MigrantoCape Verdean Diaspora
146.4K Cape Verdeans live abroad — 28% of the population of Cape Verde
Cape Verdean diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 83% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Portugal | 76835 |
| France | 34814 |
| Angola | 9497 |
| Luxembourg | 8211 |
| Mozambique | 7107 |
| Italy | 5847 |
| Brazil | 1430 |
| Sao Tome and Principe | 1115 |
| Norway | 451 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 338 |
| Colombia | 255 |
| Bolivia | 157 |
| Sierra Leone | 82 |
| Iceland | 82 |
| Denmark | 43 |
| Togo | 39 |
| Guinea | 30 |
| Hungary | 22 |
| Finland | 15 |
| Greece | 13 |
| Bulgaria | 7 |
| Slovenia | 3 |
| Dominican Republic | 3 |
| Estonia | 0 |
| Latvia | 0 |
By region
86% of the diaspora lives in Europe
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Key facts
The Cape Verdean diaspora in numbers
Most Cape Verdeans abroad live in Portugal
52% of the diaspora lives in Portugal, while the next country accounts for just 24%.
1 in 4 people born in Cape Verde lives abroad
146.4K people born in Cape Verde now live in other countries — 27.9% of a population of 524.9K.
Cape Verdean diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 51800 |
| 1995 | 63673 |
| 2000 | 76121 |
| 2005 | 92475 |
| 2010 | 99281 |
| 2015 | 116450 |
| 2020 | 133491 |
| 2024 | 146396 |
Largest communities over time
Cape Verdeans living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | Portugal | France | Angola | Luxembourg | Mozambique |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 30179 | 7645 | 3569 | 1148 | 2500 |
| 1995 | 36695 | 10104 | 4147 | 1278 | 3439 |
| 2000 | 44701 | 13572 | 4724 | 1422 | 4001 |
| 2005 | 53008 | 18434 | 6209 | 1234 | 5495 |
| 2010 | 52513 | 22975 | 7558 | 1060 | 6262 |
| 2015 | 59532 | 30310 | 8662 | 1617 | 6491 |
| 2020 | 68299 | 31783 | 9215 | 7108 | 6819 |
| 2024 | 76835 | 34814 | 9497 | 8211 | 7107 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Cape Verdeans in each country has changed since the selected year
Cape Verdeans among immigrants in other countries
Where Cape Verdeans make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Cape Verdeans live outside Cape Verde?
Around 146.4K Cape Verdeans live abroad, the world's #142 largest diaspora.
Where do most Cape Verdeans abroad live?
Most Cape Verdeans live in Portugal, France and Angola — these three countries account for about 83% of all Cape Verdeans living abroad.
Which country has the largest Cape Verdean population outside Cape Verde?
Portugal is home to the largest Cape Verdean community abroad — 76.8K people, about 52% of all Cape Verdeans living abroad.
What share of the population of Cape Verde lives abroad?
About 28% of the population of Cape Verde lives abroad — that's 146.4K out of a total population of 524.9K.
Is the Cape Verdean diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Cape Verdeans living abroad has grown from 116.5K to 146.4K, about 26%.
Where does the data on the Cape Verdean diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Cape Verde who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Cape Verde
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