Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Cape Verde
Cape Verde: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 34.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Cape Verde, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Cape Verde stood at 34.3%. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Cape Verde peaked at 48.5% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 34.3%, in 2025.
That places Cape Verde 78th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Cape Verde, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 48.5% | — |
| 1992 | 48.1% | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 47.7% | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 47.0% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 46.4% | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 45.5% | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 44.8% | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 43.9% | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 43.1% | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 42.2% | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 41.7% | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 41.2% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 40.7% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 40.2% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 39.9% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 39.5% | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 38.9% | -1.4% |
| 2008 | 38.3% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 37.8% | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 37.5% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 37.3% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 37.1% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 36.9% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 36.7% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 36.6% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 36.5% | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 36.3% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 36.5% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 35.8% | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 36.3% | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 36.0% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 35.4% | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 35.1% | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 34.7% | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 34.3% | -1.2% |
Cape Verde compared with similar countries
- Cape Verde's 34.3% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 29.8%, 1.1× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Cape Verde's 34.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 67.6%, 51% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 46.1% | 43.1% | 48.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 40.0% | 37.8% | 42.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.7% | 35.8% | 37.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.3% | 34.3% | 36.3% | 6 |
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 share of workers in vulnerable employment in Cape Verde?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Cape Verde was 34.3% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Cape Verde?
- The highest recorded value was 48.5% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Cape Verde?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.3% in 2025.
- How does Cape Verde rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Cape Verde ranks 78th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Cape Verde?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.4%. 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 (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).