Safest cities in Cabo Verde
1 city with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in Cape VerdeAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in Cape Verde, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Crime
- The crime rate in Cape Verde is generally low, but can include pickpocketing, bag snatching, burglary and muggings, particularly in the capital city of Praia and on the islands of Sal and Boa Vista. Sexual assaults are rare but have been reported.
Laws and cultural differences
- Illegal drugs and prison sentencesThere are severe penalties for possessing, using or trafficking drugs. Penalties include fines and long prison sentences.
- Buying propertyBritish nationals have experienced problems when buying property in Cape Verde. Before buying property on the islands, get independent qualified legal advice. See FCDO’s list of English-speaking lawyers in Cape Verde.
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism
- Beaches and swimmingIf you are going into the water, always use beaches where there is a lifeguard on duty.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Cape Verde, see information on driving abroad.
- Hiring vehiclesIf you hire a car, scooter or quad bike, make sure it’s in good condition and that it’s fully insured. Hire car companies often have stricter requirements for their customers, such as a year of driving experience, a higher minimum age and holding an IDP.
- Public transportOnly hire authorised taxis from taxi ranks or by asking your hotel to call one. On the islands of Sal and Boa Vista, authorised taxis are coloured blue and yellow.
- Sea travelSea conditions around Cape Verde can be dangerous. Follow local advice before travelling by sea. Travel by sea to the southern islands of Brava and Fogo in particular can often be disrupted.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- FloodingThe rainy season in Cape Verde is from mid-August to mid-October. Torrential rains on some of the islands can cause floodings and landslides. Monitor local weather reports and expect difficulties when travelling to affected areas during this season.
- EarthquakesSeismic activity and tremors can be felt occasionally, mostly on the islands of Brava and Fogo. This is usually within the bounds of normal activity but can sometimes be dangerous. Check with your travel provider before travelling to the islands of Brava or Fogo.
- SandstormsSandstorms (‘bruma seca’) can happen between December and February. When intense, they can disrupt air travel, especially on the island of Boa Vista. If a sandstorm happens while you’re on one of the islands, contact your tour operator or airline.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Cabo Verde, updated 2026-07-28 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 6.99 /100k2020
- Income inequality
- Gini 42.42015
- Human development
- HDI 0.6682023
- Income
- $12,010/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 26.8 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 79/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 64/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 62/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 2.4/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.74GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 20.2 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- no dataof population · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.7 doctors /1k2.2 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 0 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Drought
- 4.8/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Cabo Verde (as of 2025).
How Cabo Verde compares
| Measure | Cabo Verde | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 7.0 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +4.6 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 42.4 | 35.2 | +7.2 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.668 | 0.763 | −0.095 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 26.8 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +11.4 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 64/100 | 52/100 | +12/100 — better for Cabo Verde |
| Corruption perceptions | 62/100 | 39/100 | +23/100 — better for Cabo Verde |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 20.2 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +0.5 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 2.4/10 | 3.8/10 | −1.4/10 — better for Cabo Verde |
| Measure | Cabo Verde | Africa median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 7.0 /100k | 4.4 /100k | +2.6 /100k — better for Africa median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 42.4 | 38.3 | +4.1 — better for Africa median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.668 | 0.560 | +0.108 — better for Cabo Verde |
| Road deaths | 26.8 /100k | 28.2 /100k | −1.4 /100k — better for Cabo Verde |
| Rule of law | 64/100 | 42/100 | +22/100 — better for Cabo Verde |
| Corruption perceptions | 62/100 | 30/100 | +32/100 — better for Cabo Verde |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 20.2 µg/m³ | 27.7 µg/m³ | −7.5 µg/m³ — better for Cabo Verde |
| Natural-hazard risk | 2.4/10 | 5.3/10 | −2.9/10 — better for Cabo Verde |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.
All 1 cities, safest first
- João Teves56.7 · #4717 worldwide