9 answers, 2 from Cabo Verde's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
89.7% of people aged 15 and over in Cabo Verde could read and write in 2025, according to the living conditions statistics for 2025 from the National Statistics Institute (INE). The rate was 93.6% for men and 85.7% for women, and 91.6% in towns against 83.5% in rural areas. Among young people aged 15 to 24 it was 98.4%.
Literacy is self-reported in the continuous multi-purpose survey (IMC), not tested. The gap between the youth rate and the adult rate reflects older generations who had less schooling.
9,255 students were enrolled in higher education in Cabo Verde in 2022/23, 5,181 in private and 4,074 in public institutions, according to the Statistical Yearbook 2023 of the National Statistics Institute (INE), using data from the Higher Education Regulatory Agency (ARES). There were ten accredited institutions, eight private and two public.
The same yearbook reports 28,167 secondary school pupils in 2022/23, 9.1% fewer than a year earlier. The amending budget for 2026 extends free first-cycle tuition at public universities.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, net primary school enrolment in Cabo Verde was 93.4% in 2018. The peak was 96.7% in 2007 and the low 92.6% in 2016. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 90.7%; Cabo Verde is 7th highest of 19. World rank, highest first: 32nd of 69.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2022, is 96.4%. The peak was 99.5% in 2017 and the low 70.3% in 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 54.1%, and Cabo Verde placed 2nd highest of 15. Of 132 countries with 2022 data, 68th highest.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2018, is 24.3%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 7.3% (2005) to 24.6% (2017). It is 3rd highest of 20 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 10.8%. Of 127 countries with 2018 data, 95th highest.
88.5%: that is the adult literacy rate in Cabo Verde for 2024, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. That compares with 86.8% in 2015. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 77.0%; Cabo Verde is 3rd highest of 7.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts government spending on education in Cabo Verde at 4.3% of GDP in 2023. Since 2006 it has ranged from 4.2% of GDP (2019) to 7.1% of GDP (2020). It is 11th highest of 35 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 3.3% of GDP. Of 112 countries with 2023 data, 41st highest.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2018, is 21. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 39, and Cabo Verde placed 21st highest of 23. Worldwide: 42nd of 85.
99.1%: that is the primary completion rate in Cabo Verde for 2022, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Its high point since 2005 was 2019, at 102.6%; its low point was 2005, at 81.2%. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 70.6%; Cabo Verde is 5th highest of 23. Of 127 countries with 2022 data, 46th highest.
Read on 14 October 2026. Definitions · Report an error