Share of population living in urban areas in Cape Verde
Cape Verde: Share of population living in urban areas was 71.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban areas in Cape Verde, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Cape Verde recorded 71.6% for share of population living in urban areas in 2020.
The figure is down 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas in Cape Verde peaked at 74.5% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 57.5%, in 1950.
Cape Verde ranks 134th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in urban areas in Cape Verde, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 57.5% | — |
| 1955 | 58.4% | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 59.5% | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 62.5% | +5.0% |
| 1970 | 65.8% | +5.3% |
| 1975 | 67.0% | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 65.7% | -1.8% |
| 1985 | 66.5% | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 67.2% | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 70.1% | +4.3% |
| 2000 | 71.9% | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 71.4% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 74.5% | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 73.3% | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 71.6% | -2.3% |
Cape Verde compared with similar countries
- Cape Verde's 71.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 74.7%, 96% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Cape Verde's 71.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 69.4%, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 57.9% | 57.5% | 58.4% | 2 |
| 1960s | 61.0% | 59.5% | 62.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 66.4% | 65.8% | 67.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 66.1% | 65.7% | 66.5% | 2 |
| 1990s | 68.7% | 67.2% | 70.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 71.7% | 71.4% | 71.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 73.9% | 73.3% | 74.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 71.6% | 71.6% | 71.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Cape Verde
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 share of population living in urban areas in Cape Verde?
- Share of population living in urban areas in Cape Verde was 71.6% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban areas recorded in Cape Verde?
- The highest recorded value was 74.5% in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas recorded in Cape Verde?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.5% in 1950.
- How does Cape Verde rank for share of population living in urban areas?
- Cape Verde ranks 134th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban areas rising or falling in Cape Verde?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Cape Verde data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.