Benin Civil Registration

Benin Wiki Topics

Benin Beginning Research

Record Types

Benin Background

Benin Genealogical Word Lists

French

Local Research Resources

Benin

Civil Registration

How to Find the Records[edit | edit source]

Online Collections[edit | edit source]

1802-1902 Registres de l'état civil de Saint-Benin-d'Azy (Nièvre) 1793-1862; tables décennales 1802-1902(*) at FamilySearch Catalog - images
1889-1918 French Overseas Civil Registration, Dahomey at French Overseas National Archives - images
1891-2014 Benin, Civil Registration of Deaths, 1891-2014 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images

Offices to Contact[edit | edit source]

Certificates were recorded by the office in the location in which the event took place. If you know your ancestor's town, send your request to:^[1]

Mayor's Office of Prefecture

(Town), Benin

For additional questions or inquiries:

Archives Nationales du Bénin
Route de Missérété
face Ecole Régionale Supérieure de la Magistrature, Ouando
Porto-Novo
Benin

Mailing address:
629 Porto-Novo
Benin
Telephone: +229 20 24 66 07

Embassy of the Republic of Benin
2124 Kalorama Road, NW
Washington, DC 20008
USA
Telephone: 202-232-6656

Historical Background[edit | edit source]

Vital Registration (also known as Dahomey) began in Benin in 1933, but mostly pertained to French citizens and other foreigners.
By the year 1950, most residents within 15 miles of a registration center were included.
Benin became independent on 1 August 1960.^[1]

Coverage and Compliance[edit | edit source]

Population coverage: Estimated at 70% for the more recent time period.^[2]

Vital Registration (also known as Dahomey) began in Benin in 1933, but mostly pertained to French citizens and other foreigners.
By the year 1950, most residents within 15 miles of a registration center were included.

Information Recorded in the Records[edit | edit source]

Birth Records[edit | edit source]

Name
Birth date and place
Parents’ names
Father’s occupation and residence

Marriage Records[edit | edit source]

Names of bride and groom
Date and place of marriage
Names of parents

Death Records[edit | edit source]

Name of deceased
Date and place of death
Age
Residence at time of death
Occupation
Cause of death

References[edit | edit source]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Thomas Jay Kemp, “International Vital Records Handbook, 5th Edition,” Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc. Baltimore : 2009.
↑ The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Benin,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 2001.

[Kemp-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Thomas Jay Kemp, “International Vital Records Handbook, 5th Edition,” Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc. Baltimore : 2009.

[profile-2] The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Benin,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 2001.

[1]

[2]