Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Cape Verde
Cape Verde: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 9.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Cape Verde, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Cape Verde stood at 9.9%. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.5% on the previous year and down 43.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Cape Verde peaked at 36.8% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 9.9%, in 2023.
Cape Verde ranks 112th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Cape Verde, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 36.8% | — |
| 1992 | 36.2% | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 35.7% | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 35.0% | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 34.2% | -2.2% |
| 1996 | 33.4% | -2.2% |
| 1997 | 32.5% | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 31.6% | -2.9% |
| 1999 | 30.7% | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 29.6% | -3.8% |
| 2001 | 28.7% | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 27.6% | -3.6% |
| 2003 | 26.7% | -3.4% |
| 2004 | 25.6% | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 24.6% | -3.9% |
| 2006 | 23.7% | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 22.6% | -4.7% |
| 2008 | 21.7% | -3.7% |
| 2009 | 21.2% | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 20.2% | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 19.2% | -4.9% |
| 2012 | 18.3% | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 17.5% | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 16.6% | -5.0% |
| 2015 | 15.8% | -5.1% |
| 2016 | 14.7% | -6.6% |
| 2017 | 13.6% | -7.5% |
| 2018 | 11.8% | -13.1% |
| 2019 | 10.6% | -10.4% |
| 2020 | 10.7% | +1.3% |
| 2021 | 10.6% | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 10.2% | -3.8% |
| 2023 | 9.9% | -2.5% |
Cape Verde compared with similar countries
- Cape Verde's 9.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 17.1%, 58% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Cape Verde's 9.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 43.0%, 23% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 34.0% | 30.7% | 36.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 25.2% | 21.2% | 29.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.8% | 10.6% | 20.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.3% | 9.9% | 10.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Cape Verde
- 109 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 10.6% compare
- 110 Saint Lucia 10.4% compare
- 111 Belarus 10.0% compare
- 113 Malaysia 9.8% compare
- 114 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 9.6% compare
- 115 Algeria 9.3% compare
More agriculture & rural data for Cape Verde
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.6% (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 153.97 million current US$ (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added 5.0% (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population 117,962 (2025)
- Rural population growth -3.3% (2025)
- Rural population 22.4% (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 14.7 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0504 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 291.98 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Cape Verde?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Cape Verde was 9.9% in 2023, according to ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Cape Verde?
- The highest recorded value was 36.8% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Cape Verde?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.9% in 2023.
- How does Cape Verde rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Cape Verde ranks 112th out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Cape Verde?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Cape Verde data come from?
- The figures come from ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The share of people employed in agriculture includes working-age people with a job in farming, forestry, fishing, and related activities, including those temporarily absent.