MigrantoImmigrants in Cape Verde
14.8K foreigners live in Cape Verde — 3% of the country's population
Immigrants in Cape Verde by country
The 3 largest groups make up 61% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Guinea-Bissau | 5576 |
| Sao Tome and Principe | 1893 |
| Senegal | 1634 |
| Portugal | 1281 |
| Russia | 771 |
| Nigeria | 741 |
| Guinea | 456 |
| Italy | 450 |
| Angola | 408 |
| USA | 387 |
| Brazil | 315 |
| France | 221 |
| Spain | 157 |
| Cuba | 93 |
| US Virgin Islands | 76 |
| Germany | 72 |
| United Kingdom | 55 |
| Ghana | 45 |
| Netherlands | 39 |
| Mozambique | 27 |
| China | 24 |
| Ukraine | 23 |
| Sierra Leone | 15 |
| Switzerland | 13 |
| Belgium | 9 |
| Gabon | 7 |
| East Timor | 7 |
| Ivory Coast | 6 |
| Mali | 6 |
| Gambia | 4 |
| Luxembourg | 3 |
| Argentina | 3 |
| Mexico | 2 |
| Peru | 2 |
| Japan | 0 |
By region of origin
73% of immigrants come from Africa
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Key facts
Immigrants in Cape Verde in numbers
Bissau-Guineans are the largest group by a wide margin
38% of all immigrants were born in Guinea-Bissau, while the next group accounts for just 13%.
Immigrant population in Cape Verde over time
Foreigners living in Cape Verde, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 7144 |
| 1995 | 8922 |
| 2000 | 10683 |
| 2005 | 11813 |
| 2010 | 12921 |
| 2015 | 13416 |
| 2020 | 14169 |
| 2024 | 14821 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Cape Verde, by year
| Year | Bissau-Guineans | Sao Tome and Principe | Senegalese | Portuguese | Russians |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 539 | 2475 | 141 | 1132 | 55 |
| 1995 | 839 | 3111 | 384 | 1031 | 74 |
| 2000 | 1138 | 3747 | 627 | 929 | 92 |
| 2005 | 2984 | 2698 | 1025 | 1023 | 382 |
| 2010 | 4829 | 1649 | 1423 | 1116 | 672 |
| 2015 | 5015 | 1712 | 1478 | 1159 | 698 |
| 2020 | 5330 | 1809 | 1562 | 1225 | 737 |
| 2024 | 5576 | 1893 | 1634 | 1281 | 771 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Cape Verde
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Cape Verde
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Cape Verde?
Around 14.8K immigrants live in Cape Verde — the world's #190 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of Cape Verde are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 3% of the population of Cape Verde — that's 14.8K out of a total population of 524.9K.
Where do most immigrants in Cape Verde come from?
Most immigrants in Cape Verde come from Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe and Senegal — these three countries account for about 61% of all immigrants.
How many Bissau-Guineans live in Cape Verde?
Around 5.6K Bissau-Guineans live in Cape Verde — about 38% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Cape Verde growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Cape Verde has grown from 13.4K to 14.8K, about 10%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Cape Verde come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Cape Verde. Their children born in Cape Verde are not included.
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Living in Cape Verde
See the full country overview