373 and 2.8% in 2010.
Cape Verde population clock
Cape Verde
|
Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
530391
|
169/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.006% | 169/197 |
| One net population change |
3.44 hours
|
143/197 |
| One birth every |
1.36 hours
|
169/196 |
| One death every |
3.32 hours
|
169/196 |
| Daily growth/decline | +7 | 143/197 |
| Annual growth/decline | +2,546 | 143/197 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.49% | 136/197 |
| One migration net change every |
6.84 hours
|
94/196 |
| Annual migration change | -1,284 | 94/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 16,515 | 171/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 3.1% | 116/195 |
Largest cities by population
|
Cape Verde
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Praia | 159K |
| Mindelo | 70.5K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Cape Verde population statistics
|
Cape Verde
|
World
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 76.6 years | 73.8 years |
| Average age | 31.4 years | 33.8 years |
| Median age | 29.4 years | 31.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 50.9:49.1 | 50.3:49.7 |
| Fertility rate | 1.52 births per woman | 2.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 340 ppl/mi² | 144 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/cape-verde | CC BY
Help us show the world through your eyes
Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.
Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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.