External balance on goods and services (current LCU) in Cape Verde
Cape Verde: External balance on goods and services (current LCU) was -34.03 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
External balance on goods and services in Cape Verde, 1980–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, external balance on goods and services in Cape Verde stood at -34.03 billion current LCU.
The figure is down 6.6% on the previous year and down 66.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, external balance on goods and services in Cape Verde peaked at -2.85 billion current LCU in 1980 and was at its lowest, -56.91 billion current LCU, in 2021.
Cape Verde ranks 123rd of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
External balance on goods and services (current LCU) in Cape Verde, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | -2.85 billion current LCU | — |
| 1981 | -3.34 billion current LCU | +17.2% |
| 1982 | -4.61 billion current LCU | +38.0% |
| 1983 | -5.28 billion current LCU | +14.5% |
| 1984 | -6.15 billion current LCU | +16.6% |
| 1985 | -7.14 billion current LCU | +15.9% |
| 1986 | -8.84 billion current LCU | +23.8% |
| 1987 | -8.12 billion current LCU | -8.1% |
| 1988 | -8.15 billion current LCU | +0.4% |
| 1989 | -8.96 billion current LCU | +10.0% |
| 1990 | -11.11 billion current LCU | +23.9% |
| 1991 | -10.92 billion current LCU | -1.7% |
| 1992 | -11.99 billion current LCU | +9.8% |
| 1993 | -13.33 billion current LCU | +11.1% |
| 1994 | -13.81 billion current LCU | +3.6% |
| 1995 | -16.19 billion current LCU | +17.2% |
| 1996 | -14.55 billion current LCU | -10.1% |
| 1997 | -14.21 billion current LCU | -2.4% |
| 1998 | -18.59 billion current LCU | +30.9% |
| 1999 | -23.92 billion current LCU | +28.7% |
| 2000 | -21.62 billion current LCU | -9.6% |
| 2001 | -22.58 billion current LCU | +4.4% |
| 2002 | -26.19 billion current LCU | +16.0% |
| 2003 | -28.66 billion current LCU | +9.4% |
| 2004 | -30.83 billion current LCU | +7.6% |
| 2005 | -24.81 billion current LCU | -19.5% |
| 2006 | -26.83 billion current LCU | +8.1% |
| 2007 | -35.53 billion current LCU | +32.4% |
| 2008 | -32.90 billion current LCU | -7.4% |
| 2009 | -33.19 billion current LCU | +0.9% |
| 2010 | -37.96 billion current LCU | +14.4% |
| 2011 | -40.25 billion current LCU | +6.0% |
| 2012 | -25.96 billion current LCU | -35.5% |
| 2013 | -18.77 billion current LCU | -27.7% |
| 2014 | -28.50 billion current LCU | +51.8% |
| 2015 | -20.41 billion current LCU | -28.4% |
| 2016 | -22.93 billion current LCU | +12.3% |
| 2017 | -31.08 billion current LCU | +35.6% |
| 2018 | -29.12 billion current LCU | -6.3% |
| 2019 | -22.61 billion current LCU | -22.3% |
| 2020 | -49.03 billion current LCU | +116.8% |
| 2021 | -56.91 billion current LCU | +16.1% |
| 2022 | -46.24 billion current LCU | -18.7% |
| 2023 | -42.00 billion current LCU | -9.2% |
| 2024 | -31.93 billion current LCU | -24.0% |
| 2025 | -34.03 billion current LCU | +6.6% |
Cape Verde compared with similar countries
- Cape Verde's -34.03 billion current LCU is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is -2.10 billion current LCU, 16.2× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- Cape Verde's -34.03 billion current LCU is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -68.31 billion current LCU, 50% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where External balance on goods and services (current LCU) in Cape Verde changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -116.8% | -22.61 billion current LCU | -49.03 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | -6.34 billion current LCU | -8.96 billion current LCU | -2.85 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 1990s | -14.86 billion current LCU | -23.92 billion current LCU | -10.92 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | -28.31 billion current LCU | -35.53 billion current LCU | -21.62 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | -27.76 billion current LCU | -40.25 billion current LCU | -18.77 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | -43.36 billion current LCU | -56.91 billion current LCU | -31.93 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Cape Verde
More economy & growth data for Cape Verde
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 300.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 0.7172 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 281.36 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 0.5237 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0089 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per capita 51.68 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, SDR, annual growth rate -0.4522 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is external balance on goods and services in Cape Verde?
- External balance on goods and services in Cape Verde was -34.03 billion current LCU in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest external balance on goods and services recorded in Cape Verde?
- The highest recorded value was -2.85 billion current LCU in 1980.
- What is the lowest external balance on goods and services recorded in Cape Verde?
- The lowest recorded value was -56.91 billion current LCU in 2021.
- How does Cape Verde rank for external balance on goods and services?
- Cape Verde ranks 123rd out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is external balance on goods and services rising or falling in Cape Verde?
- Over the last ten years it is down 66.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cape Verde data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of External balance on goods and services (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The balance of international trade in goods and services is the difference between the exports and imports of goods and services. This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This series is expressed in local currency units.