Healthcare and Education in Cabo Verde for Expats

Healthcare and Education in Cabo Verde: What Expats and Families Need to Know

For foreign business owners and expatriates considering relocating to Cabo Verde with families, understanding the quality and availability of healthcare and international education is crucial. While Cabo Verde has invested heavily in both sectors and shows strong performance indicators nationally, the practical reality for expats—particularly regarding specialized medical care and international schools—requires careful consideration. Here's what you need to know.

Healthcare: A Two-Tier System

Cabo Verde's healthcare system combines public and private facilities, with significant variation in quality between islands and between public and private care.

National Health Performance: Strong Fundamentals

Cabo Verde's overall health indicators are impressive:

Life expectancy: 74.1 years—higher than both structural and aspirational peer countries
Infant mortality: The lowest rate per 1,000 live births compared to peers
Health expenditure: Grew from 1.9% of GDP (2012) to 3% of GDP (2019)
Budget allocation (2023): 10% of the national budget dedicated to healthcare
Adult literacy: Over 85% (literacy correlates with health outcomes)

These figures demonstrate a functioning national health system that serves the local population reasonably well.

Public Healthcare Infrastructure

Major Public Hospitals:

Hospital Agostinho Neto (Praia, Santiago): The main public facility, considered one of the better-equipped hospitals in the country
Hospital Baptista de Sousa (Mindelo, São Vicente): Serves the northern islands

National Hospital Project (Praia):

The government is investing heavily in specialized care:

Budget: 65 million euros (7.2 billion CVE)
Location: Achada Limpo area, Praia
Capacity: 134 beds, including 12 intensive care beds
Cost allocation: 47% construction, 53% equipment and technician training
Objective: Reduce medical evacuations abroad—currently 500 patients annually are evacuated (mainly to Portugal) at a cost of 300 million CVE (2.7 million euros) to the state

This major investment demonstrates government commitment but also highlights current limitations: if 500 patients require foreign evacuation annually, specialized domestic care remains insufficient.

The Reality for Expatriates: Private Care Required

Island Variation

The quality and availability of healthcare facilities vary significantly between islands:

Praia and Mindelo: Best-equipped urban centers with multiple private options
Sal and Boa Vista: Tourism-focused islands with private clinics catering to visitors
Boa Vista: Noted for having particularly limited medical facilities despite being a major tourism destination
Rural areas: Care quality differs, often significantly lower

The Expat Healthcare Strategy

Foreign residents typically rely on private healthcare for several reasons:

Speed: Private clinics offer faster and more personalized care
Specialization: Public specialized care is limited; many who can afford it travel abroad for treatment
Language: Private clinics in tourist areas more likely to have English-speaking staff
Quality: Private facilities generally better equipped

Private Healthcare: Costs and Options

Affordability

Healthcare in Cabo Verde is generally more affordable than Western countries:

Private consultation (Praia): As little as €20-30
Medical tourism: Cabo Verde is gradually emerging as a medical tourism destination
Tourism island premium: Private clinics on Sal and Boa Vista catering to tourists charge higher prices

Private Clinic Example: Cardiomed

Cardiomed represents the quality private option available:

Established: 2005 in Praia as Cardiac Medical Center; became polyclinic in 2015
Services: General practice, cardiology, orthopedics, gynecology/obstetrics, dentistry, X-ray, CAT scan, endoscopy, surgical procedures, ambulance service
Expansion: New facility in Espargos (Sal) with €1.94 million investment, creating 11 direct jobs
Service area: Sal, Boa Vista, and São Nicolau populations

Private Clinics on Sal:

CliniTur (Santa Maria, Hotels Road)
X-Eco (Espargos)
Clínica Da Murdeira
Dental clinics: Sorridente, La Sourire, Polidente (Espargos)

Critical Recommendations for Expats

Health Insurance is Mandatory

Many expatriates and foreign residents opt for private health insurance to ensure access to the best available care. For digital nomads, travel health insurance covering medical emergencies, hospitalization, and repatriation is considered mandatory.

Why repatriation coverage matters: Given that specialized care often requires travel to Portugal or other countries, insurance covering medical evacuation is essential for serious conditions.

Island Selection

If healthcare is a priority:

Praia or Mindelo: Best options for comprehensive private care
Sal: Adequate for routine care; expanding with Cardiomed facility
Boa Vista: Limited facilities—avoid if you have chronic conditions or family health concerns
Rural islands: Not recommended for expats with significant healthcare needs

Education: Very Limited International Options

The education situation for expat families is more challenging than healthcare, with extremely limited international schooling options.

National Education System: Strong but Incompatible

Cabo Verde has invested heavily in education:

Investment and Performance:

Public investment: Over 6% of GDP (averaged around 5% between 2013-2023)
Adult literacy: Over 85%
Youth literacy (15-24 years): Approaches 98%
Net primary enrollment: 93%—competitive with international standards
Net secondary enrollment: 71.3%

Current Enrollment (2023/2024):

Basic and secondary education: 112,350 students (grades 1-12)
Basic education total: 121,553 students
Secondary education: 44,759 students
Higher education: 12,697 students
Classrooms: 4,733 with national average of 24 students per class
Recent infrastructure: 68 schools received rehabilitation worth €2.5 million

Tertiary Education Reform:

The university system underwent significant quality reforms—about 8 universities were closed and the remainder merged into two to address quality and standards.

The International School Reality: Extremely Scarce

Here's the hard truth: There are not many international schools in Cabo Verde.

Total International Options:

Only three schools in the entire country offer foreign-language instruction:

École Internationale Les Alizés (Praia)
One small school on Sal
One small school on Boa Vista

All three teach in French, not English.

École Internationale Les Alizés: The Only Praia Option

For expats in the capital, there is essentially one choice:

Key Facts:

Location: Praia (capital, Santiago Island)
Language of instruction: French
Founded: 1992
Current enrollment: More than 220 students from 20 nationalities
Student composition: 70% are Cabo Verdean (seeking French-language education)
Primary goal: Promote French culture and form "global citizens"

Critical Admission Policy:

The school advises against accepting children who transfer from Cabo Verdean schools after the first year (CP/1st year) due to differences in system, program, and language. They encourage starting early, from age 3.

What This Means:

If you're relocating to Praia with school-age children who don't speak French, your options are extremely limited. The only international school may not accept transfers beyond first grade.

Alternative: Private Local Schools

For non-nationals, attending a private school is an option:

Cost: Around $200/month for children over 5 years old
Benefit: Children interact with local students and learn Crioulo rapidly
Challenge: Instruction in Portuguese, not English
Cultural integration: High—children will be immersed in Cabo Verdean culture

Planned Future Development

Island of Maio Project:

As part of a strategy to attract foreign residents, particularly remote workers and business hubs, Maio is designated for future development of:

An international school for children's education
An international hospital
High-quality housing

Reality check: This is a plan, not existing infrastructure. Timeline and execution remain uncertain.

Education Recommendations for Expat Families

Before Relocating:

Assess your children's ages and language abilities
- Young children (under 5): Can start at Les Alizés from age 3
- School-age children: May face challenges with French-only instruction or Portuguese local schools
- Older children: Very limited options; consider homeschooling or online international programs
Language preparation
- If targeting Les Alizés, begin French instruction before arrival
- For local private schools, begin Portuguese instruction
- Consider that 70% of Les Alizés students are Cabo Verdean—the school serves locals seeking French education, not primarily expats
Location decisions
- Praia: Only location with a genuine international school (French)
- Sal or Boa Vista: Only small French-language schools; investigate quality before committing
- Other islands: No international education options
Alternative strategies
- Online international schools: Use accredited distance learning programs
- Homeschooling: Many expat families choose this route
- Split family: Some expats leave families in home countries during school years
- Boarding school abroad: For older children, consider schooling in Portugal or home country

The Bottom Line: Healthcare and Education Realities

Healthcare: Manageable with planning

Private care is affordable and adequate for routine needs
Comprehensive private insurance with repatriation coverage is essential
Locate in Praia, Mindelo, or Sal for best access
Accept that specialized care may require travel abroad

Education: Significant challenge for expat families

Only three international schools in the entire country, all French-language
No English-language international schools
École Internationale Les Alizés in Praia is the only substantial option
Families with school-age children should seriously consider alternative education strategies

Strategic Implication:

Cabo Verde is most suitable for:

Single professionals or couples without children
Families with very young children (can start at Les Alizés from age 3)
Families willing to homeschool or use online international schools
Families committed to cultural integration (local Portuguese schools)
Temporary assignments where children remain schooled elsewhere

Cabo Verde is challenging for:

Families with school-age children (5-18) seeking English-language education
Families unwilling to commit to French or Portuguese instruction
Those with specialized medical needs requiring frequent access to advanced care

The country's investments in healthcare (€65M National Hospital) and education (6% of GDP) show commitment to improvement, but current reality for expats—especially regarding international education—requires realistic expectations and creative solutions.