Cape Verde

Republic of Cabo Verde

LOCATION

Background: The Portuguese discovered and colonized the uninhabited islands of Cabo Verde in the 15th century; Cabo Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. The fusing of European and various African cultural traditions is reflected in Cabo Verde’s Crioulo language, music, and pano textiles. After gaining independence in 1975, a one-party system was established and maintained until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cabo Verde continues to sustain one of Africa's most stable democratic governments and relatively stable economies, maintaining a currency pegged first to the Portuguese escudo and then to the euro since 1998. Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result, Cabo Verde's expatriate population -- concentrated in Boston, Massachusetts and Western Europe -- is greater than its domestic one. Most Cabo Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents. Cabo Verde’s population descends from its first permanent inhabitants in the late 15th-century -- a preponderance of West African slaves, a small share of Portuguese colonists, and even fewer Italians and Spaniards. Among the nine inhabited islands, population distribution is varied. The islands in the east are very dry and are home to the country's growing tourism industry. The more western islands receive more precipitation and support larger populations, but agriculture and livestock grazing have damaged their soil fertility and vegetation. For centuries, the country’s overall population size has fluctuated significantly, as recurring periods of famine and epidemics have caused high death tolls and emigration.

Location: Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 24 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 4,033 sq km
land: 4,033 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 965 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and erratic
Terrain: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Elevation: highest point: Mt. Fogo (a volcano on Fogo Island) 2,829 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum
Land use: agricultural land: 19.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 12.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 6.2% (2023 est.)
forest: 12.4% (2023 est.)
other: 68% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 35 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: among the nine inhabited islands, population distribution is variable; islands in the east are very dry and are only sparsely settled; the more southerly islands receive more precipitation and support larger populations; approximately half of the population lives on Sao Tiago Island, which is the location of the capital of Praia; Mindelo, on the northern island of Sao Vicente, also has a large urban population, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active volcanism: Fogo (2,829 m), which last erupted in 1995, is Cabo Verde's only active volcano
Geography - note: strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; one of four North Atlantic archipelagos that make up Macaronesia; the others are Azores (Portugal), Canary Islands (Spain), and Madeira (Portugal)

Population: total: 611,014 (2024 est.)
male: 297,106
female: 313,908
Nationality: noun: Cabo Verdean(s)
adjective: Cabo Verdean
Ethnic groups: Creole (Mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Languages: Portuguese (official), Crioulo (a Portuguese-based creole language with two main dialects)
Religions: Roman Catholic 72.5%, Protestant 4% (includes Adventist 1.9%, Nazarene 1.8%, Assembly of God 0.2%, God is Love 0.1%), Christian Rationalism 1.7%, Muslim 1.3%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, Church of Jesus Christ 1%, other Christian 1.3%, other 1.2%, none 15.6%, no response 0.4% (2021 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 26.4% (male 80,973/female 80,129)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 201,084/female 209,676)
65 years and over: 6.4% (2024 est.) (male 15,049/female 24,103)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 48.8 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 39.2 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 9.5 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 10.5 (2024 est.)
Median age: total: 29.3 years (2025 est.)
male: 27.9 years
female: 29.6 years
Population growth rate: 1.12% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 17.51 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: among the nine inhabited islands, population distribution is variable; islands in the east are very dry and are only sparsely settled; the more southerly islands receive more precipitation and support larger populations; approximately half of the population lives on Sao Tiago Island, which is the location of the capital of Praia; Mindelo, on the northern island of Sao Vicente, also has a large urban population, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization: urban population: 68% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.83% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 168,000 PRAIA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 40 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 21.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 26.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.3 years (2024 est.)
male: 72 years
female: 76.7 years
Total fertility rate: 2.08 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.02 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: urban: 93.2% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 82.9% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 89.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 6.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 17.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 10.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 16.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.73 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 2 beds/1,000 population (2018 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: urban: 95.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 77.8% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 89.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 4.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 22.2% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 10.2% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 11.8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita: total: 4.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 2.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 1.82 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use: total: 9.8% (2025 est.)
male: 15.3% (2025 est.)
female: 4.5% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.2% (2018 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 45% (2021 est.)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 1.8% (2018)
women married by age 18: 8.4% (2018)
men married by age 18: 1.5% (2018)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 13.4% national budget (2024 est.)
Literacy: total population: 88.5% (2024 est.)
male: 92.9% (2024 est.)
female: 84.1% (2024 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years (2018 est.)
male: 13 years (2018 est.)
female: 14 years (2018 est.)

Environmental issues: deforestation due to demand for firewood; water shortages; droughts; desertification; soil erosion; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing
International environmental agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and erratic
Land use: agricultural land: 19.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 12.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 6.2% (2023 est.)
forest: 12.4% (2023 est.)
other: 68% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 68% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 1.83% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 714,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 714,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 27.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 132,600 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 17.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 155.895 million cubic meters (2022)
industrial: 5.614 million cubic meters (2022)
agricultural: 103.217 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 300 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Cabo Verde
conventional short form: Cabo Verde
local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
local short form: Cabo Verde
etymology: the name derives from the Cape Verde (Green Cape) peninsula on the Senegalese coast, the westernmost point of Africa and the nearest mainland to the islands
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: name: Praia
geographic coordinates: 14 55 N, 23 31 W
time difference: UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the earlier Portuguese name was Villa de Praia ("Village of the Beach"); it was shortened to Praia in 1974
Administrative divisions: 22 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Porto Novo, Praia, Ribeira Brava, Ribeira Grande, Ribeira Grande de Santiago, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina do Fogo, Santa Cruz, São Domingos, São Filipe, São Lourenco dos Orgaos, São Miguel, São Salvador do Mundo, São Vicente, Tarrafal, Tarrafal de São Nicolau
Legal system: civil law system of Portugal
Constitution: history: previous 1981; latest effective 25 September 1992
amendment process: proposals require support of at least four fifths of the active National Assembly membership; amendment drafts require sponsorship of at least one third of the active Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership; constitutional sections, including those on national independence, form of government, political pluralism, suffrage, and human rights and liberties, cannot be amended
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cabo Verde
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 9 November 2021)
head of government: Prime Minister Jose Ulisses CORREIA e SILVA (since 22 April 2016)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president
most recent election date: 17 October 2021
election results: 2020: Jose Maria Pereira NEVES elected president; percent of vote - Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (PAICV) 51.7%, Carlos VEIGA (MPD) 42.4%, Casimiro DE PINA (independent) 1.8%, Fernando Rocha DELGADO (independent) 1.4%, Helio SANCHES (independent) 1.14%, Gilson ALVES (independent) 0.8%, Joaquim MONTEIRO (independent) 3.4%2016: Jorge Carlos FONSECA reelected president; percent of vote - Jorge Carlos FONSECA (MPD) 74.1%, Albertino GRACA (independent) 22.5%, other 3.4%
expected date of next election: October 2026
Legislative branch: legislature name: National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 72 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 4/18/2021
parties elected and seats per party: Movement for Democracy (MpD) (38); African Party for the Independence of Cabo Verde (PAICV) (30); Union for an Independent Democratic Cape Verde (UCID) (4)
percentage of women in chamber: 44.4%
expected date of next election: April 2026
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief justice and at least 7 judges and organized into civil, criminal, and administrative sections)
judge selection and term of office: judge appointments - 1 by the president of the republic, 1 elected by the National Assembly, and 3 by the Superior Judicial Council (SJC), a 16-member independent body chaired by the chief justice and includes the attorney general, 8 private citizens, 2 judges, 2 prosecutors, the senior legal inspector of the Attorney General's office, and a representative of the Ministry of Justice; chief justice appointed by the president of the republic from among peers of the Supreme Court of Justice and in consultation with the SJC; judges appointed for life
subordinate courts: appeals courts, first instance (municipal) courts; audit, military, and fiscal and customs courts
Political parties: African Party for Independence of Cabo Verde or PAICV Democratic and Independent Cabo Verdean Union or UCID Democratic Christian Party or PDC Democratic Renewal Party or PRD Movement for Democracy or MPD Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS Social Democratic Party or PSD
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Luis do Livramento MONTEIRO ALVES DE BRITO (since 23 December 2020)
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820
FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
email address and website: embassy.wdc@mnec.gov.cvhttps://www.embcv-usa.gov.cv/
consulate(s) general: Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jennifer ADAMS (since 10 September 2024)
embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 6, Praia
mailing address: 2460 Praia Place, Washington DC 20521-2460
telephone: [238] 260-8900
FAX: [238] 261-1355
email address and website: PraiaConsular@state.govhttps://cv.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CD, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Flag: description: five unequal horizontal bands; the top band of blue is half the height of the flag; under it are three narrow bands of white, red, and white, and a bottom stripe of blue; a circle of 10 five-pointed yellow stars is centered on the red stripe and sits toward the left side of the flagmeaning: blue stands for the sea and sky; the stripes symbolize the country's formation through peace (white) and effort (red); the stars represent the 10 major islands
National symbol(s): ten five-pointed yellow stars
National color(s): blue, white, red, yellow
National coat of arms: adopted in 1992, the coat of arms features the national symbol of ten stars that represent the country’s islands; the stylized torch and triangle at the center of the circle symbolize freedom and national unity, and the three blue lines represent the ocean and sky; the name of the country is written in Portuguese, the official language; the plumbob at the top of the circle -- used in construction to make accurate vertical lines -- represents justice, righteousness, and truth; the chain links symbolize a commitment to the people and their well-being
National anthem(s): title: "Cantico da Liberdade" (Song of Freedom)
lyrics/music: Amilcar Spencer LOPES/Adalberto Higino Tavares SILVA
history: adopted 1996
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Cidade Velha; Historic Center of Ribeira Grande

Economic overview: stable, middle-income, developing island economy; strong GDP growth led by tourism sector recovery; sustained poverty reduction through PEDS II development plan; high reliance on foreign remittances and aid to finance external debt
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $5.2 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $4.848 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $4.6 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 7.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 15.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $9,900 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $9,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $8,900 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.768 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 3.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.9% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 4.7% (2024 est.)
industry: 10.5% (2024 est.)
services: 69.4% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 74.7% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 20.7% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 16% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 41.9% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -53.2% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sugarcane, tomatoes, coconuts, pulses, goat milk, milk, vegetables, bananas, cabbages, onions (2023)
Industries: food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair
Industrial production growth rate: 4.4% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 224,500 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 11.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 12% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 12.3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 28.2% (2024 est.)
male: 24.6% (2024 est.)
female: 33.8% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 35.2% (2015 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015: 42.4 (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.2% (2015 est.)
highest 10%: 32.3% (2015 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2024: 12.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 12.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 14% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget: revenues: $453.182 million (2020 est.)
expenditures: $623.816 million (2020 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2016: 127.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 18.4% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2024: $101.072 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$64.439 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$78.271 million (2022 est.)
Exports: Exports 2024: $1.158 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $972.636 million (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $851.907 million (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Spain 46%, Portugal 9%, Togo 7%, Italy 7%, India 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: fish, refined petroleum, railway cargo containers, shellfish, garments (2023)
Imports: Imports 2024: $1.473 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $1.428 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $1.31 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Portugal 29%, Saudi Arabia 11%, Netherlands 9%, Spain 8%, China 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, aircraft, cars, fish, railway cargo containers (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $783.106 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $837.881 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $729.566 million (2022 est.)
Debt - external: Debt - external 2023: $1.385 billion (2023 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: Cabo Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 101.922 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 101.805 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 104.863 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 93.218 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 96.796 (2020 est.)

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 97.1% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 95.3%
electrification - rural areas: 96.9%
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 200,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 400 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 106 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 71.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 14.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 14.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 19.999 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 60,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 590,354 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 112 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: state-run TV and radio network, plus a growing number of private broadcasters; Portuguese public TV and radio services for Africa are available; transmissions of a few international broadcasters are available (2019)
Internet country code: .cv
Internet users: percent of population: 74% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 38,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2023 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: D4
Airports: 10 (2025)
Merchant marine: total: 44 (2023)
by type: general cargo 14, oil tanker 2, other 28
Ports: total ports: 2 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 1
very small: 1
ports with oil terminals: 1
key ports: Porto da Praia, Porto Grande

Military and security forces: Cabo Verdean Armed Forces (FACV): National Guard (GN), Cabo Verde Coast Guard (Guardia Costeira de Cabo Verde, GCCV) (2025)
Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024: 0.6% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 0.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: the FACV has approximately 1,000-1,500 active personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the FACV has a limited amount of mostly dated or secondhand equipment, largely from China, some European countries, and the former Soviet Union (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 17 years of age for voluntary service (with parental consent); 18-35 years of age for selective compulsory service (14-month service obligation) (2025)
Military - note: the FACV is responsible for external defense; it also has an internal security role in collaboration with the police if required; its duties include monitoring and patrolling the country's air and maritime spaces, participating in training exercises, conducting search and rescue, countering narcotics and other forms of illicit trafficking, and supporting the police and civil society (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons: 115 (2024 est.)
Trafficking in persons: tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Cabo Verde did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period and was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/cabo-verde/