Armed forces personnel in Cape Verde
Cape Verde: Armed forces personnel was 1,000 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Armed forces personnel in Cape Verde, 1985–2020
Source: The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2020, armed forces personnel in Cape Verde stood at 1,000. That is the lowest value across all 32 years on record.
The figure is down 16.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, armed forces personnel in Cape Verde peaked at 7,700 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 1,000, in 1990.
That places Cape Verde 163rd out of 173 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Armed forces personnel in Cape Verde, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 7,700 | — |
| 1989 | 3,000 | -61.0% |
| 1990 | 1,000 | -66.7% |
| 1991 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 1,150 | +15.0% |
| 1996 | 1,150 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 1,150 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 1,150 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 1,200 | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 1,200 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 1,300 | +8.3% |
| 2002 | 1,300 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 1,300 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 1,000 | -23.1% |
| 2005 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 1,200 | +20.0% |
| 2010 | 1,200 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 1,200 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 1,200 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1,200 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 1,200 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1,200 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 1,200 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 1,000 | -16.7% |
| 2018 | 1,200 | +20.0% |
| 2019 | 1,000 | -16.7% |
| 2020 | 1,000 | +0.0% |
Cape Verde compared with similar countries
- Cape Verde's 1,000 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 64,000, 2% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Cape Verde's 1,000 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 16,000, 6% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5,350 | 3,000 | 7,700 | 2 |
| 1990s | 1,080 | 1,000 | 1,200 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,144 | 1,000 | 1,300 | 9 |
| 2010s | 1,160 | 1,000 | 1,200 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Cape Verde
- 163 Barbados 1,000 compare
- 163 Equatorial Guinea 1,000 compare
- 163 Haiti 1,000 compare
- 163 Luxembourg 1,000 compare
- 163 Sao Tome and Principe 1,000 compare
More reference data data for Cape Verde
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.0737 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure left on Pasture 33.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure left on 33.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure Management 53.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Manure applied 39.35 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Manure applied to Soils 39.35 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 127.77 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Burning - Crop 2.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 15.25 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 92.15 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is armed forces personnel in Cape Verde?
- Armed forces personnel in Cape Verde was 1,000 in 2020, according to The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest armed forces personnel recorded in Cape Verde?
- The highest recorded value was 7,700 in 1985.
- What is the lowest armed forces personnel recorded in Cape Verde?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,000 in 1990.
- How does Cape Verde rank for armed forces personnel?
- Cape Verde ranks 163rd out of 173 countries with data for 2020.
- Is armed forces personnel rising or falling in Cape Verde?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cape Verde data come from?
- The figures come from The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Armed forces personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Armed forces personnel are active duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces if their training, organization, equipment, and control suggest they may be used to support or replace regular military forces.