Dating after 60 in the Cape Verdean archipelago

Two retirement ages, a regional exception

The World Bank's Women, Business and the Law 2022 regional profile highlights that Cabo Verde is the only economy in West and Central Africa where the age for a full pension differs between women and men.

Decree-Law No. 5 of 2009 and the Cape Verdean pension

This difference rests on Article 81 of Decree-Law No. 5 of 2009, cited by the World Bank. Our sources do not name the body that pays pensions; contact Cape Verdean social security to find out your own entitlements.

Years spent raising children taken into account

According to the World Bank, periods away from work for childcare count towards the pension calculation in Cape Verde, under Article 15 of Decree-Law No. 5 of 2004. It is a useful measure for mothers who interrupted their careers.

Widowhood and a new union in the archipelago

Our sources do not detail the Cape Verdean survivor's pension. They do state, however, that a woman has the same rights as a man to remarry. A widowed person will need to present the spouse's death certificate for any new union.

Loving at 60 or 70, in Praia or elsewhere

After a career, grown-up children leaving home or a bereavement, the wish to share daily life remains legitimate. A friendship that develops gently, neighbourhood activities, the parish, music or retirees' associations all offer chances to meet someone.

Diaspora retirees returning home

Some Cape Verdeans who left for Portugal, France or the United States come back to spend their retirement on their native island. These returns can lead to encounters between two worlds, described on our page relationships between Africa and Europe.

Romance scams and retirees: the FBI's findings

The FBI (IC3) reports that in 2024 people aged 60 and over filed 7,626 romance scam complaints, with losses of 389,312,356 dollars, more than half of all losses in that category that year.

A growing risk in 2025 according to the FBI

Across all types of fraud, people aged 60 and over filed 201,266 complaints in 2025 according to IC3, up 37% in a year, with an average loss of 38,500 dollars. In Cape Verde, Washington also considers romance scams common.

The favourite excuses of fake suitors

The FTC lists the soldier on a distant mission, the oil rig worker, the patient in hospital and the parcel stuck in customs. If a Cape Verdean or foreign contact uses one of these stories to ask for money, end it there.

Cape Verdean children, older parents' first allies

Telling a son, daughter or nephew about the people you meet is not an admission of weakness. An outside view spots more quickly an inconsistency, a photo taken from elsewhere or a request for money disguised as a family emergency.

Apps that suit Cape Verdean retirees

Bumble and Tinder work on an ordinary smartphone and are reserved for adults. A relative can help you create the profile and set the privacy options. The full overview of tools is on our Cape Verde page.

After a late divorce or next door in Senegal

A divorce after many years of marriage raises particular questions, covered in life after a divorce in Cape Verde. To compare retirement ages on the nearby mainland, see seniors and retirees in Senegal.

Sources on retirement and safety for Cape Verdean seniors

• SSA, Social Security Programs Throughout the World, Africa 2019: Table of African statutory retirement ages: 65 for men and 60 for women in Cape Verde.
• Banque mondiale, profil régional WBL 2022: Notes that Cape Verde is the only economy in the region with a full pension age that differs by sex.
• FBI IC3, rapport 2024: Figures on romance scams reported by people aged 60 and over in the United States.
• FBI IC3, rapport 2025: Complaints and losses from all fraud among over-60s, sharply up in 2025.

Meeting someone in Cape Verde after retirement

1. Ask a relative to help you create a sincere profile with a recent photo and your real age.
2. Exchange messages first, then a video call, to check the person's identity.
3. Suggest a first daytime date in a café or a lively spot in your town.
4. Tell a son, daughter or trusted friend about the relationship and listen to their remarks.
5. Refuse any request for money, gift cards or cryptocurrency investment, whatever story you are told.
6. If you plan to live together, consult a notary about the effects on your pension and estate.

Retirement and fraud landmarks for Cape Verdean seniors

Useful papers for a retiree starting afresh

• Valid identity document or passport
• Retirement pension statement
• Spouse's death certificate for a widowed person
• Divorce decree if the previous union was dissolved
• Recent birth certificate if marriage is planned

Costly mistakes for Cape Verdean seniors

• Sending part of your pension to a suitor you have never met who mentions a medical emergency or a blocked ticket.
• Keeping the relationship secret from your children, as fraudsters often demand in order to isolate you.
• Investing in a cryptocurrency recommended by a new online friend, a frequent entry point for fraud according to the FTC.
• Welcoming someone you barely know into your home instead of meeting them in a public place.
• Remarrying without checking the effects on your pension, your estate or your children's rights.

Information up to date as of October 2026. AfriqueRencontres.com does not arrange meetings and never asks for money: never transfer money to someone you know only online.