Total population
527,326
World Bank estimate for 2025.
Demographics
Population
527,326
Cabo Verde is small in population, but highly urbanized and strongly shaped by territorial concentration in Santiago, Sao Vicente and Sal. Understanding the country's demography requires annual estimates, national census data and the long-running effect of migration.
Source: World Bank, indicator SP.POP.TOTL, 2025
Data reviewed in July 2026
527,326
Population
Annual growth
0.5%
World Bank, 2025.
Urban population
77.6%
World Bank, 2025.
National census
491,337
RGPH/INE, 2021.
Overview
In 2025, the World Bank estimates Cabo Verde's population at 527,326 people. This is an annual estimate, useful for international comparison, and does not replace the national census. The latest available census, the 2021 RGPH by INE, counted 491,337 residents, excluding counted visitors and people aboard ships in the country's ports.
Territorial distribution
The population is not evenly distributed across the archipelago. Santiago concentrates the largest share of residents and includes the capital, Praia. Sao Vicente remains the second major urban pole, Mindelo, while Sal and Boa Vista have gained weight through tourism, services and internal migration. Islands such as Santo Antao, Sao Nicolau, Maio, Fogo and Brava have lower economic density.
Urbanization and migration
Urbanization is one of the central features of Cabo Verde's demography: the World Bank estimates that 77.6% of the population lived in urban areas in 2025. Migration is also decisive. Cabo Verde has a historically important diaspora, and migration flows affect both total growth and the country's age and territorial structure.
Historical background
Cabo Verde's population trajectory has been shaped by difficult natural conditions, emigration and urban concentration. In the twentieth century, droughts, rural poverty and the search for work abroad reinforced the departure of Cabo Verdeans. After independence in 1975, gradual improvements in public services, education and health helped reduce mortality and consolidate urban centers such as Praia and Mindelo. In recent decades, population growth has slowed while urbanization and internal redistribution have become increasingly important.
Methodological notes
Population figures can vary by source. Annual estimates, such as those from the World Bank, are useful for comparable country-level series. National censuses, such as INE's 2021 RGPH, provide a more detailed snapshot of resident population but are updated less frequently. This page therefore uses the World Bank for the latest annual value and INE for census and territorial reference.