Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Cabo Verde: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Cabo Verde is placed 161st of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 50.22 (2025); Labour Income Share 41.9 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
161st
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Cabo Verde on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
50.22
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Cabo Verde: 50.22. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in Western Africa
- 79.99 Nigeria
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
11.94
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Cabo Verde: 11.94. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in Western Africa
- 0.394 Niger
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
34.26
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Cabo Verde: 34.26. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in Western Africa
- 34.26 Cabo Verde
02Over time
Which way Cabo Verde is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
Cabo VerdeWorld median
Cabo Verde fell from 50.67 in 2000 to 50.22 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Cabo Verde World median 2025 50.22 57.720 2024 50.26 57.694 2023 50.34 58.158 2022 50.20 57.688 2021 46.64 56.066 2020 45.58 55.691 2019 50.47 57.871 2018 48.80 56.911 2017 51.94 56.738 2016 52.02 56.845 2015 52.11 56.788 2014 52.24 56.774 2013 52.40 56.229 2012 52.55 56.289 2011 52.65 56.297 2010 52.81 56.212 2009 48.29 56.255 2008 48.64 57.308 2007 48.89 56.933 2006 49.07 56.685 2005 49.27 56.129 2004 49.49 55.465 2003 49.64 55.630 2002 50.00 55.843 2001 50.31 56.018 2000 50.67 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
Cabo VerdeWorld median
Cabo Verde rose from 38.15 in 2004 to 41.9 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Cabo Verde World median 2025 41.90 46.230 2024 41.67 46.060 2023 41.98 45.900 2022 43.73 45.615 2021 41.31 45.433 2020 45.19 47.267 2019 43.05 46.277 2018 43.97 46.187 2017 43.74 46.467 2016 43.46 46.798 2015 44.88 46.876 2014 43.89 47.281 2013 41.61 46.887 2012 43.47 46.231 2011 40.61 45.679 2010 41.43 46.024 2009 38.72 47.071 2008 37.59 45.312 2007 37.50 45.246 2006 38.33 45.670 2005 38.48 46.265 2004 38.15 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
Cabo VerdeWorld median
Cabo Verde fell from 13.02 in 2000 to 11.94 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Cabo Verde World median 2025 11.939 5.08 2024 11.883 5.15 2023 11.882 5.21 2022 12.239 5.34 2021 13.932 6.04 2020 14.650 6.38 2019 12.123 5.36 2018 12.170 5.35 2017 12.240 5.59 2016 12.085 5.90 2015 11.923 6.41 2014 11.689 6.58 2013 11.398 6.71 2012 11.145 6.79 2011 10.956 6.90 2010 10.670 7.04 2009 13.517 6.67 2008 13.307 5.79 2007 13.294 6.00 2006 13.378 6.50 2005 13.439 7.09 2004 13.456 6.80 2003 13.604 6.95 2002 13.379 6.91 2001 13.242 6.96 2000 13.024 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
Cabo VerdeWorld median
Cabo Verde fell from 42.24 in 2000 to 34.26 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Cabo Verde World median 2025 34.26 28.67 2024 34.68 29.04 2023 35.07 29.33 2022 35.43 29.67 2021 35.95 30.01 2020 36.33 30.54 2019 35.75 29.98 2018 36.49 30.15 2017 36.28 29.93 2016 36.50 29.91 2015 36.59 30.26 2014 36.73 30.47 2013 36.87 31.14 2012 37.07 31.00 2011 37.27 31.41 2010 37.54 32.37 2009 37.82 32.59 2008 38.27 31.76 2007 38.95 33.47 2006 39.50 34.27 2005 39.88 34.66 2004 40.23 35.51 2003 40.68 35.90 2002 41.20 35.96 2001 41.67 35.27 2000 42.24 35.67
03In context
Cabo Verde beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Cabo Verde and Western Africa
Cabo Verde has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Nigeria | 16th | 79.99 | 75.13 | 3.064 | 66.48 |
 Benin | 70th | 75.14 | 39.95 | 1.589 | 78.53 |
 Burkina Faso | =95th | 67.57 | 43.47 | 3.477 | 80.56 |
 Niger | =95th | 79.43 | 27.76 | 0.394 | 83.73 |
 Liberia | 101st | 74.37 | 35.71 | 2.884 | 76.85 |
 Mali | 105th | 65.14 | 37.7 | 2.831 | 75.76 |
 Côte d’Ivoire | 106th | 65.53 | 30.95 | 2.323 | 69.43 |
 Guinea-Bissau | 107th | 63.08 | 37.28 | 2.673 | 74.94 |
 Ghana | =112th | 56.78 | 42.5 | 2.979 | 59.96 |
 Togo | =112th | 56.69 | 42.15 | 1.995 | 75.03 |
 Senegal | 129th | 50.6 | 42.49 | 2.735 | 62.98 |
 Sierra Leone | 156th | 51.69 | 36.84 | 3.15 | 86.04 |
| Cabo Verde | 161st | 50.22 | 41.9 | 11.94 | 34.26 |
 Gambia | 167th | 44.36 | 41.64 | 6.521 | 63.51 |
 Guinea | 169th | 49.89 | 36.18 | 5.163 | 79.17 |
 Mauritania | 178th | 36.56 | 35.65 | 10.32 | 53.35 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Western Africa
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Cabo Verde in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Cabo Verde is ahead of the world, and behind
23 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median5
Statistics on which Cabo Verde does better than the middle country measured.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.610.471.61▲ Improved since 2015
Cabo Verde: 0.47 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3143▲ Improved since 2015
Cabo Verde: 14 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1626.6719.16No earlier reading
Cabo Verde: 26.67 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 37th of 179 · derived.
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 060No earlier reading
Cabo Verde: 6 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Trade Union DensityILO · 2020 · world median 16.6820.916.68No earlier reading
Cabo Verde: 20.9 · world median 16.68 · Employees who are trade union members (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.2 to 91.42; higher is better.
Position 53rd of 139 · derived.
Behind the world median11
Statistics on which Cabo Verde does worse than the middle country measured.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.944.745.9No earlier reading
Cabo Verde: 44.7 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Working Poverty RateILO · 2025 · world median 4.8855.6254.885No real change since 2015
Cabo Verde: 5.625 · world median 4.885 · Employed people living in extreme poverty (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.007 to 86.02; lower is better.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,7425,1276,742▲ Improved since 2015
Cabo Verde: 5,127 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 84th of 151 · derived.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8146.9741.81No earlier reading
Cabo Verde: 46.97 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 75th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3650.4753.36▼ Worsened since 2015
Cabo Verde: 50.47 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 116th of 182 · derived.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 989098▲ Improved since 2015
Cabo Verde: 90 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,38427,49047,384▲ Improved since 2015
Cabo Verde: 27,490 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 113th of 168 · derived.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1611.3522.16No real change since 2015
Cabo Verde: 11.35 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 127th of 182 · derived.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6657.0261.66▼ Worsened since 2015
Cabo Verde: 57.02 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 128th of 182 · derived.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0714.2432.07No earlier reading
Cabo Verde: 14.24 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8328.4112.83▼ Worsened since 2015
Cabo Verde: 28.41 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 22nd of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end7
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8946.2238.89Moved since 2015
Cabo Verde: 46.22 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 12th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8823.0718.88Moved since 2015
Cabo Verde: 23.07 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 56th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Public Sector EmploymentWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 15.0121.0915.01No earlier reading
Cabo Verde: 21.09 · world median 15.01 · Public sector employment (% of total employment). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 1.672 to 47.1.
Position 44th of 135 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5167.6959.51Moved since 2015
Cabo Verde: 67.69 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 68th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.8438.4631.84No real change since 2015
Cabo Verde: 38.46 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 81st of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.389.24514.38Moved since 2015
Cabo Verde: 9.245 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 109th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.95282.15657.95Moved since 2014
Cabo Verde: 282.15 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
No current reading for Cabo Verde
Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2015), Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2015), Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Share of Temporary Employees (last 2015) and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training (last 2019). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Cabo Verde’s 16 topics
Work & Labour is Cabo Verde’s 14th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Peace & Security6th of 1774/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 34th of 1833/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties37th of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions48th of 1944/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience54th of 1933/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing80th of 2004/4 keys
- Energy80th of 1652/3 keys
- Development & Human Capital109th of 1963/3 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 123rd of 1984/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability125th of 1862/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge142nd of 1983/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation129th of 1762/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequalityjoint 128th of 1593/3 keys
- Work & Labour161st of 1824/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture165th of 1843/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade163rd of 1772/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Cabo Verde can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Africa
Nigeria16th4/4 keysThis page
Cabo Verde161st4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Cabo Verde and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Cabo Verde on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Cabo Verde rank on work & labour?
Cabo Verde is placed 161st of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Cabo Verde?
50.22 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Cabo Verde?
41.9 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How have Cabo Verde’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio fell from 50.67 in 2000 to 50.22 in 2025; Labour Income Share rose from 38.15 in 2004 to 41.9 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 13.02 in 2000 to 11.94 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 42.24 in 2000 to 34.26 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Cabo Verde?
No current reading is published for Cabo Verde on Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Share of Senior and Middle Management, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Informal Employment Rate, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Share of Temporary Employees and Youth Not in Education, Employment or Training. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 23 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Cabo Verde’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Cabo Verde (banner) — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Cabo Verde: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/cabo-verde/work