National Debt (% of GDP): Cabo Verde

Analysis# Cabo Verde National Debt (% of GDP) Cabo Verde's national debt currently stands at 101% of GDP in 2026, down substantially from its all-time peak of 149.5% in 2021. Since 1997, the debt-to-GDP ratio has increased 27.4 percentage points overall, though the country has moved well below its lowest recorded level of 57.5% in 2008. The current trajectory reflects ongoing fiscal consolidation after years of elevated debt servicing pressures. The nation experienced a dramatic debt spike between 2019 and 2021, jumping from 109.8% to 149.5%—a sharp 39.7-point climb driven largely by pandemic-related fiscal stress. From that 2021 peak, however, Cabo Verde has achieved five consecutive years of debt reduction, declining 48.5 percentage points through 2026. If current trends persist, the debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to continue falling, signaling improving fiscal health for the island nation.