🇨🇻Cape Verde Political Stability: 56.3/100

Cape Verde is an archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean, about 570 kilometers off the western coast of Africa, near Senegal, The Gambia, and Mauritania. It consists of ten islands, nine of which are inhabited, covering an area of 4,033 square kilometers. The largest island is Santiago, which is home to the capital city, Praia, while other islands like Sal and Boa Vista are flatter and drier, contrasting with the rockier, more vegetated islands.

Cape Verde has a population of approximately 550,000 people, with a mix of African and European cultural influences. The official language is Portuguese, and Cape Verdean Creole is widely spoken. The population is predominantly Christian, with a significant majority identifying as Roman Catholic.

World Bank governance: rule of law 54th percentile, corruption control 72nd percentile, political stability 61st percentile.

Cape Verde's strongest governance dimension is Control of Corruption at 72/100, placing it in the upper half globally. This indicates relatively effective mechanisms for limiting misuse of public office for private gain.

The weakest dimension is Government Effectiveness at 35/100. Limited government effectiveness can mean inconsistent public services and gaps in policy implementation.

A notable 36-point gap between Control of Corruption and Government Effectiveness reveals uneven governance. Some institutions function well while others lag significantly. Travelers should be aware that the quality of government services and protections may vary depending on the context.

Cape Verde's moderate governance scores suggest travelers should prepare for some institutional inconsistency. Public services may be unreliable in certain areas, and regulatory enforcement can be uneven. Travel insurance and advance planning are recommended.

The U.S. State Department currently rates Cape Verde as Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions). This aligns with a governance profile that, while not without challenges, provides a baseline of institutional functioning.