Cape Verde (Republic of Cape Verde)

Cape Verde Republic of Cape Verde
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	83rd best
Capital	Praia
Land Area	4 030km21
Location	Africa
Groupings	Small Islands
Population	0.5m2
Life Expectancy	74.05yrs (2017)3
GNI	$6 230 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	CV, CPV, 1325
Internet Domain	.cv6
Currency	Escudo (CVE)7
Telephone	+2388

1. Overview
2. Cape Verde National and Social Development
3. Cape Verde's Demographics and Migration
4. Cape Verde's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
   1. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets
   2. Gender Equality Datasets
   3. Prejudice Datasets
5. Cape Verde's Health
   1. Health Datasets
   2. Children's Health Datasets
6. Cape Verde's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Cape Verde's Modernity and Learning
   1. Modernity Datasets
   2. Education Datasets
   3. Technology and Information Datasets
8. Cape Verde's Culture, Peace and Inequality
   1. National Culture Datasets
   2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets
   3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Links

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1. Overview

#brazil

“The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Following independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continues to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments. Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result, Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one. Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents.”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“Rising from the Atlantic 500km off the coast of West Africa, the islands of Cape Verde are at once unmistakeably African and a world away from the continent. Set sail with the Saharan trade winds and rock and roll across stormy Atlantic seas for days. Then, just before you´re halfway to Brazil, an island rises into view. You have reached Cape Verde, an arrow-shaped archipelago that is the region´s most Westernised country, where the people are richer and better educated than almost anywhere on the continent. Though it may appear as a set of flyspecks poking out of the eastern Atlantic, this 10-island archipelago packs a punch. On Santo Antão, craggy peaks hide piercing green valleys of flowers and sugar cane, ideal for epic hikes. São Vicente is home to the cultural capital of the islands, Mindelo, which throbs with bars and music clubs. On Boa Vista, Sal and Maio, wispy white dunes merge with indigo-blue seas on unspoiled beaches of soft sand. Throw in the constant beat of music that Cape Verde is famed for and the renowned morabeza (Creole for hospitality) of its people and you´ll see why many have come - and never left.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Cape Verde National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better Value11
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
125	El Salvador	0.675
126	Nicaragua	0.667
127	Bhutan	0.666
128	Cape Verde	0.662
129	Bangladesh	0.661
130	Tuvalu	0.641
131	Marshall Islands	0.639
132	India	0.633
	Africa Avg	0.56
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
128	Palestine	$6 583
129	Tuvalu	$6 351
130	Belize	$6 309
131	Cape Verde	$6 230
132	Ghana	$5 745
133	Nicaragua	$5 625
134	Bangladesh	$5 472
135	Angola	$5 466
	Africa Avg	$5 339
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Denmark	26.9
2	Norway	29.1
3	Sweden	29.9
	...
80	Russia	84.6
81	Dominica	84.7
82	Morocco	84.8
83	Cape Verde	84.8
84	Dominican Rep.	85.7
85	Kazakhstan	85.9
86	Belarus	86.0
87	Vatican City	86.3
	Africa Avg	119.0
	World Avg	89.0
q=200.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Cape Verde's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Cape Verde's population is predicted to rise to 588 297 by 2030. This rise is despite a low fertility rate, meaning, that this country is helping to alleviate problems with growing population in neighbouring countries by accepting immigrants, very likely as a requirement of maintaining an active workforce. This country has a fertility rate of 1.88. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
164	Montenegro	0.6m
165	Luxembourg	0.6m
166	Suriname	0.6m
167	Cape Verde	0.5m
168	Maldives	0.5m
169	Malta	0.4m
170	Brunei	0.4m
171	Bahamas	0.4m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
66	Jordan	74.3
67	Serbia	74.2
68	Romania	74.2
69	Cape Verde	74.1
70	Morocco	74.0
71	Iran	73.9
72	Macedonia	73.8
73	Nicaragua	73.8
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15
Pos.		202215
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
14	Lebanon	2.08
15	Kuwait	2.09
16	Turkey	1.88
17	Cape Verde	1.88
18	Argentina	1.88
19	Myanmar	2.13
20	Indonesia	2.15
21	Greenland	1.84
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better16
Pos.		2016 Per 10016
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
66=	Saudi Arabia	09.5
67	Haiti	09.6
68	Vanuatu	09.9
69	Cape Verde	10.0
70	Philippines	10.3
71	Cambodia	10.4
72=	Egypt	10.5
72=	Libya	10.5
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants17
Pos.		2017 %17
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
105	Kyrgyzstan	3.3%
106	Chad	3.3%
107	Tajikistan	3.1%
108	Cape Verde	2.8%
109	Burundi	2.8%
110	Chile	2.7%
111	Micronesia	2.6%
112	Azerbaijan	2.6%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants18
Pos.		2010 %18
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
13	Bosnia & Herzegovina	38.9%
14	Palau	38.8%
15	St Vincent & Grenadines	37.7%
16	Cape Verde	37.6%
17	Jamaica	36.1%
18	Armenia	28.2%
19	Trinidad & Tobago	26.7%
20	Malta	26.2%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Cape Verde's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #freethought #gender #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #tolerance #women

Compared to Africa (2025)19
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank19
1	Cape Verde	66.3
2	S. Africa	70.7
3	Mauritius	74.9
4	Seychelles	82.0
5	Namibia	85.9
6	Ghana	88.7
7	Botswana	90.0
8	Lesotho	91.9
9	Burkina Faso	93.3
10	Senegal	95.2
11	Madagascar	98.8
12	Rwanda	102.5
13	Mali	102.9
	Africa Avg	110.04
q=54.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)19
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank19
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
47	Montenegro	63.3
48	Israel	64.4
49	Bolivia	65.5
50	Cape Verde	66.3
51	Mexico	66.7
52	Serbia	67.5
53	Bulgaria	67.8
54	Peru	67.9
	World Avg	89.80
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark₂₀. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia₂₀.

31 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting modern slavery, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₂₀, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia₂₀.

For more, see:

• " Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

4.1. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets

#freedom #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #politics

Press Freedom Higher is better21
Pos.		202521
1	Norway	92.31
2	Estonia	89.46
3	Netherlands	88.64
	...
27	S. Africa	75.71
28	Namibia	75.35
29	Australia	75.15
30	Cape Verde	74.98
31	Poland	74.79
32	Suriname	74.49
33	Slovenia	74.06
34	Armenia	73.96
	Africa Avg	52.30
	World Avg	54.65
q=179. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom Lower is better22
Pos.		2014 Rank22
1	Hong Kong	1
2	Switzerland	2
3	New Zealand	3
	...
89=	Kenya	88
89=	Bahrain	88
91	Jordan	91
92	Cape Verde	92
93	Botswana	93
94=	Liberia	94
94=	Lesotho	94
96	Kazakhstan	96
	Africa Avg	114.2
	World Avg	79.7
q=159.

Freedom in the World Lower is better
Pos.		2024 Score
1=	Norway	1.0
1=	Canada	1.0
1=	Cape Verde	1.0
1=	Slovakia	1.0
1=	Chile	1.0
1=	San Marino	1.0
1=	Costa Rica	1.0
1=	St Vincent & Grenadines	1.0
1=	St Lucia	1.0
1=	Cyprus	1.0
1=	Denmark	1.0
1=	Dominica	1.0
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	3.7
q=205. Also scored for 1970s-2010s.

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better23
Pos.		2009 Treaties23
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
106=	Libya	15
106=	Maldives	15
106=	Andorra	15
106=	Cape Verde	15
106=	Bangladesh	15
106=	Mozambique	15
112=	Dominican Rep.	14
112=	Kenya	14
	Africa Avg	14.8
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better24
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty24
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
32	Hungary	5.91
33	Mongolia	6.26
34	Poland	6.34
35	Cape Verde	6.40
36	Venezuela	6.51
37	Italy	6.56
38	Russia	6.58
39	UK	6.62
	Africa Avg	9.88
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

4.2. Gender Equality Datasets

#gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #politics #women

Cape Verde has made some steps towards ending gender inequality but much more needs to be done.

See:

• "Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree (2007)

Gender Inequality Lower is better25
Pos.		202225
1	Denmark	0.01
2	Norway	0.01
3	Switzerland	0.02
	...
77	Fiji	0.33
78=	Bahamas	0.33
78=	Maldives	0.33
80	Cape Verde	0.33
81	St Lucia	0.35
82	Kyrgyzstan	0.35
83	Jamaica	0.35
84	Mexico	0.36
	Africa Avg	0.53
	World Avg	0.34
q=166. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Year Women Can Vote Lower is better
Pos.		Total Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
	...
164=	Jordan	1974
164=	Solomon Islands	1974
166=	Sao Tome & Principe	1975
166=	Cape Verde	1975
166=	Angola	1975
166=	Mozambique	1975
170	Portugal	1976
171	Guinea-Bissau	1977
	Africa Avg	1961
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

4.3. Prejudice Datasets

#freethought #homosexuality #religious_tolerance

LGBT Equality in the 2020s Higher is better26
Pos.		Total Score26
1=	Germany	4.88
1=	Spain	4.88
3	Portugal	4.81
	...
93	Guatemala	0.08
94	Rwanda	0.06
95=	Fiji	0.05
95=	Cape Verde	0.05
97	Hong Kong	0.00
98	Bolivia	-0.01
99=	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	-0.02
99=	Marshall Islands	-0.02
	Africa Avg	-3.78
	World Avg	-1.21
q=215. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Homosexuality has been legal since independence (1975), where it escaped Portugal's discriminatory anti-homosexuality laws. Since then, monitors have sometimes reported social stigma and occasional harassment, but nothing akin to the systematic use of "public morality" to harassment LGBT folk as seen throughout other countries influenced by Christian missionaries. LGB folk can serve in the military and the age of consent is equal. Pride events and LGBT visibility have grown since the 2010s, with government tolerance. ILGA researchers in 2017 found that Cape Verde had legal protections against anti-LGBT employment discrimination. There is no civil parternership registration nor marriage rights for LGBT couples.

Actions taken at the United Nations:

•  ⇡  Supported the 2008 Declaration at the UN General Assemly affirming LGBTQ rights, tabled by Argentina.

Freedom of Thought Lower is better27
Pos.		202127
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
	...
36=	Japan	2.3
36=	Botswana	2.3
36=	Benin	2.3
36=	Cape Verde	2.3
36=	Kiribati	2.3
36=	Antigua & Barbuda	2.3
36=	Uruguay	2.3
43	Seychelles	2.3
	Africa Avg	3.1
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

5. Cape Verde's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Africa (2025)28
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank28
1	Mauritius	71.1
2	Tunisia	75.3
3	Seychelles	77.4
4	Morocco	86.8
5	Cape Verde	95.9
6	Algeria	98.9
7	Libya	102.1
8	Botswana	108.2
9	Sao Tome & Principe	111.4
10	Egypt	116.2
11	Rwanda	117.7
12	Ghana	119.3
13	Eritrea	120.2
	Africa Avg	111.13
q=54.

Health (2025)28
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank28
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	37.3
	...
98	Fiji	93.8
99	Lebanon	94.5
100	Moldova	95.3
101	Cape Verde	95.9
102	Argentina	96.1
103	Turkey	96.1
104	Ukraine	96.1
105	Georgia	96.7
	World Avg	97.57
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₂₉. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₂₉.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₂₉, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia₂₉.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #smoking

Cape Verde does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Cape Verde comes in the best 20 when it comes to its fertility rate₁₅ (amongst the best in Africa). It does better than average when it comes to its smoking rate₃₀, the prevalence of overweight adults₃₁, its average life expectancy₁₁ (one of the highest in Africa), its alcohol consumption rate₃₂ (but bad for Africa), delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₃ and in delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₄. Cape Verde doesn't do so well in other areas. Cape Verde does worse than average in childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₅ and in its adolescent birth rate₃₆ (still good for Africa). And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₇. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Cabo Verde improved by +11yrs in the 30 years from 1990, better than the global average of +7.9yrs. It is amongst only 41 countries who have seen their fertility rate drop by more than 4 since the 1960s. Its peak fertility rate was 6.99 in 1965.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
66	Jordan	74.3
67	Serbia	74.2
68	Romania	74.2
69	Cape Verde	74.1
70	Morocco	74.0
71	Iran	73.9
72	Macedonia	73.8
73	Nicaragua	73.8
	Africa Avg	62.79
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better32
Pos.		2016 Per Capita32
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
85	Venezuela	5.6
86=	Sierra Leone	5.7
86=	India	5.7
86=	Cape Verde	5.7
89=	Liberia	5.8
89=	Haiti	5.8
89=	Colombia	5.8
92	Nauru	6.0
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15
Pos.		202215
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
14	Lebanon	2.08
15	Kuwait	2.09
16	Turkey	1.88
17	Cape Verde	1.88
18	Argentina	1.88
19	Myanmar	2.13
20	Indonesia	2.15
21	Greenland	1.84
	Africa Avg	3.97
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better30
Pos.		Total %30
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
35=	Dominican Rep.	10.5%
36	Kenya	10.7%
37	Paraguay	10.8%
38	Cape Verde	11.0%
39	Guyana	11.2%
40	Burundi	11.2%
41=	Zimbabwe	11.3%
41=	Bahamas	11.3%
	Africa Avg	12.4%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better37
Pos.		2017 Rank37
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
151	St Lucia	151
152	Trinidad & Tobago	152
153	Mozambique	153
154	Cape Verde	154
155	Bahamas	155
156	Libya	156
157	Papua New Guinea	157
158	Belize	158
	Africa Avg	117.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better31
Pos.		1976 %31
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
37	Mauritania	9.7
38	Benin	9.8
39	Togo	10.0
40	Cape Verde	10.1
41	China	10.2
42	Central African Rep.	10.3
43	Sierra Leone	10.4
44	Equatorial Guinea	10.5
	Africa Avg	13.4
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better38
Pos.		2022 %38
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
56	Denmark	14.3%
57	Thailand	14.5%
58	Sao Tome & Principe	15.0%
59	Cape Verde	15.1%
60	Namibia	15.3%
61	Sudan	15.5%
62	Comoros	15.5%
63	Liberia	16.2%
	Africa Avg	13.7%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better36
Pos.		2022 Per 100036
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
125	Yemen	52.5
126	Burundi	52.6
127	Mexico	53.7
128	Cape Verde	54.0
129	Papua New Guinea	54.3
130	El Salvador	54.5
131	Suriname	55.2
132	Comoros	56.1
	Africa Avg	84.6
	World Avg	43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better34
Pos.		Total Avg %34
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
96	Saba	93.3
97	Ireland	93.3
98=	Burkina Faso	93.0
98=	Cape Verde	93.0
98=	Netherlands	93.0
101	Bulgaria	92.8
102=	Uganda	92.6
102=	Nepal	92.6
	Africa Avg	82.9
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better33
Pos.		2015 Avg %33
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
89	Bulgaria	93.7
90	Serbia	93.5
91	Egypt	93.4
92	Cape Verde	93.4
93	Burundi	93.3
94	Chile	93.3
95	Georgia	93.1
96	New Zealand	92.9
	Africa Avg	81.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better35
Pos.		Total Per 100035
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
101	St Kitts & Nevis	19.01
102	Vanuatu	19.11
103	Nicaragua	19.21
104	Cape Verde	20.21
105	Mongolia	20.26
106	Venezuela	20.47
107	Suriname	20.80
108	Honduras	20.99
	Africa Avg	71.63
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Cabo Verde was amongst 49 countries in the 1990s who had an adolescent birth rate of over 100 (per 1000 girls aged 15-19). It's making steady improvements each decade, consistently better than the global average improvement rate.

6. Cape Verde's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #cape_verde #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Africa (2025)39
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank39
1	Morocco	46.5
2	Burundi	47.8
3	Mali	51.0
	...
23	Congo, DR	73.0
24	Swaziland	74.2
25	Chad	74.4
26	Cape Verde	75.6
27	Malawi	76.0
28	Benin	76.5
29	Botswana	76.8
30	Congo, (Brazzaville)	77.6
31	Egypt	78.0
	Africa Avg	80.07
q=53.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)39
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank39
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
72	Turkey	75.0
73	China	75.2
74	Belgium	75.3
75	Cape Verde	75.6
76	Afghanistan	75.7
77	New Zealand	75.8
78	Bulgaria	75.8
79	Malawi	76.0
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₀. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Cape Verde ranks 75th in the world with regard to its responsibility towards the environment. This is computed using 21 data sets. Cape Verde does better than average in terms of its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₁, reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₂ (but bad for Africa) and in its environmental performance₄₃. But, things could still be better. Cape Verde does worse than average in energy to GDP efficiency₄₄ and in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment.

Environmental Performance Higher is better43
Pos.		201843
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
86	Saudi Arabia	57.5
87	Ecuador	57.4
88	Algeria	57.2
89	Cape Verde	56.9
90	Mauritius	56.6
91	St Lucia	56.2
92	Bolivia	56.0
93	Barbados	55.8
	Africa Avg	46.4
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better44
Pos.		2022 Avg44
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
98	Azerbaijan	1.18
99	Norway	1.19
100	Argentina	1.19
101	Cape Verde	1.19
102	Dominica	1.20
103	Greece	1.20
104	Algeria	1.20
105	Ecuador	1.22
	Africa Avg	0.83
	World Avg	1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
162	Kyrgyzstan	46%
163	Libya	46%
164	Micronesia	46%
165	Cape Verde	46%
166	Guinea-Bissau	46%
167	Bosnia & Herzegovina	45%
168	Laos	44%
169	Myanmar	44%
	Africa Avg	56.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Meat Consumption Lower is better42
Pos.		2021 kg42
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
70	Azerbaijan	37.1
71	Namibia	37.2
72	Georgia	37.8
73	Cape Verde	38.4
74	Honduras	38.8
75	Kyrgyzstan	39.0
76	Macedonia	41.0
77	Guatemala	42.1
	Africa Avg	24.9
	World Avg	52.5
q=185. Also scored for 2010s.

7. Cape Verde's Modernity and Learning

#education #metric #modernity #research #science #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2025)45
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank45
1	S. Africa	58.2
2	Tunisia	63.4
3	Seychelles	64.9
4	Mauritius	67.2
5	Egypt	69.1
6	Morocco	79.5
7	Algeria	81.9
8	Gabon	83.0
9	Cape Verde	84.0
10	Libya	88.6
11	Kenya	97.0
12	Djibouti	102.5
13	Botswana	104.9
	Africa Avg	119.28
q=54.

Modernity & Learning (2025)45
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank45
1	Vatican City	1.0
2	Finland	4.8
3	Belgium	8.5
	...
102	Algeria	81.9
103	Nicaragua	82.3
104	Gabon	83.0
105	Cape Verde	84.0
106	St Kitts & Nevis	84.2
107=	Bahrain	85.0
107=	Qatar	85.0
109	Iran	85.1
	World Avg	80.33
q=194.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are The Vatican City, Finland and Belgium₄₆. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₄₆. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₇.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₄₈

23 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₆, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₆.

For more, see:

• " Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#metric #research #science

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2949
2	Israel	4.1149
3	Japan	3.5849
	...
113=	Indonesia	0.0850
114=	Saudi Arabia	0.0751
114=	Algeria	0.0752
114=	Cape Verde	0.0753
117=	Trinidad & Tobago	0.0554
117=	Macau	0.0550
119=	Honduras	0.0455
119=	Guatemala	0.0454
	Africa Avg	0.36
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better37
Pos.		2017 Rank37
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
100	Laos	100
101	Cameroon	101
102	Peru	102
103	Cape Verde	103
104	Swaziland	104
105	Albania	105
106	Madagascar	106
107	Thailand	107
	Africa Avg	106.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better56
Pos.		2025 %56
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
61=	Ecuador	95
61=	Colombia	95
61=	Gabon	95
61=	Cape Verde	95
61=	Paraguay	95
61=	Singapore	95
61=	Seychelles	95
61=	Serbia	95
	Africa Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Officially adopted metric in 1905. Progression:

• 1960 (60%): Portuguese metric legacy; limited rural penetration.
• 1970 (75%): Commerce/education consolidate metric.
• 1980 (90%): Metric dominant across sectors.
• 2000 (95%).
• 2025 (95%).

7.2. Education Datasets

#education

Secondary Education Higher is better57
Pos.		201857
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
141	Uganda	32.1%
142	Angola	30.2%
143	Lesotho	30.0%
144	Cape Verde	29.9%
145	Liberia	29.0%
146	Yemen	28.0%
147	Benin	26.5%
148	Sierra Leone	26.3%
	Africa Avg	34.4%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better58
Pos.		2021 Years58
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
123	Qatar	12.6
124	Maldives	12.6
125	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	12.6
126	Cape Verde	12.6
127	Guyana	12.5
128	Uzbekistan	12.5
129	Bangladesh	12.4
130	Samoa	12.4
	Africa Avg	11.0
	World Avg	13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#the_internet

Internet Users Higher is better59
Pos.		201659
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
115	Ecuador	43%
116	Thailand	43%
117=	Mauritius	43%
117=	Cape Verde	43%
119	Suriname	42%
120	Bolivia	41%
121	Peru	41%
122	Guyana	40%
	Africa Avg	18.4%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better60
Pos.		2017 Ratio60
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
96=	Azerbaijan	0.0
96=	Angola	0.0
96=	Armenia	0.0
96=	Cape Verde	0.0
96=	Nigeria	0.0
96=	Uzbekistan	0.0
96=	Colombia	0.0
96=	Ghana	0.0
	Africa Avg	0.04
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

8. Cape Verde's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #corruption #economics #health #inequality #internationalism #life_expectancy #politics #social_development

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#corruption #internationalism #politics

Cape Verde has an adequate long-term record on corruption.

Corruption Higher is better61
Pos.		2022 Points61
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
32=	Israel	63.0
33=	Lithuania	62.0
33=	Portugal	62.0
35=	Cape Verde	60.0
35=	Spain	60.0
35=	St Vincent & Grenadines	60.0
35=	Botswana	60.0
39	Latvia	59.0
	Africa Avg	32.31
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better37
Pos.		2017 Rank37
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
81	Fiji	81
82	Kenya	82
83	Guatemala	83
84	Cape Verde	84
85	Morocco	85
86	Jamaica	86
87	Senegal	87
88	Indonesia	88
	Africa Avg	117.8
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better62
Pos.		Total Q62
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
125	Azerbaijan	69.3
126	Gambia	69.0
127	Uganda	67.8
128	Cape Verde	66.7
129	Morocco	66.5
130	Philippines	66.3
131	Armenia	65.7
132	Ghana	65.3
	Africa Avg	62.9
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better37
Pos.		2017 Rank37
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
112	Laos	112
113	China	113
114	S. Africa	114
115	Cape Verde	115
116	Russia	116
117	Angola	117
118	Guyana	118
119	Colombia	119
	Africa Avg	96.7
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better37
Pos.		2017 Rank37
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
135	Macedonia	135
136	Armenia	136
137	Dominica	137
138	Cape Verde	138
139	St Lucia	139
140	Kuwait	140
141	Saudi Arabia	141
142	St Vincent & Grenadines	142
	Africa Avg	83.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better37
Pos.		2017 Rank37
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
105	Suriname	105
106	Namibia	106
107	Tunisia	107
108	Cape Verde	108
109	China	109
110	Kazakhstan	110
111	Jordan	111
112	Libya	112
	Africa Avg	104.5
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better63
Pos.		201963
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
95=	Panama	12.00
95=	Palestine	12.00
97	Solomon Islands	12.10
98	Cape Verde	12.20
99	El Salvador	12.50
100	Suriname	12.80
101	Vietnam	12.90
102=	Syria	13.00
	Africa Avg	26.10
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better64
Pos.		2023 %64
1	Slovakia	24.1%65
2	Slovenia	24.3%65
3	Belarus	24.4%66
	...
130	Djibouti	41.6%67
131	Papua New Guinea	41.9%68
132	Cameroon	42.2%65
133	Cape Verde	42.4%69
134	Madagascar	42.6%70
135	Uganda	42.7%71
136=	Central African Rep.	43.0%65
136=	Chile	43.0%72
	Africa Avg	40.7%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Cape Verde - only for 3 years between 1980 and 2019.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₇₃:

	2010	2020
Christian	85.7%	78.3%
Unaffiliated	13.6%	20.6%
Other	0.402%	0.754%
Muslim	0.284%	0.313%
Jewish	<0.1%	<0.1%
Buddhist	<0.1%	<0.1%
Hindu	<0.1%	<0.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs), Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)₇₄.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems