MigrantoCape Verdean Diaspora
146.4K Cape Verdeans live abroad — the #142 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 83% of all emigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| 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 destination region
Europe is the leading destination region at 86%
126.3K
18.2K
1.8K
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from Cape Verde.
Portugal is the primary destination for emigrants
Portugal attracts 52% of all emigrants from Cape Verde, while the second-largest destination receives just 24%.
A significant share of the population lives abroad
1 in 4 residents of Cape Verde has emigrated — 146.4K out of 524.9K, representing 27.9% of the population.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 51800 |
| 1995 | 63673 |
| 2000 | 76121 |
| 2005 | 92475 |
| 2010 | 99281 |
| 2015 | 116450 |
| 2020 | 133491 |
| 2024 | 146396 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| 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 destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
Cape Verde as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from Cape Verde
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do Cape Verdeans move to?
Most Cape Verdeans have moved to Portugal, France and Angola — these three countries account for about 83% of all Cape Verdeans living abroad.
How many Cape Verdeans live abroad?
Around 146.4K Cape Verdeans live abroad, making it the #142-largest emigrant population in the world.
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.
How has emigration from Cape Verde changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from Cape Verde has grown from 116.5K to 146.4K people, a growth of about 26%.
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