Land area
4,033 km²
World Bank/FAO, 2023.
Physical geography
Area
4,033 km²
Cabo Verde is an African archipelago of volcanic origin, with a small land area but a highly varied physical geography. Reading the country's area means looking beyond the national total to the contrast between flatter sandy islands, mountainous islands, coastal municipalities and interior relief.
Source: World Bank/FAO, indicator AG.LND.TOTL.K2, 2023
Data reviewed in July 2026
4,033 km²
Area
Largest island
Santiago
1,003.71 km² based on island area data published by CityPopulation/INE.
Highest point
2,829 m
Pico do Fogo, according to Britannica.
Island structure
10 islands
Nine inhabited, one uninhabited, plus islets.
Overview
Cabo Verde's land area is about 4,033 km². The country is made up of islands in the mid-Atlantic, west of the African coast, traditionally grouped into Barlavento in the north and Sotavento in the south. Its small area hides a sharply contrasted geography, with large flatter islands, mountainous volcanic islands and narrow valleys where water availability shapes settlement and agriculture.
Islands and relief
The eastern islands, such as Sal, Boa Vista and Maio, are older, more eroded, sandy and generally flatter. Western and southern islands, such as Santo Antao, Santiago, Fogo and Brava, have more rugged relief, with slopes, valleys and mountains. Pico do Fogo, at 2,829 meters, is the highest point in the archipelago and reflects the volcanic origin of the territory.
Geographic background
Cabo Verde's geography is the result of volcanic and erosive processes in the Atlantic. The islands' position historically supported maritime stopover functions, Atlantic circulation and links between Africa, Europe and the Americas. At the same time, water scarcity, drought cycles and the uneven distribution of arable land shaped settlement, the rural economy and internal migration.
Methodological notes
The total area may appear as 4,030 km² or 4,033 km² depending on the source, rounding and cartographic criteria. This page uses 4,033 km² as the main value because it aligns with the World Bank/FAO indicator. Island and municipality areas are shown in km² converted from hectare values published by CityPopulation with reference to Cabo Verde's Instituto Nacional de Estatistica.
Area by island
| Island | Group | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Santiago | Sotavento | 1,003.71 km² |
| Santo Antao | Barlavento | 785.04 km² |
| Boa Vista | Barlavento | 631.09 km² |
| Fogo | Sotavento | 471.24 km² |
| Sao Nicolau | Barlavento | 344.61 km² |
| Maio | Sotavento | 274.47 km² |
| Sao Vicente, Santa Luzia and Branco/Raso islets | Barlavento | 226.66 km² |
| Sal | Barlavento | 219.84 km² |
| Brava | Sotavento | 62.51 km² |
Area by municipality
| Municipality | Island | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Porto Novo | Santo Antao | 564.27 km² |
| Santa Catarina | Santiago | 242.57 km² |
| Sao Filipe | Fogo | 228.84 km² |
| Ribeira Brava | Sao Nicolau | 224.81 km² |
| Ribeira Grande | Santo Antao | 166.51 km² |
| Santa Catarina do Fogo | Fogo | 152.95 km² |
| Sao Domingos | Santiago | 147.54 km² |
| Ribeira Grande de Santiago | Santiago | 137.25 km² |
| Tarrafal | Santiago | 120.82 km² |
| Tarrafal de Sao Nicolau | Sao Nicolau | 119.80 km² |
| Santa Cruz | Santiago | 112.21 km² |
| Praia | Santiago | 102.55 km² |
| Mosteiros | Fogo | 89.45 km² |
| Sao Miguel | Santiago | 77.35 km² |
| Brava | Brava | 62.51 km² |
| Paul | Santo Antao | 54.26 km² |
| Sao Lourenco dos Orgaos | Santiago | 36.94 km² |
| Sao Salvador do Mundo | Santiago | 26.48 km² |
| Sao Vicente | Sao Vicente | 226.66 km² |
| Sal | Sal | 219.84 km² |
| Boa Vista | Boa Vista | 631.09 km² |
| Maio | Maio | 274.47 km² |