Papua New Guinea Civil Registration

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Papua New Guinea

Civil Registration

Resources

Online Resources

• 1867-2000 Papua New Guinea, Vital Records, 1867-2000 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

• 1888-2004 Papua New Guinea, Birth Records, 1888-2004 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

• 1948-1967 General register of births, entered 1948-1967 FamilySearch Catalog

• 1892-1995 Papua New Guinea Marriages, 1892-1995 at FamilySearch Catalog

• 1892-1974 Marriage records, 1892-1980; indexes 1892-1978. FamilySearch Catalog. Records are mostly for Europeans living in Papua and New Guinea. Only the indexes for 1892-1974 are online.

• 1867-2005 Papua New Guinea Deaths. at FamilySearch Catalog. Deaths between 1983 and 2005 are not yet online as of 1 April 2020).

The following can only be used at FamilySearch centers or the FamilySearch Library:

• 1964-1969 Native death certificates, 1964-1969 at FamilySearch Catalog

Offices to Contact

Civil Registry Office
PO Box 470
WAIGANI
National Capital District
Papua New Guinea

Sambra Haus - Waigani
Telephone: + (675) 313 3000 Ext:7002

Civil Registry Office - Boroko
Telephone: + (675) 323 6510

Background

Time period: 1884-present

Prior to 1967 most entries are for non-natives. Records for the Territory of (German) New Guinea were destroyed during the Second World War, however, reconstructed registers were compiled afterwards. The available records have been indexed.

"Civil Registry Office is a statutory mandated entity responsible for registration of all vital events including birth, marriages and death registration including cases in separation, divorce and adoption."

Coverage and Compliance

Population coverage before 1967 is 5%; after 1967 is 80%

Information Recorded in the Records

Births

• Child’s name
  
• Birth date and place
  
• Parents’ names, residence, and occupation
  
• Witnesses’ ages, relationships, residences
  

Marriages

• Bride and groom names
  
• Ages
  
• Residences
  
• Occupations
  
• Marriage date and place
  
• Sometimes ages and/or birth dates and places
  
• Parents' names; residences, occupations
  
• Witnesses and officer who performed ceremony
  
• Former spouses
  

Death registers

• Name of deceased
  
• Age
  
• Death date and place
  
• Occupation
  
• Name of surviving spouse
  
• Informant’s name and residence
  
• Cause of death
  
• Sometimes birth date and place
  
• Parents’ names
  
• Children’s names
  

To access available information, first log into FamilySearch.