Lebanon Civil Registration

We have found two differing explanations of the civil registration in Lebanon:

• Birth, death and marriage records are kept at the Office of the Registrar in each governate (called muhafazat). Copies can be obtained by submitting an application and paying a nominal fee, according to the U.S. Embassy for Lebanon.

• Organisation of the civil registration system. The civil registration system in Lebanon is centralized. The General Directorate of Civil Affairs (under the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities) is responsible for the registration of vital events such as births, deaths, marriages and divorces.... There are 52 registry offices working under the central office through regional departments in 6 provinces. The primary registration unit is the mayor’s office in the village. The appointed civil registrars records vital events and issue certificate or permit (burial permit for deaths). The local registrar also reports civil registration data to higher level offices. Source: Technical Report on the Status of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in ESCWA Region, United Nations, ESA/STAT/2009/9