Labor force, total in Cape Verde
Cape Verde: Labor force, total was 226,448 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Cape Verde, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, total in Cape Verde stood at 226,448. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
The figure is up 1.6% on the previous year and up 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Cape Verde peaked at 226,448 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 124,052, in 1990.
Cape Verde ranks 174th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Cape Verde, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 124,052 | — |
| 1991 | 126,796 | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 129,540 | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 132,320 | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 135,145 | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 137,998 | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 140,888 | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 143,859 | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 146,938 | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 150,159 | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 153,739 | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 157,762 | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 161,946 | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 166,090 | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 170,161 | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 174,138 | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 178,016 | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 181,799 | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 185,468 | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 188,994 | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 204,374 | +8.1% |
| 2011 | 207,854 | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 210,577 | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 212,810 | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 214,593 | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 215,930 | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 216,787 | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 217,299 | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 204,314 | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 211,472 | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 196,815 | -6.9% |
| 2021 | 201,583 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 216,497 | +7.4% |
| 2023 | 219,684 | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 222,880 | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 226,448 | +1.6% |
Cape Verde compared with similar countries
- Cape Verde's 226,448 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.32 million, 7% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Cape Verde's 226,448 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.13 million, 4% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 136,770 | 124,052 | 150,159 | 10 |
| 2000s | 171,811 | 153,739 | 188,994 | 10 |
| 2010s | 211,601 | 204,314 | 217,299 | 10 |
| 2020s | 213,984 | 196,815 | 226,448 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Cape Verde
More education data for Cape Verde
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 3,534 (2022)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 4,132 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 9,991 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 9,978 (2022)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 55,831 (2022)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 61,167 (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1371 % change on previous year (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1177 units per person (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Cape Verde?
- Labor force, total in Cape Verde was 226,448 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Cape Verde?
- The highest recorded value was 226,448 in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Cape Verde?
- The lowest recorded value was 124,052 in 1990.
- How does Cape Verde rank for labor force, total?
- Cape Verde ranks 174th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Cape Verde?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Cape Verde data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.