Cabo Verde Gini Index

Cabo Verde’s Gini index fell from an all‑time peak of 52.50 in 2001 to a trough of 42.40 in 2015, placing the country 66th globally in the most recent year for which data are available. The 12‑point decline over 14 years signals a measurable reduction in income inequality, although the figure remains slightly higher than that of the United States (41.50) and comparable to Türkiye (42.90). The downward trajectory aligns with a series of social programs and fiscal reforms implemented in the early 2000s, which appear to have broadened access to education and formal employment. Nevertheless, the modest improvement suggests that structural constraints, such as limited diversification of the economy and vulnerability to external shocks, continue to limit deeper convergence with the lowest‑inequality peers. Continued investment in inclusive growth policies and resilience‑building measures will be crucial if Cabo Verde is to sustain the current trend and push the Gini index further toward the lower end of the global distribution.