Labor force participation rate by age in Cape Verde
Cape Verde: Labor force participation rate by age was 30.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate by age in Cape Verde, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate by age in Cape Verde is 30.9%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 0.8% on the previous year and down 16.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Cape Verde peaked at 63.5% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 28.8%, in 2020.
Cape Verde ranks 137th of 188 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate by age in Cape Verde, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 63.5% | — |
| 1991 | 62.3% | -1.9% |
| 1992 | 61.1% | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 59.8% | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 58.6% | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 57.3% | -2.2% |
| 1996 | 56.0% | -2.2% |
| 1997 | 54.7% | -2.3% |
| 1998 | 53.5% | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 52.2% | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 50.9% | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 49.6% | -2.6% |
| 2002 | 48.3% | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 47.0% | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 45.7% | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 44.4% | -2.8% |
| 2006 | 43.1% | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 41.8% | -3.0% |
| 2008 | 40.6% | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 39.3% | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 38.9% | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 38.4% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 38.0% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 37.5% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 37.1% | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 36.7% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 36.2% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 35.8% | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 32.6% | -8.9% |
| 2019 | 31.8% | -2.6% |
| 2020 | 28.8% | -9.3% |
| 2021 | 29.8% | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 31.4% | +5.4% |
| 2023 | 31.1% | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 30.9% | -0.8% |
Cape Verde compared with similar countries
- Cape Verde's 30.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 38.9%, 79% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Cape Verde's 30.9% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 38.1%, 81% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 57.9% | 52.2% | 63.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 45.1% | 39.3% | 50.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.3% | 31.8% | 38.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.4% | 28.8% | 31.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Cape Verde
More work & labour data for Cape Verde
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 176.12 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 57.01 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 233.52 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 12.15 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.59 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 29,137 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 13,162 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 50.08 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.57 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 1.53 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Cape Verde?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Cape Verde was 30.9% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Cape Verde?
- The highest recorded value was 63.5% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Cape Verde?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.8% in 2020.
- How does Cape Verde rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Cape Verde ranks 137th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age 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 falling.
- Where does this Cape Verde data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).