Cape Verde recorded 18,255 criminal incidents in 2025 — 2,269 fewer than in 2024, representing an 11.1% reduction — the National Police announced today.
The decrease was recorded across all islands except São Nicolau, and in 17 of the country’s 22 municipalities. Crimes against persons fell 13.3% to 7,961 incidents, with notable declines in threats, physical assault, gender-based violence and sexual crimes against adults and children. Property crimes fell 9.3% to 10,294 incidents.
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In a decade-long analysis covering 2016 to 2025, criminal incidents fell from 24,972 to 18,255 — a reduction of 27%. Over the same period, intentional homicides dropped from 62 to 30, less than half the 2016 figure. “There is a predominantly downward trend, with the lowest point being 2021, when 29 homicides were recorded,” the National Police concluded.
