Cabo Verde Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Cabo Verde's unemployment rate was 11.94% in 2025, ranked 157th globally. This represents a 40.5% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1980–2025.
Overview
Cabo Verde's unemployment rate stood at 11.94% in 2025, a rise of +3.44pp from 2024. The IMF projects 8.50% by 2025. Cabo Verde ranked 157th globally.
Cabo Verde’s unemployment rate has fallen markedly since the all‑time peak of 25.40 % recorded in 1990, descending to a trough of 10.67 % in 2010 before edging slightly higher to 11.94 % in 2025, a level that places the nation 157th in the global ranking. The 46‑year series shows a long‑term downward trajectory, driven by diversification of the services sector and modest growth in tourism, yet the recent modest rise signals lingering structural constraints, such as limited industrial capacity and a small domestic market. When compared with peer economies of similar rank, Cabo Verde’s rate is marginally above French Polynesia’s 11.66 % and Guyana’s 11.96 % in the same year, suggesting that regional labor market dynamics are broadly comparable. Continued investment in vocational training and the expansion of renewable‑energy projects could help sustain the decline, while any slowdown in tourism demand would likely reverse the modest progress observed since the 2010 trough.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | 8.50% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | 8.50% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | 8.50% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | 8.50% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | 8.50% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | 8.50% | - | - |
| 2025 | 11.94% | +3.44pp | #157 |
| 2024 | 11.88% | +3.38pp | #164 |
| 2023 | 11.88% | +3.38pp | #161 |
| 2022 | 12.24% | +3.74pp | #160 |
| 2021 | 13.93% | +5.43pp | #161 |
| 2020 | 14.65% | +6.15pp | #161 |
| 2019 | 12.12% | −0.08pp | #161 |
| 2018 | 12.17% | −0.03pp | #157 |
| 2017 | 12.24% | −2.76pp | #158 |
| 2016 | 12.09% | −0.32pp | #154 |
| 2015 | 11.92% | −3.88pp | #153 |
| 2014 | 11.69% | −4.71pp | #147 |
| 2013 | 11.40% | −5.40pp | #141 |
| 2012 | 11.15% | −1.06pp | #141 |
| 2011 | 10.96% | +0.26pp | #141 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Cabo Verde matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 1991. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Cabo Verde's unemployment rate was 11.94% in 2025. Ranked 157th globally. This represents a 40.5% increase from the previous year.
Cabo Verde's unemployment rate peaked at 25.40% in 1990.
The lowest unemployment rate in Cabo Verde was 10.67% in 2010.
Cabo Verde ranks 157th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Cabo Verde's unemployment rate is projected to reach 8.50% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The unemployment rate of Cabo Verde in 2025 was 11.94%. This ranks 157th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_cabo-verde_unemployment-rate,
title = {Cabo Verde Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/cabo-verde/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}