Democracy Index in Cape Verde
Cape Verde: Democracy Index was 10 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Democracy Index in Cape Verde, 1975–2018
Source: Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2018, democracy index in Cape Verde stood at 10. That is the highest value across all 44 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, democracy index in Cape Verde peaked at 10 in 2001 and was at its lowest, -4, in 1975.
Cape Verde ranks 1st of 168 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Democracy Index in Cape Verde, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | -4 | — |
| 1976 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1977 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1979 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1980 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1981 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1982 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | -4 | -0.0% |
| 1985 | -3 | -25.0% |
| 1986 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1987 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1988 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -3 | -0.0% |
| 1990 | -2 | -33.3% |
| 1991 | 8 | -500.0% |
| 1992 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 8 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 10 | +25.0% |
| 2002 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 10 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 10 | +0.0% |
Cape Verde compared with similar countries
- Cape Verde's 10 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 7, 1.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Cape Verde's 10 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.5, 2.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -4 | -4 | -4 | 5 |
| 1980s | -3.5 | -4 | -3 | 10 |
| 1990s | 7 | -2 | 8 | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.8 | 8 | 10 | 10 |
| 2010s | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Cape Verde
- 1 Australia 10 compare
- 1 Austria 10 compare
- 1 Canada 10 compare
- 1 Chile 10 compare
- 1 Costa Rica 10 compare
- 1 Cyprus 10 compare
- 1 Denmark 10 compare
- 1 Finland 10 compare
- 1 France 10 compare
- 1 Germany 10 compare
- 1 Greece 10 compare
- 1 Hungary 10 compare
- 1 Ireland 10 compare
- 1 Italy 10 compare
- 1 Japan 10 compare
- 1 Lithuania 10 compare
- 1 Luxembourg 10 compare
- 1 Mauritius 10 compare
- 1 Mongolia 10 compare
- 1 Netherlands 10 compare
- 1 New Zealand 10 compare
- 1 Norway 10 compare
- 1 Poland 10 compare
- 1 Portugal 10 compare
- 1 Slovakia 10 compare
- 1 Slovenia 10 compare
- 1 Spain 10 compare
- 1 Sweden 10 compare
- 1 Switzerland 10 compare
- 1 Taiwan 10 compare
- 1 Uruguay 10 compare
More social development data for Cape Verde
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 15 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 15 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is democracy index in Cape Verde?
- Democracy index in Cape Verde was 10 in 2018, according to Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest democracy index recorded in Cape Verde?
- The highest recorded value was 10 in 2001.
- What is the lowest democracy index recorded in Cape Verde?
- The lowest recorded value was -4 in 1975.
- How does Cape Verde rank for democracy index?
- Cape Verde ranks 1st out of 168 countries with data for 2018.
- Is democracy index rising or falling in Cape Verde?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cape Verde data come from?
- The figures come from Polity 5 (2020); Population based on various sources (2023) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Democracy Index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
It combines information on the extent to which open, multi-party, and competitive elections choose a chief executive who faces comprehensive institutional constraints, and political participation is competitive. It ranges from -10 to 10 (fully democratic).