International Cape Verde relations

Country profile & diplomacy overview · 11 relations tracked

Cape Verde is an island nation located in the central Atlantic Ocean, off the northwest coast of Africa. It is made up of 10 islands and 5 islets, and has a population of around 550,000 people. The official language is Portuguese, and the country has a diverse cultural heritage, with influences from Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

Population

550.0K#170 of 203

Land area

4.0K km²#169 of 203

GDP

$3.1B#173 of 197

Military expenditure

$16.8M#162 of 167

Global influence

#185Very Low

Map legend

Closest relations Strained relations Cape Verde No data

Politically, Cape Verde is a presidential representative democratic republic, with the President serving as both the head of state and the head of government. The country has a multiparty system, with the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) and the Movement for Democracy (MpD) being the two main political parties.

Cape Verde has a mixed economy, with a combination of agriculture, tourism, and service industries. The country has a relatively high standard of living compared to many other countries in Africa, and is classified as a high-income economy by the World Bank.

Cape Verde is a member of several international organizations, including the African Union, the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, and the United Nations. It also has close ties with its former colonial power, Portugal, and with the United States, which has a large Cape Verdean diaspora.

Geography & terrain

A volcanic archipelago of ten main islands off West Africa, with rugged, mountainous terrain on several islands and drier, flatter terrain on others. Climate is arid to semi-arid, tempered by trade winds. Entirely coastline, being an island nation. Its ocean isolation and dispersed islands make a coordinated invasion logistically difficult, a common trait of small archipelagic states.

Key facts

Diverse sources: UN, World Bank, Cape Verde Statistics Office/Department. Most recent available data
Capital	Praia (159.1K people, 28.9% of total population)
Population	550.0K (#170 of 203 countries)
Land area	4.0K km² (#169 of 203 countries)
Main religion	Christianity
Life expectancy	76 years

Source: World Bank Open Data. Most recent available data (2025)
Currency	Cape Verdean Escudo
Main language(s)	Portuguese
Government type	Parliamentary republic
Time zone	UTC-1.0
GDP	$3.1B (#173 of 197 countries)
GDP per capita	$5.8K (#118 of 198 countries)
International calling code	+238
Driving side	Right
UNESCO World Heritage Sites	1
Military expenditure	$16.8M
Land military expenditure (estimation)	$5.0M
Air military expenditure (estimation)	$1.7M
Naval military expenditure (estimation)	$10.1M
Military expenditure (% of GDP)	0.6%
Military expenditure per capita	$31
Nuclear power	No
European Union	Not a member
NATO	Not a member
Other groups	African Union ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States)

Land borders

Cape Verde has no land borders (it is an island nation or otherwise has no neighboring countries).

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Rank #185 Very Low International Influence

Cape Verde's actions have no significant effect on the world, and a very limited impact on other countries.

See the full world influence ranking →

Most intense relations

Top 5 relations of Cape Verde by overall intensity. Intensity reflects the level and significance of interaction—not whether the relationship is positive or negative.