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Cabo Verde vs São Tomé and Príncipe
Side-by-side comparison of Cabo Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe 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
São Tomé and Príncipe
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 51 years
In short
Cabo Verde scores 46.9 in the NationsTree Index (100th in the world) and São Tomé and Príncipe scores 30.3 (163rd), a gap of 16.7 points. Their trees are 1.5 m and 0.7 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Cabo Verde has 2.2 times the population of São Tomé and Príncipe. Cabo Verde is 4.2 times larger than São Tomé and Príncipe by land area. Cabo Verde has an economy 4.2 times the size of São Tomé and Príncipe (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Cabo Verde 527,326 and São Tomé and Príncipe 240,254 (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $12,165 in Cabo Verde and $6,388 in São Tomé and Príncipe (2025, international dollars). People in Cabo Verde live on average 6.3 years longer (76.2 vs 69.9 years).
Of 28 indicators reported by both countries, Cabo Verde ranks higher in the world on 20 and São Tomé and Príncipe on 8. Cabo Verde is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, economy and infrastructure & digital. São Tomé and Príncipe is clearly stronger in environment & energy.
Over the last five years Cabo Verde improved faster (direction score 94 vs 53 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Cabo Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe.
Cabo Verde
1.2%
146th of 168
São Tomé and Príncipebetter
29.3%
16th of 168
GDP growthEconomy
Cabo Verdebetter
6.3%
32nd of 210
São Tomé and Príncipe
1.0%
173rd of 210
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Cabo Verde
577
152nd of 183
São Tomé and Príncipebetter
9,633
47th of 183
InflationEconomy
Cabo Verdebetter
2.3%
70th of 180
São Tomé and Príncipe
11.0%
160th of 180
Government effectivenessInstitutions & safety
Cabo Verdebetter
62.8
63rd of 205
São Tomé and Príncipe
36.7
161st of 205
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Cabo Verde overtook São Tomé and Príncipe in GDP per person (PPP) in 1995 and has stayed ahead since.
Cabo Verde has been ahead of São Tomé and Príncipe in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1998.
Cabo Verde has been ahead of São Tomé and Príncipe in GDP (PPP), life expectancy and 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 VerdeSão Tomé and Príncipe 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 | São Tomé and Príncipe |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 4,030171st/216 · 2024 | 960178th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 4,030169th/216 · 2024 | 960177th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 527,326172nd/217 · 2025 | 240,254181st/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.47%140th/217 · 2025 | 1.98%51st/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 130.285th/216 · 2024 | 245.457th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 77.6%67th/217 · 2025 | 69.2%94th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 24.7%96th/217 · 2025 | 37.5%39th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 7.2%123rd/217 · 2025 | 3.9%168th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $3.06 bn181st/210 · 2025 | $981.3 m200th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $6.42 bn171st/199 · 2025 | $1.53 bn190th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $5.48 bn171st/199 · 2025 | $1.31 bn190th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $5,796133rd/210 · 2025 | $4,084149th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $12,165133rd/199 · 2025 | $6,388158th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $5,590124th/201 · 2025 | $3,800143rd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 6.3%32nd/210 · 2025 | 1.0%173rd/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.3%70th/180 · 2025 | 11.0%160th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 11.9%161st/187 · 2025 | 9.1%144th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 115.4%177th/189 · 2025 | 59.1%110th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | 1.1%28th/192 · 2025 | -3.4%116th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 5.0%107th/197 · 2025 | 12.2%61st/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 10.7%181st/200 · 2025 | 2.2%200th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 5.2%151st/192 · 2025 | 0.6%189th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 67.9%43rd/200 · 2025 | 81.4%10th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $1.28 bn157th/182 · 2025 | $130.2 m176th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $1.63 bn162nd/182 · 2025 | $326.8 m179th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 42.0%72nd/183 · 2025 | 13.3%167th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 53.4%71st/183 · 2025 | 33.3%121st/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 95.3%69th/183 · 2025 | 46.6%149th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%165th/170 · 2023 | 0.0%153rd/170 · 2022 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 13.6%124th/171 · 2024 | 1.5%165th/171 · 2023 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 86.4%9th/171 · 2024 | 98.2%1st/171 · 2023 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%171st/171 · 2023 | 0.2%161st/171 · 2023 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 1.2%146th/168 · 2023 | 29.3%16th/168 · 2023 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 3.4%48th/191 · 2025 | -4.3%135th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 5.0%41st/196 · 2025 | 10.5%17th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 17.7%29th/209 · 2021 | 1.9%98th/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 | 1.88%38th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 18.0%60th/206 · 2024 | 4.2%144th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 577152nd/183 · 2022 | 9,63347th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 180,000154th/194 · 2020 | 33,400181st/194 · 2018 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $169.0 m133rd/175 · 2020 | $71.9 m148th/175 · 2018 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 39.9%20th/168 · 2020 | 73.2%8th/168 · 2018 |
| Outbound trips departures | — | 10,3002008 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 76.298th/217 · 2024 | 69.9155th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 11.180th/196 · 2024 | 13.695th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.73114th/174 · 2023 | 0.46126th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.283rd/145 · 2022 | 2.960th/145 · 2019 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 93%81st/193 · 2024 | 87%121st/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 33.7%128th/153 · 2024 | 38.9%2012 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 96.4%75th/173 · 2022 | 90.4%2017 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 29.7%2007 | 16.1%2017 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 10.5%127th/217 · 2025 | 6.7%165th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 5.8%108th/193 · 2023 | 5.8%109th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 88.5%55th/98 · 2024 | 87.4%2019 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 24.3%2018 | 12.8%2015 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.668135th/193 · 2023 | 0.637141st/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 42.42015 | 40.72017 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 14.6%2015 | 13.0%2017 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 98.4%140th/215 · 2024 | 77.7%172nd/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 36.7%122nd/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 34.7%103rd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 74.7%113th/186 · 2024 | 59.1%140th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 112117th/210 · 2024 | 62189th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 8.3123rd/208 · 2024 | 3.0150th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | — | 2.33116th/164 · 2018 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 71,784140th/161 · 2023 | 38,767146th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 1.2972nd/203 · 2024 | 0.6350th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 21.8%100th/212 · 2022 | 42.5%56th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 20.2119th/200 · 2023 | 15.183rd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 12.5%152nd/214 · 2024 | 57.6%39th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 2082007 | 2592007 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 62.863rd/205 · 2025 | 36.7161st/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 66.341st/207 · 2025 | 50.685th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 66.173rd/207 · 2025 | 51.2128th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 80.752nd/207 · 2025 | 75.276th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 55.693rd/205 · 2025 | 39.3174th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 73.947th/205 · 2025 | 61.391st/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 7.0109th/145 · 2020 | 3.22011 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $20.1 m152nd/156 · 2025 | — |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.7%136th/156 · 2025 | — |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 2.3%137th/154 · 2025 | — |
| Armed forces personnel people | 1,000161st/170 · 2020 | 1,0001999 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.51%114th/168 · 2020 | 5.10%1999 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 3.0 m2019 | — |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.07%2011 | — |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1126th/137 · 2024 | — |
| Scientific articles articles | 18174th/197 · 2023 | 5188th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Cabo Verde or São Tomé and Príncipe?
Cabo Verde has the larger population: 527,326 (2025) compared with 240,254 for São Tomé and Príncipe (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Cabo Verde or São Tomé and Príncipe?
Cabo Verde is larger: 4,030 km² (2024) compared with 960 km² for São Tomé and Príncipe (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Cabo Verde or São Tomé and Príncipe?
Cabo Verde has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $6.42 bn intl. (2025) compared with $1.53 bn intl. for São Tomé and Príncipe (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Cabo Verde or São Tomé and Príncipe?
Cabo Verde has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $12,165 intl. (2025) compared with $6,388 intl. for São Tomé and Príncipe (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Cabo Verde or São Tomé and Príncipe?
Cabo Verde has the higher life expectancy at birth: 76.2 years (2024) compared with 69.9 years for São Tomé and Príncipe (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Cabo Verde or São Tomé and Príncipe?
Cabo Verde: 46.9 points (100th in the world); São Tomé and Príncipe: 30.3 points (163rd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Central African Republic
Comoros
Guinea-Bissau
Lesotho
SeychellesSources
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 São Tomé and Príncipe — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/cabo-verde-vs-sao-tome-and-principe. Data as of 26 October 2026.