Cabo Verde Government Spending
Government expenditure as % of GDP GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS
Cabo Verde's government spending was 30.88% in 2020, ranked 70th globally. This represents a 29.3% increase from 2019. Data from World Bank, covering 2005–2020.
Overview
Cabo Verde's government spending stood at 30.88% in 2020, a rise of +7.01% from 2019. Cabo Verde ranked 70th globally.
Cabo Verde’s government spending as a share of gross domestic product rose steadily over the 16‑year series, moving from 27.70 % in 2005 to an all‑time peak of 30.88 % in 2020, the highest level recorded in the dataset and the country’s rank of 70 globally. The most pronounced dip occurred in 2012 when spending fell to a trough of 16.83 %, reflecting the fiscal tightening that followed the global financial crisis, but the subsequent recovery was robust, averaging roughly 0.9 percentage points per year. By 2020 the level of 30.88 % was only marginally below that of peer island economies such as Mauritius (31.25 %) and Tonga (31.49 %), and close to Australia’s 30.14 % share, underscoring Cabo Verde’s relatively expansive fiscal stance among small states. If revenue mobilisation improves and external debt remains manageable, the upward trajectory is likely to continue, although a shift toward fiscal consolidation could temper future growth in the spending ratio.
Data & projection
| Year | Government Spending | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 30.88% | +7.01% | #70 |
| 2019 | 23.88% | +1.37% | #63 |
| 2018 | 22.51% | +3.84% | #60 |
| 2017 | 18.67% | −0.40% | #46 |
| 2016 | 19.07% | −0.23% | #48 |
| 2015 | 19.30% | +1.37% | #46 |
| 2014 | 17.93% | +0.97% | #40 |
| 2013 | 16.96% | +0.12% | #33 |
| 2012 | 16.83% | −0.95% | #35 |
| 2011 | 17.79% | −0.20% | #34 |
| 2010 | 17.98% | −0.13% | #36 |
| 2009 | 18.11% | −0.95% | #32 |
| 2008 | 19.05% | −1.57% | #38 |
| 2007 | 20.62% | −6.30% | #42 |
| 2006 | 26.92% | −0.78% | #59 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Cabo Verde matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 1991. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw government spending improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Cabo Verde's government spending was 30.88% in 2020. Ranked 70th globally. This represents a 29.3% increase from the previous year.
Cabo Verde's government spending peaked at 30.88% in 2020.
The lowest government spending in Cabo Verde was 16.83% in 2012.
Cabo Verde ranks 70th globally in government spending as of 2020.
The World Bank indicator code is GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The government spending of Cabo Verde in 2020 was 30.88%. This ranks 70th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_cabo-verde_government-spending,
title = {Cabo Verde Government Spending},
url = {https://historysaid.com/cabo-verde/government-spending/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}