Extreme poverty
4.9%
Value indicated by INE for 2024.
Living conditions
Extreme poverty
4.9%
Cabo Verde recorded an extreme poverty rate of 4.9% according to INE data for 2024. This is a positive figure for the country because it points to a limited incidence of the most severe deprivation and reinforces the role of public policy, economic growth and social protection in improving living conditions.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatistica de Cabo Verde (INE), extreme poverty indicator, 2024
Data reviewed in July 2026
4.9%
Extreme poverty
Source
INE
Instituto Nacional de Estatistica de Cabo Verde.
Main reading
Low
A rate below 5% signals limited incidence of extreme poverty.
Theme
Well-being
A key indicator for income, inclusion and social protection.
Overview
The 4.9% extreme poverty rate indicated by INE for 2024 shows that the share of the population facing the most severe monetary deprivation is relatively low. The figure is especially relevant for a small island state, where transport costs, import dependence and territorial differences can weigh on household income.
Why it matters
Extreme poverty measures a more intense form of vulnerability than general poverty. When this indicator remains low, it suggests that a larger share of the population is above the minimum threshold used to measure severe deprivation. The result helps assess the combined effect of jobs, income, remittances, public services and social support.
Balanced reading
The 4.9% value is good news, but it does not remove every social challenge. A complete reading should also consider general poverty, inequality, cost of living, job quality, housing, differences between islands and household exposure to external shocks. Even so, an extreme poverty rate at this level confirms a more favorable social base than suggested by excessively negative narratives about the country.
Social background in Cabo Verde
The reduction of poverty in Cabo Verde should be read in the context of the country's trajectory since independence: expansion of education, health care, electrification, water access, social protection, emigration, remittances and growth in services. As an archipelago with limited natural resources and strong links abroad, Cabo Verde remains exposed to economic and climate shocks, but it has consolidated social indicators that show structural progress in living conditions.
Methodological notes
Extreme poverty depends on the statistical threshold used, the income or consumption source considered, the reference year and the methodology applied by INE. The indicator should not be confused with general poverty, inequality or temporary vulnerability. This page uses the 4.9% value indicated by INE for 2024 and should be updated when the full methodological publication or new official series are available.
Main value
| Year | Source | Indicator | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | INE | Extreme poverty | 4.9% |