Demographics of Cape Verde

This article is about the demographic features of the population of Cape Verde, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Cape Verde population pyramid in 2020

Cape Verde has a population of about 540,000 inhabitants who live in the islands. A large proportion (236,000) of Cape Verdeans live on the main island, Santiago.[1] Many more live abroad in the Cape Verdean diaspora in mainland Africa, Europe, U.S., Brazil, et cetera.

The archipelago of Cape Verde were first found and claimed by Portuguese sailors working for the Portuguese Crown in 1456. Cape Verdeans are West African. Many foreigners from other parts of the world settled in Cape Verde as their permanent country. Most of them were Dutch, French, British (English), Arab and Jewish (from Lebanon and Morocco). All of these have been absorbed into the mixed population.

The high degree of genetic mixture of individuals is a result of centuries of migration. It is not unusual to encounter persons with dark skin, blond hair, and blue eyes, and persons with seemingly light skin and textured curly hair.

Two Cape Verdean children playing

Survival in a country with few natural resources has historically induced Cape Verdeans to emigrate. In fact, of the more than 1 million people of Cape Verdean ancestry in the world, only a little more than one-third actually live on the islands. Some 500,000 people of Cape Verdean ancestry live in the United States, mainly in New England. Many people of Cape Verdean ancestry also live in Portugal, Netherlands, France, Italy, Mexico, Uruguay, Argentina, and Senegal. Cape Verdean populations also settled Spain, Germany, Canada, and other CPLP countries (Angola, Brazil and Guinea-Bissau). Since after independence from Portugal in 1975, a number of Cape Verdean students continued to be admitted every year at Portuguese high schools, polytechnical institutes and universities, through bilateral agreements between the Portuguese and Cape Verdean governments.

Portuguese functions as a state language. Virtually all formal documents and official declarations are stated in Portuguese. But it is not the first language. Cape Verdean, commonly called Creolo, is spoken as a mother tongue by virtually all Cape Verdeans, irrespective of social status or religious affiliation. Moreover, historical linguists often attribute Cape Verdean Creole as the oldest "New World" contact language. It is a "contact" language in the sense that it was birthed and evolved between linguistically different groups who, by necessity, had to create a common language to communicate with each other. There is a rich repertoire of literature and songs in Cape Verdean Creole. In religion, the majority of Cape Verdeans follow Catholic Christianity. There are some Protestants, Baháʼís and Muslims.

Population
Demographics of Cape Verde, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in thousands.

According to the 2019 revision of the World Population Prospects[2][3] the total population was 543,767 in 2018, compared to only 178,000 in 1950. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 31.8%, 62.3% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 5.9% was 65 years or older.[4]

Total population Population aged 0–14 (%) Population aged 15–64 (%) Population aged 65+ (%)
1950 178,00032.659.87.6
1955 195,00035.857.96.2
1960 211,00042.153.24.8
1965 240,00048.547.34.2
1970 274,00048.247.84
1975 311,00045.849.64.6
1980 300,0004648.75.3
1985 328,00044.550.55
1990 348,00045.449.84.8
1995 395,00044.550.55
2000 437,00041.752.95.3
2005 473,0003757.25.8
2010 496,00031.862.35.9

Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 16.VI.2010): [5]

Age Group Male Female Total %
Total 243 403 248 280 491 683 100
0–4 25 131 25 069 50 200 10.21
5–9 25 168 25 040 50 208 10.21
10–14 27 864 27 361 55 225 11.23
15–19 29 655 29 405 59 060 12.01
20–24 27 327 25 578 52 905 10.76
25–29 23 336 21 005 44 341 9.02
30–34 18 165 16 339 34 504 7.02
35–39 14 106 13 130 27 236 5.54
40–44 12 988 13 303 26 291 5.35
45–49 11 347 12 165 23 512 4.78
50–54 8 162 9 999 18 161 3.69
55–59 4 947 7 196 12 143 2.47
60–64 2 613 3 580 6 193 1.26
65-69 2 499 3 716 6 215 1.26
70-74 3 437 5 229 8 666 1.76
75-79 2 980 4 453 7 433 1.51
80-84 2 092 3 185 5 277 1.07
85-89 827 1 358 2 185 0.44
90-94 377 696 1 073 0.22
95+ 172 325 497 0.10
Age group Male Female Total Percent
0–14 78 163 77 470 155 633 31.65
15–64 152 646 151 700 304 346 61.90
65+ 12 384 18 962 31 346 6.38
Unknown 210 148 358 0.07

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020): [6]

Age Group Male Female Total %
Total 281 533 275 324 556 857 100
0–4 26 739 25 524 52 264 9.39
5–9 26 162 24 973 51 135 9.18
10–14 25 262 25 389 50 651 9.10
15–19 23 734 23 483 47 218 8.48
20–24 23 955 22 461 46 416 8.34
25–29 28 159 26 015 54 173 9.73
30–34 28 603 24 995 53 597 9.62
35–39 24 111 20 484 44 595 8.01
40–44 18 738 15 923 34 660 6.22
45–49 14 043 12 780 26 822 4.82
50–54 12 282 12 693 24 974 4.48
55–59 10 437 11 557 21 994 3.95
60–64 7 125 9 226 16 351 2.94
65-69 4 080 6 402 10 482 1.88
70-74 2 050 2 955 5 006 0.90
75-79 1 722 2 772 4 494 0.81
80-84 2 037 3 496 5 533 0.99
85-89 1 443 2 389 3 833 0.69
90-94 682 1 249 1 931 0.35
95+ 170 560 730 0.13
Age group Male Female Total Percent
0–14 78 163 75 886 154 049 27.66
15–64 191 186 179 615 370 801 66.59
65+ 12 184 19 823 32 007 5.75

Vital statistics

Vital events of Cape Verde are not (yet) available for recent years. The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.[4]

Period Live births per year Deaths per year Natural change per year CBR* CDR* NC* TFR* IMR*
1950-19559 0004 0005 00049.022.626.36.57139
1955-196010 0004 0005 00048.021.126.96.76132
1960-196510 0004 0006 00045.018.726.36.97125
1965-197011 0004 0006 00041.416.425.06.97117
1970-197512 0004 0008 00041.113.427.76.8696
1975-198013 0004 0009 00041.611.630.06.6278
1980-198513 0003 00010 00041.310.331.06.1065
1985-199014 0003 00011 00040.99.231.75.6354
1990-199514 0003 00011 00036.57.928.64.9344
1995-200013 0003 00010 00031.66.724.94.1537
2000-200512 0003 0009 00026.25.820.53.2828
2005-201011 0003 0008 00021.95.216.72.6021
* CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)

Births and deaths[7] [8]

Year Population Live births Deaths Natural increase Crude birth rate Crude death rate Rate of natural increase TFR
1995 386,813 3,520 9.1
1996 393,478 2,715 6.9
1997 406,267 3,047 7.5
1998 413,382 2,811 6.8
1999 426,061 2,812 6.6
2000 436,821 12,746 2,433 10,313 29.2 5.6 23.6 4.00
2001 445,035 12,550 2,396 10,154 28.2 5.4 22.8
2002 452,198 12,345 2,395 9,950 27.3 5.3 22.0
2003 460,837 12,120 2,600 9,520 26.3 5.6 20.7
2004 468,854 11,862 2,522 9,340 25.3 5.4 19.9
2005 478,163 11,554 2,423 9,131 24.3 5.1 19.2
2006 487,121 9,765 2,612 7,153 20.7 5.4 15.3 2.44
2007 491,419 10,421 2,484 7,937 21.8 5.2 16.6 2.57
2008 499,796 10,165 2,683 7,482 21.0 5.5 15.5 2.43
2009 485,677 9,962 2,583 7,379 20.4 5.3 15.1 2.33
2010 491,683 10,568 2,352 8,216 21.4 4.8 16.6 2.42
2011 499,929 10,777 2,488 8,289 21.6 5.0 16.6 2.44
2012 505,983 10,050 2,610 7,440 19.9 5.2 14.7 2.26
2013 512,173 9,845 2,518 7,327 19.2 4.9 14.3 2.19
2014 518,467 9,868 2,528 7,340 19.0 4.9 14.1 2.17
2015 524,833 9,695 2,761 6,934 18.5 5.3 13.2 2.11
2016 531,239 9,849 2,591 7,258 18.5 4.9 13.6 2.13
2017 537,661 9,795 2,497 7,298 18.2 4.6 13.6 2.11
2018 544,081 9,208 2,836 6,372 16.9 5.2 11.7 1.98

Fertility and births

Total fertility rate (TFR) (wanted fertility rate) and crude birth rate (CBR):[9]

Year CBR (Total) TFR (Total) CBR (Urban) TFR (Urban) CBR (Rural) TFR (Rural)
2005 22 2,9 (2,8) 23 2,7 (2,7) 22 3,1 (3,0)

Fertility data from 2005 (DHS Program):[10]

Region Total fertility rate Percentage of women age 15-49 currently pregnant Mean number of children ever born to women age 40-49
Santo Antão2.93.86.0
São Vicente2.03.44.0
São Nicolau3.34.44.2
Sal3.27.03.9
Boa Vista2.410.04.4
Maio2.61.74.3
Santiago3.15.44.5
Praia Urbano3.25.14.5
Santiago Norte2.76.24.3
Resto Santiago3.34.64.8
Fogo3.16.35.6
Brava2.87.05.0

Life expectancy
Period Life expectancy in
Years[11]
1950–1955 48.08
1955–1960 48.77
1960–1965 49.45
1965–1970 52.43
1970–1975 55.25
1975–1980 60.52
1980–1985 62.37
1985–1990 64.10
1990–1995 65.73
1995–2000 67.94
2000–2005 71.27
2005–2010 71.77
2010–2015 72.14

Other demographic statistics

Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2022.[12]

  • One birth every 51 minutes
  • One death every 160 minutes
  • One net migrant every 480 minutes
  • Net gain of one person every 90 minutes

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook.[13]

Population
596,707 (2022 est.)
568,373 (July 2018 est.)

Ethnic groups

Creole (Mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%

Religions

Roman Catholic 77.3%, Protestant 4.6% (includes Church of the Nazarene 1.7%, Adventist 1.5%, Assembly of God 0.9%, Universal Kingdom of God 0.4%, and God and Love 0.1%), other Christian 3.4% (includes Christian Rationalism 1.9%, Jehovah's Witness 1%, and New Apostolic 0.5%), Muslim 1.8%, other 1.3%, none 10.8%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.)

Age structure
Population pyramid of Cape Verde in 2020
0-14 years: 27.95% (male 82,010/female 81,012)
15-24 years: 18.69% (male 54,521/female 54,504)
25-54 years: 40.76% (male 115,811/female 121,923)
55-64 years: 7.12% (male 18,939/female 22,597)
65 years and over: 5.48% (male 12,037/female 19,901) (2020 est.)
0-14 years: 28.7% (male 82,035 /female 81,082)
15-24 years: 19.64% (male 55,811 /female 55,798)
25-54 years: 40.02% (male 110,646 /female 116,804)
55-64 years: 6.4% (male 16,154 /female 20,245)
65 years and over: 5.24% (male 11,272 /female 18,526) (2018 est.)

Median age
total: 26.8 years. Country comparison to the world: 151st

male: 25.9 years female: 27.6 years (2020 est.)

total: 25.8 years. Country comparison to the world: 153rd
male: 25 years
female: 26.7 years (2018 est.)
Total: 23.1 years
Male: 22.3 years
Female: 23.9 years (2012 est.)

Population growth rate
1.21% (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 76th
1.32% (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 83rd

Total fertility rate
2.13 children born/woman (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 92nd
2.21 children born/woman (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 95th

Birth rate
18.49 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 79th
19.7 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 79th

Death rate
5.8 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 168th
6 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 163rd

Net migration rate
-0.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 126th
-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) Country comparison to the world: 128th

Urbanization
See also: Cape Verde § Demographics
urban population: 67.5% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 1.83% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
urban population: 65.7% of total population (2018)
rate of urbanization: 1.97% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate
55.8% (2018)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
total population: 73.75 years. Country comparison to the world: 144th
male: 71.41 years
female: 76.15 years (2022 est.)
total population: 72.7 years (2018 est.)
male: 70.3 years (2018 est.)
female: 75.1 years (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 147th
Total population: 71 years
Male: 68.78 years
Female: 73.27 years (2012 est.)

HIV/AIDS
Adult prevalence rate: 0.035% (2001 est.)
People living with HIV/AIDS: 775 (2001)
Deaths: 225 (as of 2001)

Genetics

E1b1a, R1b

The predominance of West African mitochondrial DNA haplotypes in their maternal gene pool, the major West African Y-chromosome lineage E3a was observed only at a frequency of 15.9%. Overall, these results indicate that gene flow from multiple sources and sex-specific patterns have been important in the formation of the genomic diversity in the Cabo Verde islands.[14]

Religions
Main article: Religion in Cape Verde
Catholic 77.3%, Protestant 3.7% (includes Church of the Nazarene 1.7%, Adventist 1.5%, Universal Kingdom of God 0.4%, and God and Love 0.1%), other Christian 4.3% (includes Christian Rationalism 1.9%, Jehovah's Witness 1%, Assembly of God 0.9%, and New Apostolic 0.5%), Islam 1.8%, Other 1.3%, None 10.8%, Unspecified 0.7% (2010 estimate) [15]

Languages
Portuguese (official), Kriolu[15]

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 76.6%
Male: 85.8%
Female: 69.2% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 13 years
male: 12 years
female: 13 years (2018)
total: 12 years (2017)
male: 12 years (2017)
female: 12 years (2017)

Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 55.4 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 48.4 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 6.9 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 14.4 (2015 est.)

See also
See also: List of Cape Verdeans, Cape Verdean American, and Cape Verdeans in the Netherlands

References
  1. "Cape Verde: Population". Caperverde.com. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  2. ""World Population prospects – Population division"". population.un.org. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  3. ""Overall total population" – World Population Prospects: The 2019 Revision" (xslx). population.un.org (custom data acquired via website). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  4. "Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision". Esa.un.org. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  5. "UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics".
  6. "UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics".
  7. "United Nations Statistics Division - Demographic and Social Statistics". unstats.un.org. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  8. "Relatório Estatístico".
  9. "Server Error". microdata.worldbank.org. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  10. "Inquérito Demográfico e de Saúde Reprodutiva (IDSR-II)" (PDF). Dhsprogram.com. 2005. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  11. "World Population Prospects - Population Division - United Nations". esa.un.org. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  12. "Cape Verde Population 2022", World Population Review
  13. "The World FactBook - Cape Verde", The World Factbook, May 2022 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  14. Gonçalves, Rita; Alexandra Rosa; Ana Freitas; Ana Fernandes; Toomas Kivisild; Richard Villems; António Brehm (26 August 2003). "Y-chromosome lineages in Cabo Verde Islands witness the diverse geographic origin of its first male settlers". Human Genetics. 113 (6): 467–472. doi:10.1007/s00439-003-1007-4. hdl:10400.13/3047. PMID 12942365. S2CID 63381583.
  15. "Africa :: CAPE VERDE". CIA The World Factbook. 14 April 2022.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document: "2008 edition".

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