Brazilian couple married before WWII, raised 13 children and had 120 descendants
Manoel and Maria Dino, a Brazilian couple married for nearly 85 years, were recently recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest-married living couple. Manoel passed away in October 2025 at the age of 106, shortly after the couple reached this historic milestone.
Why it matters
The story highlights a rare human interest milestone regarding longevity and marital commitment in the modern era.
When Manoel Angelim Dino first met Maria de Sousa Dino in the 1930s, the two were young people working in agriculture for their respective families in Ceará, Brazil. Their first meeting did not immediately lead to a relationship. They crossed paths again several years later, and that second meeting changed the course of their lives. Manoel and Maria married on November 20, 1940, at the chapel of Boa Ventura in Ceará, Brazil. They went on to spend almost 85 years together, raising 13 children and watching their family grow across several generations. In February 2025, Guinness World Records recognised them as the ‘longest-married living couple of different sexes,’ recording their marriage at 84 years and 77 days as of February 5, 2025.The title, however, was a record held while both were alive.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in