Cabo Verde: cost of living

What is the poverty rate in Cabo Verde?

24.75% of Cabo Verde's population lived in absolute poverty in 2023, down from 35.5% in 2015, according to the poverty estimates from the National Statistics Institute (INE), published in October 2024. Extreme poverty, measured against the international line of 2.15 dollars a day, fell from 4.56% to 2.28%. Absolute poverty was 21.31% in towns and 35.23% in rural areas.

The 2023 estimate uses the SWIFT method, which predicts household consumption from a shorter survey and the 2015 household budget survey. The national poverty lines were 95,908 escudos a year per person in urban areas and 82,602 in rural areas. INE is preparing a new household income and expenditure survey.

Official sources: INE: Poverty estimates 2023 (PDF, Portuguese)

What is the price of petrol in Cabo Verde?

The maximum price of petrol in Cabo Verde is 197.20 escudos a litre from 1 to 31 October 2026, up 12.43% from 175.40 escudos in September, according to the maximum fuel prices table of the Multisectoral Economic Regulation Agency (ARME). Ordinary diesel is capped at 190.30 escudos a litre and a 12.5 kg butane bottle at 1,868 escudos.

ARME sets the caps each month from import, logistics and distribution costs plus VAT and other taxes, so retail prices can be below the cap but not above it. The October rise followed higher world oil prices; ARME's weekly report put Brent at an average of 101.46 dollars a barrel in early October.

Official sources: ARME: Maximum fuel prices, October 2026 (PDF, Portuguese) · ARME: Fuel price documents, October 2026

How much have prices risen in Cabo Verde in the past year?

Consumer prices in Cabo Verde were 2.7% higher in September 2026 than a year earlier, up from 1.1% in August, according to the consumer price index from the National Statistics Institute (INE). Prices rose 1.1% between August and September alone, and 1.4% since December 2025.

The year-on-year rate is the best guide to how much a typical basket of goods and services costs now compared with a year ago. INE's headline inflation rate, 1.5%, is a 12-month average and lags behind changes in prices. The basket weights come from the 2015 household income and expenditure survey.

Official sources: INE: Consumer price index, September 2026 (PDF, Portuguese)

What is Cabo Verde's inflation rate?

In 2025, consumer price inflation in Cabo Verde was 2.3%, according to the IMF. Its high point since 2005 was 2022, at 7.9%; its low point was 2016, at -1.4%. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 3.4%; Cabo Verde is 27th highest of 39. Of 165 countries with 2025 data, 100th highest.

What is household spending per person in Cabo Verde?

The World Bank puts household consumption per person in Cabo Verde at $3,332 in 2025. No year since 2007 has been higher. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was $840, and Cabo Verde placed 5th highest of 37. Worldwide: 72nd of 124.

What share of people in Cabo Verde live in extreme poverty?

In 2015, the share of people living on less than $3.00 a day in Cabo Verde was 14.6%, according to the World Bank. It was 26.2% in 2007. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 35.8%, and Cabo Verde placed 11th highest of 11. World rank, highest first: 15th of 86.

How many people in Cabo Verde are poor?

In 2023, the share of people below the national poverty line in Cabo Verde was 24.8%, according to the World Bank. It was 35.2% in 2015. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 24.8%, and Cabo Verde placed 3rd highest of 5. Of 39 countries with 2023 data, 13th highest.

What is income inequality in Cabo Verde?

According to the World Bank, the Gini index in Cabo Verde was 42.4 in 2015. That compares with 47.2 in 2007. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 42.4, and Cabo Verde placed 6th highest of 11. Of 86 countries with 2015 data, 20th highest.

How many people in Cabo Verde face food insecurity?

The FAO puts moderate or severe food insecurity in Cabo Verde at 32.1% in 2024. That is the lowest since at least 2017. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 60.5%, and Cabo Verde placed 30th highest of 34. World rank, highest first: 46th of 135.