Cape Verde Women: Progress in Education vs. Unpaid Work Burden
Women make up 49.6% of Cape Verde’s resident population, totaling 254,939 people, according to new data released by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) to mark African Women’s Day.
Education and Literacy Gains
The statistical portrait reveals a nation with rising educational standards. The literacy rate for women aged 15 and older now stands at 85.7%. While 8.5% of women have never entered the formal school system, the vast majority of the female population aged four and older has pursued some level of instruction. Specifically, 42.9% have completed secondary education, 37.1% have reached the primary level, and 13.6% have attained intermediate or higher education degrees.
Labor and the Burden of Unpaid Work
In the workforce, 50.5% of women aged 15 and older are currently employed. However, the data highlights a significant gender gap regarding domestic labor. The participation rate for women in unpaid work (TNR) is a staggering 78.1%.
On average, Cape Verdean women dedicate 22 hours and 42 minutes per week to unpaid activities, such as caregiving and housework. This far exceeds the national population average of 18 hours and 55 minutes, underscoring the heavy double burden carried by women who balance employment with domestic responsibilities.
A Connected Generation
The INE figures also show that Cape Verdean women are highly integrated into the digital age. Nearly 80% of women aged 10 and older own a mobile phone, and 77.7% reported using the internet within the three months prior to the survey.
Demographic Context
These findings, drawn from the 2025 Continuous Multi-objective Survey and the 2024 Unpaid Work Survey, come at a time of unique demographic balance for the archipelago. While the resident population sits at approximately 500,000, the Cape Verdean diaspora is estimated at 1.5 million people—nearly three times the number of people living on the islands.
Image: Pexels – Mareike Mgwelo
