Cape Verde and São Tomé & Príncipe
Cabo Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe maintain military contacts within Lusophone cooperation. Their chiefs of staff addressed training, technical exchange and maritime security on the sidelines of the April 2026 CPLP military chiefs’ meeting.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-08 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-08Bilateral context
Manuel António Pereira Semedo, Cabo Verde’s chief of staff, participated in his CPLP counterparts’ meeting on 28 and 29 April 2026 under Brazilian presidency.
Cooperation and bilateral issues
Cabo Verde’s communication places these contacts within an agenda of officer training, technical exchange, maritime security and operational experience.
Cooperation and bilateral issues
Cabo Verde’s communication places these contacts within an agenda of officer training, technical exchange, maritime security and operational experience.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | ||
| Goods: Cape Verde to São Tomé & Príncipe | ||
| Goods: São Tomé & Príncipe to Cape Verde | ||
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: Cape Verde to São Tomé & Príncipe | ||
| Export share: São Tomé & Príncipe to Cape Verde | ||
| Investment stock: Cape Verde in São Tomé & Príncipe | ||
| Investment stock: São Tomé & Príncipe in Cape Verde |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
Some annual indicators refer to different years. Check the period beside each value before comparing them.
| Indicator | Cape Verde | São Tomé & Príncipe |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 3.06 billion USD2025 · WB | 981,293,586.91 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 5,796.47 USD2025 · WB | 4,084.4 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 6.3 %2025 · WB | 1.03 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | ||
| Inflation · annual average | 2.34 %Annual average · 2025 · WB | 11.05 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | ||
| Unemployment | 11.94 %ILO est.2025 · WB | 9.13 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | 1.1 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -2.5 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 101 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 55.7 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | 3.53 %2025 · WB | 5.03 %2024 · WB |
| Population | 527,3262025 · WB | 240,2542025 · WB |
| Area | 4,030 km²2023 · WB | 960 km²2023 · WB |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDCape Verde: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.São Tomé & Príncipe: 2025 · World Bank · World Bank series; observation year, not download date.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personCape Verde: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.São Tomé & Príncipe: 2025 · World Bank · World Bank series; observation year, not download date.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)Cape Verde: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.São Tomé & Príncipe: 2025 · World Bank · World Bank series; observation year, not download date.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Cabo Verde: 2025 · Annual average CPI change (%) · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.São Tomé and Príncipe: 2025 · Annual average CPI change (%) · World Bank · World Bank series; observation year, not download date.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency stated
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionCabo Verde: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.São Tomé and Príncipe: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of labour force · World Bank · est. ILO · World Bank series; observation year, not download date.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)Cape Verde: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.São Tomé & Príncipe: 2025 · IMF · est. IMF · WEO general government estimate, % of GDP; not a monthly observation.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)Cape Verde: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.São Tomé & Príncipe: 2025 · IMF · est. IMF · WEO general government estimate, % of GDP; not a monthly observation.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPCape Verde: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.São Tomé & Príncipe: 2024 · World Bank · World Bank series; observation year, not download date.
- Population
- PeopleCape Verde: 2025 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.São Tomé & Príncipe: 2025 · World Bank · World Bank series; observation year, not download date.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceCape Verde: 2023 · World Bank · Annual World Bank observation, with its original year; not monthly data.São Tomé & Príncipe: 2023 · World Bank · World Bank series; observation year, not download date.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
Cape Verde to São Tomé & Príncipe
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
São Tomé & Príncipe to Cape Verde
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
Connections between people
Manuel António Pereira Semedo, Cabo Verde’s chief of staff, participated in his CPLP counterparts’ meeting on 28 and 29 April 2026 under Brazilian presidency. Cabo Verde’s communication places these contacts within an agenda of officer training, technical exchange, maritime security and operational experience. The multilateral meeting also addressed cybersecurity, information exchange, United Nations resolution 1325 and the FELINO exercise as an interoperability platform. [1]
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from Cape Verde living in São Tomé & Príncipe | ||
| Residents from São Tomé & Príncipe living in Cape Verde | ||
| Study and training: Cape Verde in São Tomé & Príncipe | ||
| Study and training: São Tomé & Príncipe in Cape Verde | ||
| Academic stays: Cape Verde in São Tomé & Príncipe | ||
| Academic stays: São Tomé & Príncipe in Cape Verde | ||
| Travel: Cape Verde to São Tomé & Príncipe | ||
| Travel: São Tomé & Príncipe to Cape Verde |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
The scale of both economies
Nominal GDP for Cape Verde is 3.1 billion USD (2025), compared with 0.981 for São Tomé & Príncipe (2025). The reference populations are 0.527 and 0.24 million, respectively. In the same year, the economy of Cape Verde was 3.11 times that of São Tomé & Príncipe in nominal GDP. The comparison provides context on market size, but does not, on its own, measure influence, well-being or diplomatic closeness. Estimates and their sources retain their labels in the tables. [2] [3] [4] [5]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Review: 2026-10-08
Bilateral context
Manuel António Pereira Semedo, Cabo Verde’s chief of staff, participated in his CPLP counterparts’ meeting on 28 and 29 April 2026 under Brazilian presidency. On the sidelines, he held a bilateral meeting with his São Tomé and Príncipe counterpart. [1]
Cooperation and bilateral issues
Cabo Verde’s communication places these contacts within an agenda of officer training, technical exchange, maritime security and operational experience. The multilateral meeting also addressed cybersecurity, information exchange, United Nations resolution 1325 and the FELINO exercise as an interoperability platform. These CPLP agreements and discussions must be distinguished from the bilateral meeting: the statement does not announce an exclusive military treaty between the archipelagos or identify a new joint deployment. [1]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.
- Bilateral relations — CPV-STP
fa.gov.cv · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- Official series — gdp
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official statistics
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- Official series — population
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- Official statistics
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08