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Cabo Verde vs Guinea-Bissau
Side-by-side comparison of Cabo Verde and Guinea-Bissau from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Cabo Verde
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 51 years
Guinea-Bissau
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 52 years
In short
Cabo Verde scores 46.9 in the NationsTree Index (100th in the world) and Guinea-Bissau scores 17.0 (192nd), a gap of 30.0 points. Their trees are 1.5 m and 1.3 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Guinea-Bissau has 4.3 times the population of Cabo Verde. Guinea-Bissau is 9.0 times larger than Cabo Verde by land area. The economy of Guinea-Bissau is 15% larger than that of Cabo Verde (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Cabo Verde 527,326 and Guinea-Bissau 2.2 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $12,165 in Cabo Verde and $3,293 in Guinea-Bissau (2025, international dollars). People in Cabo Verde live on average 12.0 years longer (76.2 vs 64.3 years).
Of 28 indicators reported by both countries, Cabo Verde ranks higher in the world on 22 and Guinea-Bissau on 6. Cabo Verde is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, trade and society & health. Guinea-Bissau is clearly stronger in environment & energy and military.
As a nation, Guinea-Bissau is the older of the two (statehood since 1974, 52 years), compared with Cabo Verde (since 1975). Over the last five years Cabo Verde improved faster (direction score 94 vs 11 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Cabo Verde and Guinea-Bissau.
Cabo Verdebetter
1.1%
28th of 192
Guinea-Bissau
-6.7%
172nd of 192
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Cabo Verdebetter
66.3
41st of 207
Guinea-Bissau
19.8
193rd of 207
UnemploymentEconomy
Cabo Verde
11.9%
161st of 187
Guinea-Bissaubetter
2.7%
27th of 187
Government effectivenessInstitutions & safety
Cabo Verdebetter
62.8
63rd of 205
Guinea-Bissau
22.2
193rd of 205
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Cabo Verde
577
152nd of 183
Guinea-Bissaubetter
7,599
55th of 183
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Guinea-Bissau overtook Cabo Verde in GDP (PPP) in 2020 and has stayed ahead since.
Cabo Verde has been ahead of Guinea-Bissau in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1997.
Cabo Verde has been ahead of Guinea-Bissau in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Guinea-Bissau has been ahead of Cabo Verde in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
Cabo VerdeGuinea-Bissau All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Cabo Verde | Guinea-Bissau |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 4,030171st/216 · 2024 | 36,125135th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 4,030169th/216 · 2024 | 28,120139th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 527,326172nd/217 · 2025 | 2.2 m147th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.47%140th/217 · 2025 | 2.16%41st/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 130.285th/216 · 2024 | 78.3127th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 77.6%67th/217 · 2025 | 46.7%157th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 24.7%96th/217 · 2025 | 38.3%31st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 7.2%123rd/217 · 2025 | 3.2%187th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $3.06 bn181st/210 · 2025 | $2.53 bn185th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $6.42 bn171st/199 · 2025 | $7.41 bn165th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $5.48 bn171st/199 · 2025 | $6.33 bn165th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $5,796133rd/210 · 2025 | $1,124193rd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $12,165133rd/199 · 2025 | $3,293183rd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $5,590124th/201 · 2025 | $1,090185th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 6.3%32nd/210 · 2025 | 5.8%37th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.3%70th/180 · 2025 | 0.9%32nd/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 11.9%161st/187 · 2025 | 2.7%27th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 115.4%177th/189 · 2025 | 75.1%142nd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | 1.1%28th/192 · 2025 | -6.7%172nd/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 5.0%107th/197 · 2025 | 40.6%3rd/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 10.7%181st/200 · 2025 | 15.7%158th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 5.2%151st/192 · 2025 | 8.6%115th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 67.9%43rd/200 · 2025 | 39.1%187th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $1.28 bn157th/182 · 2025 | $350.5 m170th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $1.63 bn162nd/182 · 2025 | $682.9 m171st/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 42.0%72nd/183 · 2025 | 13.9%165th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 53.4%71st/183 · 2025 | 27.0%146th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 95.3%69th/183 · 2025 | 40.9%160th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%165th/170 · 2023 | 0.0%2015 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 13.6%124th/171 · 2024 | 0.0%2015 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 86.4%9th/171 · 2024 | 68.5%2018 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%171st/171 · 2023 | 0.6%2005 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 1.2%146th/168 · 2023 | 5.8%2015 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 3.4%48th/191 · 2025 | -6.2%155th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 5.0%41st/196 · 2025 | 1.3%128th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 17.7%29th/209 · 2021 | 10.4%44th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 17.18%1st/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.48%71st/209 · 2021 | 10.43%5th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 18.0%60th/206 · 2024 | 16.1%69th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 577152nd/183 · 2022 | 7,59955th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 180,000154th/194 · 2020 | 52,400178th/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $169.0 m133rd/175 · 2020 | $18.9 m166th/175 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 39.9%20th/168 · 2020 | 6.5%77th/168 · 2019 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 76.298th/217 · 2024 | 64.3193rd/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 11.180th/196 · 2024 | 67.3182nd/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.73114th/174 · 2023 | 0.25138th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.283rd/145 · 2022 | 1.02009 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 93%81st/193 · 2024 | 68%173rd/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 33.7%128th/153 · 2024 | 21.4%140th/153 · 2022 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 96.4%75th/173 · 2022 | 34.4%2006 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 29.7%2007 | 22.0%45th/55 · 2021 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 10.5%127th/217 · 2025 | 5.5%190th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 5.8%108th/193 · 2023 | 8.8%49th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 88.5%55th/98 · 2024 | 63.9%85th/98 · 2022 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 24.3%2018 | 2.6%2006 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.668135th/193 · 2023 | 0.514174th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 42.42015 | 33.444th/108 · 2021 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 14.6%2015 | 39.9%99th/108 · 2021 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 98.4%140th/215 · 2024 | 43.7%202nd/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 24.0%135th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 22.6%124th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 74.7%113th/186 · 2024 | 29.8%169th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 112117th/210 · 2024 | 14733rd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 8.3123rd/208 · 2024 | 0.4181st/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | — | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 71,784140th/161 · 2023 | 20,4001998 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 1.2972nd/203 · 2024 | 0.1619th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 21.8%100th/212 · 2022 | 87.4%8th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 20.2119th/200 · 2023 | 32.3160th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 12.5%152nd/214 · 2024 | 74.8%11th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 2082007 | 652007 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 62.863rd/205 · 2025 | 22.2193rd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 66.341st/207 · 2025 | 19.8193rd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 66.173rd/207 · 2025 | 37.7185th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 80.752nd/207 · 2025 | 56.3156th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 55.693rd/205 · 2025 | 34.3185th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 73.947th/205 · 2025 | 38.0155th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 7.0109th/145 · 2020 | 1.12017 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $20.1 m152nd/156 · 2025 | $22.4 m151st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.7%136th/156 · 2025 | 0.9%123rd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 2.3%137th/154 · 2025 | 4.7%89th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 1,000161st/170 · 2020 | 4,000148th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.51%114th/168 · 2020 | 0.53%110th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 3.0 m2019 | 5.0 m1993 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.07%2011 | — |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1126th/137 · 2024 | — |
| Scientific articles articles | 18174th/197 · 2023 | 14181st/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Cabo Verde or Guinea-Bissau?
Guinea-Bissau has the larger population: 2.2 m (2025) compared with 527,326 for Cabo Verde (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Cabo Verde or Guinea-Bissau?
Guinea-Bissau is larger: 36,125 km² (2024) compared with 4,030 km² for Cabo Verde (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Cabo Verde or Guinea-Bissau?
Guinea-Bissau has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $7.41 bn intl. (2025) compared with $6.42 bn intl. for Cabo Verde (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Cabo Verde or Guinea-Bissau?
Cabo Verde has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $12,165 intl. (2025) compared with $3,293 intl. for Guinea-Bissau (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Cabo Verde or Guinea-Bissau?
Cabo Verde has the higher life expectancy at birth: 76.2 years (2024) compared with 64.3 years for Guinea-Bissau (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Cabo Verde or Guinea-Bissau?
Guinea-Bissau spends more on the military: $22.4 m (2025) compared with $20.1 m for Cabo Verde (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Cabo Verde or Guinea-Bissau?
Cabo Verde: 46.9 points (100th in the world); Guinea-Bissau: 17.0 points (192nd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Central African Republic
Comoros
Lesotho
São Tomé and Príncipe
Seychelles
Gambia
LiberiaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Cabo Verde vs Guinea-Bissau — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/cabo-verde-vs-guinea-bissau. Data as of 26 October 2026.