Is It Safe to Travel to Cape Verde in 2026?
Cabo Verde - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Cape Verde or Cabo Verde, officially the Republic of Cabo Verde, is an island country and archipelagic state in the central Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West Africa. It consists of ten volcanic islands with a combined land area of about 4,033 square kilometres (1,557 sq mi).
Is It Safe to Travel to Cape Verde in 2026?
Cape Verde is currently rated Level 1 — Exercise Normal Precautions by the U.S. Department of State. Cabo Verde is generally a safe destination for travelers, but some areas have increased risk.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers may face street crime, particularly in urban areas like Praia, where petty theft can occur, especially after dark.
Business travelers should be prepared for potential disruptions due to crime in urban areas, though major hotels and business districts maintain reasonable security.
Families with children can generally travel safely, but should remain vigilant in crowded areas where petty crime may occur, and ensure access to healthcare facilities is adequate.
Remote workers can find suitable environments in urban areas with decent connectivity, but should avoid isolated locations where internet access may be unreliable.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Cape Verde.
Regional Safety Breakdown
▶Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution1 region
▶Praia
There is an increased risk of crime in Praia. This includes petty crime like pickpocketing or purse snatching, as well as violent crime like mugging, armed robbery, or assault.
Cape Verde has 1 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Cape Verde has an overall threat severity of 0.9 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 3.5/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Free — scored 92/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Not required for U.S. citizens
Currency
Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE)
Language
Portuguese
Vaccinations
Recommended:
Active health notices:
- watchIncreased cases of Shigella infection in travelers returning from Cape Verde: Increased cases of Shigella infection have been reported in travelers returning from Santa Maria and Boa Vista, Cape Verde, including travelers who stayed in resorts.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Cape Verde
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Cape Verde?
▶Is it safe to travel to Cape Verde right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Cape Verde?
▶What vaccines do I need for Cape Verde?
▶Is Cape Verde safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Cape Verde?
More Cape Verde Data
Free — 92/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.