Cape Verde to Track Political Participation in New Survey
In a milestone for democratic transparency, the National Institute of Statistics of Cape Verde (INECV) has announced it will begin tracking citizen involvement in political and public life for the first time. The new data will be integrated into the country’s upcoming Continuous Multi-objective Survey (IMC).
Measuring the Pulse of Democracy
The newly introduced module, titled “Participation in Political and Public Affairs,” is designed to go beyond mere voting numbers. According to the INECV, the initiative aims to gather comprehensive data on how citizens engage with electoral processes, referendums, and broader civic life. It will also examine the underlying conditions that either encourage or hinder public participation.
This statistical tool wasn’t developed in isolation; it was crafted by the Praia Group on Governance Statistics and received formal endorsement during the 57th Session of the United Nations Statistical Commission. By adopting these international standards, Cape Verde aims to provide a clearer, evidence-based picture of its governance landscape.
A Nationwide Data Collection Effort
The data collection for the fourth quarter of the IMC is set to begin this Monday and will continue through December 31. The ambitious survey will reach 5,098 households across all regions of the national territory.
While the political participation module is the highlight of this year’s survey, the IMC remains a vital tool for tracking the country’s socio-economic health. In addition to the new governance metrics, census takers will continue to collect essential data on:
- Demographic characteristics and living conditions
- Education levels
- Labor market trends, including employment and unemployment rates
- Wage structures and diverse forms of labor
By including political engagement in its official statistics, Cape Verde joins a growing number of nations seeking to quantify the strength of their civil society and the effectiveness of their democratic institutions.
Image: Pexels – Edmond Dantès
