The latest officially reported population of Cape Verde was 527,326 in 2025 vs 10,804,871 people in Portugal in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Cape Verde's population is 530,853 people compared to 10,788,071 in Portugal.
Population statistics:
- Portugal's population is 20.3 times bigger than Cape Verde's.
- Cape Verde is ranked the 169th most populous country in the world, while Portugal is the 91st.
- The countries together account for 0.14% of the world: 0.006% for Cape Verde vs 0.13% for Portugal.
- For the last 10 years, Cape Verde has had an average growth rate of +0.26% per year vs +0.35% in Portugal.
- Since 2006, the population of Cape Verde has increased from 491K people to 531K (8.18% growth), while Portugal has grown from 10.5M to 10.8M (2.53% growth).
Cape Verde vs Portugal: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Cape Verde
|
Portugal
|
|
| 2100 | 419,997 | 9,079,610 |
| 2099 | 424,272 | 9,084,930 |
| 2098 | 428,479 | 9,089,064 |
| 2097 | 432,755 | 9,094,546 |
| 2096 | 437,010 | 9,100,755 |
| 2095 | 441,329 | 9,108,548 |
| 2094 | 445,663 | 9,113,366 |
| 2093 | 450,029 | 9,118,286 |
| 2092 | 454,324 | 9,123,579 |
| 2091 | 458,616 | 9,127,714 |
| 2090 | 462,925 | 9,132,140 |
| 2089 | 467,304 | 9,136,870 |
| 2088 | 471,550 | 9,141,647 |
| 2087 | 475,770 | 9,147,996 |
| 2086 | 479,948 | 9,152,804 |
| 2085 | 484,130 | 9,158,263 |
| 2084 | 488,284 | 9,165,158 |
| 2083 | 492,265 | 9,171,574 |
| 2082 | 496,287 | 9,179,958 |
| 2081 | 500,248 | 9,190,466 |
| 2080 | 504,114 | 9,201,621 |
| 2079 | 507,910 | 9,214,398 |
| 2078 | 511,491 | 9,228,555 |
| 2077 | 514,982 | 9,243,708 |
| 2076 | 518,448 | 9,262,542 |
| 2075 | 521,841 | 9,282,392 |
| 2074 | 525,092 | 9,305,608 |
| 2073 | 528,231 | 9,330,117 |
| 2072 | 531,275 | 9,353,771 |
| 2071 | 534,138 | 9,380,991 |
| 2070 | 537,082 | 9,409,668 |
| 2069 | 539,993 | 9,440,299 |
| 2068 | 542,768 | 9,473,457 |
| 2067 | 545,560 | 9,506,001 |
| 2066 | 548,154 | 9,539,597 |
| 2065 | 550,545 | 9,574,237 |
| 2064 | 552,744 | 9,611,738 |
| 2063 | 554,888 | 9,649,045 |
| 2062 | 556,973 | 9,686,737 |
| 2061 | 558,855 | 9,723,601 |
| 2060 | 560,518 | 9,762,379 |
| 2059 | 562,114 | 9,801,072 |
| 2058 | 563,436 | 9,841,936 |
| 2057 | 564,587 | 9,880,092 |
| 2056 | 565,521 | 9,918,643 |
| 2055 | 566,347 | 9,958,971 |
| 2054 | 567,010 | 9,997,570 |
| 2053 | 567,363 | 10,037,385 |
| 2052 | 567,478 | 10,076,095 |
| 2051 | 567,476 | 10,112,788 |
| 2050 | 567,344 | 10,149,626 |
| 2049 | 567,002 | 10,187,172 |
| 2048 | 566,562 | 10,221,034 |
| 2047 | 566,027 | 10,255,340 |
| 2046 | 565,225 | 10,289,266 |
| 2045 | 564,268 | 10,321,807 |
| 2044 | 563,194 | 10,353,338 |
| 2043 | 562,030 | 10,384,554 |
| 2042 | 560,769 | 10,412,950 |
| 2041 | 559,386 | 10,440,054 |
| 2040 | 557,874 | 10,469,380 |
| 2039 | 556,224 | 10,497,556 |
| 2038 | 554,435 | 10,523,869 |
| 2037 | 552,627 | 10,548,445 |
| 2036 | 550,801 | 10,573,361 |
| 2035 | 548,853 | 10,597,352 |
| 2034 | 546,915 | 10,621,955 |
| 2033 | 545,056 | 10,645,024 |
| 2032 | 542,980 | 10,668,384 |
| 2031 | 540,984 | 10,689,372 |
| 2030 | 538,671 | 10,708,819 |
| 2029 | 536,441 | 10,729,893 |
| 2028 | 534,196 | 10,752,023 |
| 2027 | 531,944 | 10,770,712 |
| 2026 | 529,702 | 10,788,071 |
| 2025 | 527,326 | 10,804,871 |
| 2024 | 524,877 | 10,694,681 |
| 2023 | 522,331 | 10,578,174 |
| 2022 | 519,741 | 10,434,332 |
| 2021 | 516,649 | 10,361,831 |
| 2020 | 514,679 | 10,297,081 |
| 2019 | 514,104 | 10,286,263 |
| 2018 | 513,415 | 10,283,822 |
| 2017 | 512,893 | 10,300,300 |
| 2016 | 512,554 | 10,325,452 |
| 2015 | 512,394 | 10,358,076 |
| 2014 | 512,326 | 10,401,062 |
| 2013 | 512,225 | 10,457,295 |
| 2012 | 511,955 | 10,514,844 |
| 2011 | 511,447 | 10,557,560 |
| 2010 | 509,784 | 10,573,100 |
| 2009 | 506,141 | 10,568,247 |
| 2008 | 501,355 | 10,558,177 |
| 2007 | 496,190 | 10,542,964 |
| 2006 | 490,728 | 10,522,288 |
| 2005 | 485,115 | 10,503,330 |
| 2004 | 479,370 | 10,483,861 |
| 2003 | 473,383 | 10,458,821 |
| 2002 | 467,046 | 10,419,631 |
| 2001 | 460,293 | 10,362,722 |
| 2000 | 453,317 | 10,289,898 |
| 1999 | 446,519 | 10,217,828 |
| 1998 | 439,784 | 10,160,196 |
| 1997 | 432,798 | 10,108,977 |
| 1996 | 425,581 | 10,063,945 |
| 1995 | 418,104 | 10,026,176 |
| 1994 | 410,228 | 9,991,525 |
| 1993 | 401,965 | 9,964,675 |
| 1992 | 393,415 | 9,952,494 |
| 1991 | 384,586 | 9,960,235 |
| 1990 | 375,428 | 9,983,218 |
| 1989 | 367,803 | 10,005,000 |
| 1988 | 362,329 | 10,019,610 |
| 1987 | 357,302 | 10,030,031 |
| 1986 | 352,312 | 10,032,734 |
| 1985 | 347,365 | 10,023,613 |
| 1984 | 342,505 | 9,996,232 |
| 1983 | 337,654 | 9,957,865 |
| 1982 | 332,724 | 9,911,771 |
| 1981 | 327,846 | 9,851,362 |
| 1980 | 323,301 | 9,766,312 |
| 1979 | 319,480 | 9,661,265 |
| 1978 | 316,147 | 9,558,250 |
| 1977 | 312,834 | 9,455,675 |
| 1976 | 309,455 | 9,355,810 |
| 1975 | 305,847 | 9,093,470 |
| 1974 | 302,570 | 8,754,365 |
| 1973 | 299,881 | 8,633,100 |
| 1972 | 297,386 | 8,630,430 |
| 1971 | 294,046 | 8,643,756 |
| 1970 | 287,885 | 8,680,431 |
| 1969 | 279,248 | 8,757,705 |
| 1968 | 270,164 | 8,836,650 |
| 1967 | 261,404 | 8,874,520 |
| 1966 | 252,976 | 8,930,990 |
| 1965 | 244,856 | 8,998,595 |
| 1964 | 237,006 | 9,035,365 |
| 1963 | 229,373 | 9,030,355 |
| 1962 | 221,919 | 8,993,985 |
| 1961 | 215,087 | 8,929,316 |
| 1960 | 210,024 | 8,857,716 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/cape-verde/portugal | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Cape Verde increased by 21,826 people (a 4.45% growth), while Portugal lost 196,836 people (a 1.87% decline).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Cape Verde gained 18,299 people (a 3.57% growth), while Portugal's population increased by 462,619 people (a 4.48% growth).
Cape Verde was ranked 166th most populous country in 2006 and is 169th in 2026. Portugal was ranked 78th in 2006 and ranked 91st now.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Cape Verde's population will grow by 6.87% to 567,344 people with a rank change from 169th to 168th. The population of Portugal will decrease by 5.92% to 10,149,626 people and rank change from 91st to 97th.
Cape Verde is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 567K people, while Portugal's population already peaked in 2025 at 10.8M people and is projected to decrease to 9.08M people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Cape Verde
|
Portugal
|
|
| 2100 | -1.01% | -0.06% |
| 2099 | -0.98% | -0.05% |
| 2098 | -0.99% | -0.06% |
| 2097 | -0.97% | -0.07% |
| 2096 | -0.98% | -0.09% |
| 2095 | -0.97% | -0.05% |
| 2094 | -0.97% | -0.05% |
| 2093 | -0.95% | -0.06% |
| 2092 | -0.94% | -0.05% |
| 2091 | -0.93% | -0.05% |
| 2090 | -0.94% | -0.05% |
| 2089 | -0.9% | -0.05% |
| 2088 | -0.89% | -0.07% |
| 2087 | -0.87% | -0.05% |
| 2086 | -0.86% | -0.06% |
| 2085 | -0.85% | -0.08% |
| 2084 | -0.81% | -0.07% |
| 2083 | -0.81% | -0.09% |
| 2082 | -0.79% | -0.11% |
| 2081 | -0.77% | -0.12% |
| 2080 | -0.75% | -0.14% |
| 2079 | -0.7% | -0.15% |
| 2078 | -0.68% | -0.16% |
| 2077 | -0.67% | -0.2% |
| 2076 | -0.65% | -0.21% |
| 2075 | -0.62% | -0.25% |
| 2074 | -0.59% | -0.26% |
| 2073 | -0.57% | -0.25% |
| 2072 | -0.54% | -0.29% |
| 2071 | -0.55% | -0.3% |
| 2070 | -0.54% | -0.32% |
| 2069 | -0.51% | -0.35% |
| 2068 | -0.51% | -0.34% |
| 2067 | -0.47% | -0.35% |
| 2066 | -0.43% | -0.36% |
| 2065 | -0.4% | -0.39% |
| 2064 | -0.39% | -0.39% |
| 2063 | -0.37% | -0.39% |
| 2062 | -0.34% | -0.38% |
| 2061 | -0.3% | -0.4% |
| 2060 | -0.28% | -0.39% |
| 2059 | -0.23% | -0.42% |
| 2058 | -0.2% | -0.39% |
| 2057 | -0.17% | -0.39% |
| 2056 | -0.15% | -0.4% |
| 2055 | -0.12% | -0.39% |
| 2054 | -0.06% | -0.4% |
| 2053 | -0.02% | -0.38% |
| 2052 | 0% | -0.36% |
| 2051 | 0.02% | -0.36% |
| 2050 | 0.06% | -0.37% |
| 2049 | 0.08% | -0.33% |
| 2048 | 0.09% | -0.33% |
| 2047 | 0.14% | -0.33% |
| 2046 | 0.17% | -0.32% |
| 2045 | 0.19% | -0.3% |
| 2044 | 0.21% | -0.3% |
| 2043 | 0.22% | -0.27% |
| 2042 | 0.25% | -0.26% |
| 2041 | 0.27% | -0.28% |
| 2040 | 0.3% | -0.27% |
| 2039 | 0.32% | -0.25% |
| 2038 | 0.33% | -0.23% |
| 2037 | 0.33% | -0.24% |
| 2036 | 0.35% | -0.23% |
| 2035 | 0.35% | -0.23% |
| 2034 | 0.34% | -0.22% |
| 2033 | 0.38% | -0.22% |
| 2032 | 0.37% | -0.2% |
| 2031 | 0.43% | -0.18% |
| 2030 | 0.42% | -0.2% |
| 2029 | 0.42% | -0.21% |
| 2028 | 0.42% | -0.17% |
| 2027 | 0.42% | -0.16% |
| 2026 | 0.45% | -0.16% |
| 2025 | 0.47% | 1.03% |
| 2024 | 0.49% | 1.1% |
| 2023 | 0.5% | 1.38% |
| 2022 | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| 2021 | 0.38% | 0.63% |
| 2020 | 0.11% | 0.11% |
| 2019 | 0.13% | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | -0.16% |
| 2017 | 0.07% | -0.24% |
| 2016 | 0.03% | -0.31% |
| 2015 | 0.01% | -0.41% |
| 2014 | 0.02% | -0.54% |
| 2013 | 0.05% | -0.55% |
| 2012 | 0.1% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 0.33% | -0.15% |
| 2010 | 0.72% | 0.05% |
| 2009 | 0.95% | 0.1% |
| 2008 | 1.04% | 0.14% |
| 2007 | 1.11% | 0.2% |
| 2006 | 1.16% | 0.18% |
| 2005 | 1.2% | 0.19% |
| 2004 | 1.26% | 0.24% |
| 2003 | 1.36% | 0.38% |
| 2002 | 1.47% | 0.55% |
| 2001 | 1.54% | 0.71% |
| 2000 | 1.52% | 0.71% |
| 1999 | 1.53% | 0.57% |
| 1998 | 1.61% | 0.51% |
| 1997 | 1.7% | 0.45% |
| 1996 | 1.79% | 0.38% |
| 1995 | 1.92% | 0.35% |
| 1994 | 2.06% | 0.27% |
| 1993 | 2.17% | 0.12% |
| 1992 | 2.3% | -0.08% |
| 1991 | 2.44% | -0.23% |
| 1990 | 2.07% | -0.22% |
| 1989 | 1.51% | -0.15% |
| 1988 | 1.41% | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 1.42% | -0.03% |
| 1986 | 1.42% | 0.09% |
| 1985 | 1.42% | 0.27% |
| 1984 | 1.44% | 0.39% |
| 1983 | 1.48% | 0.47% |
| 1982 | 1.49% | 0.61% |
| 1981 | 1.41% | 0.87% |
| 1980 | 1.2% | 1.09% |
| 1979 | 1.05% | 1.08% |
| 1978 | 1.06% | 1.08% |
| 1977 | 1.09% | 1.07% |
| 1976 | 1.18% | 2.88% |
| 1975 | 1.08% | 3.87% |
| 1974 | 0.9% | 1.4% |
| 1973 | 0.84% | 0.03% |
| 1972 | 1.14% | -0.15% |
| 1971 | 2.14% | -0.42% |
| 1970 | 3.09% | -0.88% |
| 1969 | 3.36% | -0.89% |
| 1968 | 3.35% | -0.43% |
| 1967 | 3.33% | -0.63% |
| 1966 | 3.32% | -0.75% |
| 1965 | 3.31% | -0.41% |
| 1964 | 3.33% | 0.06% |
| 1963 | 3.36% | 0.4% |
| 1962 | 3.18% | 0.72% |
| 1961 | 2.41% | 0.81% |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/cape-verde/portugal | CC BY
In 2025, the population of Cape Verde grew by 0.47%, while Portugal's population grew by 1.03%.
Live population counters
|
Cape Verde
|
Portugal
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
530853
|
10788071
|
| Population rank | 169/197 | 91/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.006% | 0.13% |
| One net population change |
3.59 hours
|
4.78 minutes
|
| One birth every |
1.37 hours
|
6.22 minutes
|
| One death every |
3.28 hours
|
4.43 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +7 | +302 |
| Annual growth/decline | +2,449 | +110,190 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.47% | +1.03% |
| Population growth rate rank | 132/197 | 99/197 |
| One migration net change every |
6.84 hours
|
32 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | -1,284 | +16,472 |
| Net migration rank | 94/196 | 38/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 16,515 | 1,127,184 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 171/195 | 56/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 3.1% | 10.8% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 116/195 | 61/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cape Verde
|
Portugal
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | -1,284 | - | 16,472 |
| 2024 | 3,741 | -1,209 | -34,223 | 20,648 |
| 2023 | 3,798 | -1,226 | -32,792 | 29,102 |
| 2022 | 3,864 | -1,253 | -40,694 | 68,696 |
| 2021 | 3,575 | 0 | -45,592 | 69,606 |
| 2020 | 3,734 | -3,362 | -39,129 | 54,076 |
| 2019 | 4,773 | -4,001 | -24,687 | 63,031 |
| 2018 | 5,282 | -4,679 | -25,709 | 22,495 |
| 2017 | 5,993 | -5,550 | -23,691 | 13,979 |
| 2016 | 6,238 | -6,004 | -23,749 | -775 |
| 2015 | 6,314 | -6,226 | -23,823 | -3,209 |
| 2014 | 6,622 | -6,578 | -22,882 | -26,447 |
| 2013 | 6,780 | -6,622 | -24,052 | -36,342 |
| 2012 | 7,157 | -6,779 | -17,875 | -37,083 |
| 2011 | 7,874 | -7,226 | -5,279 | -31,513 |
| 2010 | 7,746 | -5,069 | -4,230 | -5,627 |
| 2009 | 7,216 | -2,618 | -5,284 | 14,532 |
| 2008 | 7,313 | -2,340 | 0 | 9,478 |
| 2007 | 7,559 | -2,200 | -1,055 | 21,064 |
| 2006 | 7,980 | -2,408 | 3,156 | 16,754 |
| 2005 | 8,428 | -2,768 | 2,101 | 15,537 |
| 2004 | 8,825 | -2,993 | 7,339 | 13,928 |
| 2003 | 9,037 | -2,898 | 4,184 | 24,740 |
| 2002 | 9,278 | -2,751 | 8,335 | 42,169 |
| 2001 | 9,510 | -2,528 | 8,290 | 55,565 |
| 2000 | 9,752 | -2,772 | 15,435 | 60,586 |
| 1999 | 9,989 | -3,371 | 8,175 | 49,572 |
| 1998 | 10,187 | -3,332 | 7,112 | 40,931 |
| 1997 | 10,323 | -3,211 | 8,087 | 36,922 |
| 1996 | 10,613 | -3,297 | 4,026 | 32,640 |
| 1995 | 10,764 | -3,125 | 4,011 | 26,971 |
| 1994 | 11,410 | -3,299 | 9,991 | 20,761 |
| 1993 | 11,805 | -3,393 | 7,972 | 8,561 |
| 1992 | 11,915 | -3,231 | 13,933 | -11,847 |
| 1991 | 11,899 | -2,924 | 12,948 | -37,914 |
| 1990 | 11,738 | -2,398 | 13,976 | -34,855 |
| 1989 | 11,608 | -5,704 | 22,011 | -30,615 |
| 1988 | 11,523 | -6,474 | 24,047 | -26,595 |
| 1987 | 11,426 | -6,418 | 28,084 | -23,142 |
| 1986 | 11,295 | -6,314 | 31,102 | -20,000 |
| 1985 | 11,105 | -6,192 | 33,077 | -19,183 |
| 1984 | 10,835 | -6,035 | 45,983 | -16,658 |
| 1983 | 10,736 | -5,834 | 47,798 | -16,568 |
| 1982 | 10,597 | -5,629 | 58,479 | -15,006 |
| 1981 | 10,470 | -5,684 | 56,152 | -7,938 |
| 1980 | 10,276 | -5,980 | 63,481 | 29,881 |
| 1979 | 10,223 | -6,875 | 67,628 | 32,434 |
| 1978 | 10,152 | -6,833 | 70,731 | 34,345 |
| 1977 | 10,036 | -6,730 | 84,156 | 37,779 |
| 1976 | 9,833 | -6,389 | 85,138 | 40,490 |
| 1975 | 9,601 | -5,829 | 81,841 | 42,262 |
| 1974 | 9,295 | -6,512 | 74,412 | 41,254 |
| 1973 | 9,003 | -6,410 | 76,835 | 39,748 |
| 1972 | 8,716 | -6,316 | 83,715 | 39,058 |
| 1971 | 8,359 | -4,085 | 82,980 | 48,944 |
| 1970 | 7,878 | 172 | 87,672 | -191,862 |
| 1969 | 7,625 | 1,608 | 89,329 | -161,114 |
| 1968 | 7,408 | 1,521 | 100,737 | -145,200 |
| 1967 | 7,214 | 1,376 | 106,495 | -136,232 |
| 1966 | 7,039 | 1,230 | 107,171 | -129,233 |
| 1965 | 6,877 | 1,093 | 115,182 | -123,855 |
| 1964 | 6,725 | 1,006 | 120,170 | -118,763 |
| 1963 | 6,589 | 945 | 113,783 | -116,874 |
| 1962 | 6,468 | 904 | 123,217 | -113,947 |
| 1961 | 6,247 | 49 | 117,867 | -112,768 |
| 1960 | 6,098 | -2,267 | 118,693 | -95,886 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/cape-verde/portugal | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 58.5% of the population change in Cape Verde is from natural causes (a gain of 47,312 people) and 41.5% is from migration (a loss of 33,510 people). In Portugal 48.2% is from natural causes (a loss of 314,089 people) and 51.8% is from migration (a gain of 337,649 people).
As of 2024, 16,515 residents or 3.1% of the population were not native-born in Cape Verde, compared to 1,127,184 people or 10.8% in Portugal.
Biggest cities by population
|
Cape Verde
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Praia | 159K |
| Mindelo | 70.5K |
| Assomada | 12K |
|
Portugal
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Lisbon | 546K |
| Sintra | 386K |
| Vila Nova de Gaia | 304K |
| Porto | 232K |
| Cascais | 214K |
| Loures | 202K |
| Braga | 193K |
| Almada | 177K |
| Matosinhos | 173K |
| Oeiras | 172K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Cape Verde and Portugal
|
Cape Verde
|
Portugal
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 76.6 years | 82.9 years |
| Average age | 31.9 years | 45.9 years |
| Median age | 30 years | 47.8 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 50.9:49.1 | 47.6:52.4 |
| Fertility rate | 1.51 births per woman | 1.41 births per woman |
| Population density | 340 ppl/mi² | 305 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/population/cape-verde/portugal | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
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