Cape Verde’s Emigration Wave: A Threat to Family Safety Nets
PRAIA, Cape Verde — Beyond the economic statistics and political debates, a social crisis is brewing in Cape Verde. As a new wave of emigration sweeps the archipelago, sociologists are warning that the country’s traditional “safety net”—the extended family—is beginning to unravel, leaving children and the elderly increasingly vulnerable.
In interviews with Lusa, experts highlighted a troubling shift in Cape Verdean society. While parents have long traveled abroad to send money home, the informal networks of grandmothers and godmothers who once raised the children left behind are becoming overwhelmed by the complexities of modern life.
‘A More Fragile Foundation’
“Children continue to stay with grandmothers and godmothers, but this network is weaker,” sociologist Redy Lima explained. “Society is larger, dangers have increased, and there are transformations that can harm the well-being of youth. When this network fails, the state must step in—but it often isn’t there.”
Lima noted that past generations benefited from a “very strong network” of communal supervision. Today’s structure, however, reflects a more individualized society. Sociologist Elésio Semedo echoed these concerns, pointing out that grandmothers who once managed large households are now struggling to supervise tech-savvy adolescents in a more demanding social environment.
“A grandmother cannot always control a grandson once he enters adolescence,” Semedo said. “We are in a critical position.”
A ‘Demographic Red Line’
The exodus is also triggering a demographic alarm. With the birth rate falling—from families once averaging ten children to now just two or three—the departure of young people translates into a shrinking population.
“We are at a red line,” Semedo warned. “We are declining demographically, and few people are aware of it. It is time for specialists to speak openly about this.”
The Political Battleground
The crisis has become a central flashpoint ahead of the May 17 legislative elections. The government and opposition offer starkly different interpretations of why citizens are fleeing.
Opposition parties frame the migration as an act of “youth despair” triggered by a rising cost of living and a lack of local opportunities. Conversely, the government points to record-low unemployment and poverty reduction, suggesting that the departures are simply a result of better opportunities abroad, particularly as European nations like Portugal ease visa requirements.
Recent data underscores the scale of the trend: visa applications to the Portuguese embassy surged by 62% in 2025 compared to 2023. Labor-related visas alone reached nearly 7,000 in the last year.
The Brain Drain Paradox
The loss of “the best talents” is already hampering the domestic economy. Sectors such as tourism and construction are reporting severe labor shortages as skilled workers seek higher wages in Europe.
Lima criticized what he calls “irresponsible political discourse” that seeks to normalize the exodus as inevitable. “We live in a paradox of opportunities,” he said. “Many are educated and have high expectations, but the local market cannot answer them. We must create the conditions so that leaving isn’t the only choice.”
As the election nears, the message from sociologists is clear: Cape Verde’s greatest export—its people—may come at a cost the country’s social fabric can no longer afford to pay.
Image: Pexels – Dunmarx Photography
