Cabo Verde External Debt
Total external debt stocks DT.DOD.DECT.CD
Cabo Verde's external debt was $2.4B in 2025, ranked 99th globally. This represents a 1.0% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1981–2025.
Overview
Cabo Verde's external debt stood at $2.4B in 2025, a rise of +$22.5M from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach $2.4B by 2025. Cabo Verde ranked 99th globally.
Cabo Verde’s external debt has risen dramatically from a modest 39,376,101.90 in 1981 to a peak of 2,462,649,634.60 in 2023, before slipping slightly to 2,382,114,822.56 in 2025, ranking 99th globally. The 45‑year trajectory reflects successive borrowing cycles linked to infrastructure expansion, tourism development, and climate‑resilient projects, while the modest post‑peak decline suggests tighter fiscal management and debt‑service reforms. Compared with peer nations, Cabo Verde’s 2025 debt level is close to Liberia’s 2,456,250,799.18 and slightly lower than Sierra Leone’s 2,414,214,111.83, indicating a similar scale of external financing among small Atlantic economies. The all‑time trough in 1981 highlights how the country’s borrowing base has multiplied by more than sixty‑fold, underscoring vulnerability to external shocks and exchange‑rate fluctuations. Continued diversification of export earnings and stronger access to concessional financing could moderate the upward trend, while any slowdown in tourism recovery or heightened climate risks may reverse recent gains.
Data & projection
| Year | External Debt | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | $2.4B | - | - |
| 2026* trend | $2.4B | - | - |
| 2025* trend | $2.4B | - | - |
| 2025 | $2.4B | +$22.5M | #99 |
| 2024 | $2.4B | −$103.1M | #25 |
| 2023 | $2.5B | +$60.1M | #23 |
| 2022 | $2.4B | −$54.1M | #24 |
| 2021 | $2.5B | +$27.3M | #23 |
| 2020 | $2.4B | +$276.0M | #25 |
| 2019 | $2.2B | +$62.3M | #26 |
| 2018 | $2.1B | −$24.1M | #26 |
| 2017 | $2.1B | +$277.7M | #27 |
| 2016 | $1.8B | −$3.9M | #27 |
| 2015 | $1.8B | −$11.6M | #28 |
| 2014 | $1.9B | −$115.6M | #28 |
| 2013 | $2.0B | +$360.8M | #30 |
| 2012 | $1.6B | +$566.2M | #30 |
| 2011 | $1.0B | +$156.6M | #22 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Cabo Verde matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 1991. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw external debt improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Cabo Verde's external debt was $2.4B in 2025. Ranked 99th globally. This represents a 1.0% increase from the previous year.
Cabo Verde's external debt peaked at $2.5B in 2023.
The lowest external debt in Cabo Verde was $39.4M in 1981.
Cabo Verde ranks 99th globally in external debt as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is DT.DOD.DECT.CD. Data sourced from World Bank.
Cabo Verde's external debt is projected to reach $2.4B by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
Cabo Verde's external debt was approximately 2.38 billion ($2.4B) in 2025.
The external debt of Cabo Verde in 2025 was $2.4B. This ranks 99th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_cabo-verde_external-debt,
title = {Cabo Verde External Debt},
url = {https://historysaid.com/cabo-verde/external-debt/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}