The Cabo Verde islands were discovered by Portuguese explorers in May 1460, with no evidence of prior human habitation. Santiago was deemed the most suitable island for settlement, and colonization began in 1462.

Due to its strategic location, the islands became a key commercial and provisioning center, especially in the slave trade. After the abolition of slavery and ongoing climatic challenges, Cape Verde faced economic decline and shifted towards a subsistence-based economy.

Free Europeans and enslaved Africans from the coast merged into a single people, the Cape Verdeans, with a distinct way of life. Creole emerged as the language of the predominantly mixed-race community.

In 1956, Amílcar Cabral founded the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cabo Verde (PAIGC), leading the fight against colonialism and paving the way for independence. An agreement was signed between PAIGC and Portugal on December 19, 1974, establishing a transitional government in Cabo Verde. This government organized elections for a National Popular Assembly, which declared independence on July 5, 1975.

Cultural divergence from Portugal and the rise of nationalist sentiments culminated in the archipelago's independence in July 1975.

In 1991, following the first multi-party elections in the country, a parliamentary democracy was established, solidifying Cabo Verde's social stability and earning international credibility with governments, businesses, and financial institutions.