Women Constitute Nearly Half of Cape Verde's Population, Data Shows
Women comprise 49.6% of the Cape Verdean population, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). In education, the literacy rate for women aged 15 and over stands at 85.7%, though 8.5% have never attended school. Among residents aged four and above, 4.5% of women have no formal education, 1.8% attended preschool, 37.1% completed basic education, 42.9% finished secondary school, and 13.6% hold a college or university degree. In the labor market, 50.5% of women aged 15 and over are employed. Regarding Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), 79.2% of women aged 10 and over own a mobile phone, 25.0% used a computer in the last three months, and 77.7% accessed the internet during the same period. The INE also reports that the participation rate in unpaid work for those aged 10 and over is 78.1%, with women accounting for 88.4% of this category. Women dedicate an average of 22 hours and 42 minutes per week to unpaid work, compared to men's average of 18 hours and 55 minutes.
The data from Cape Verde's National Statistics Institute highlights significant gender participation across education, employment, and technology sectors. While women represent nearly half the population and show high literacy and employment rates, they disproportionately shoulder the burden of unpaid domestic labor. This disparity suggests a potential constraint on women's full economic and social participation, even as access to education and technology improves. Future policy considerations might explore mechanisms to rebalance unpaid work responsibilities and further leverage women's educational and professional achievements within the national economy and society.
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