Benin Civil Registration

Offices to Contact
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:  Mayor's Office of Prefecture (Town), Benin

For any additional questions or inquiries:

Archives Nationales du Bénin Address: 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 Website: http://www.dan.ilemi.net/

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

FamilySearch Collections

 * 1891-2014 - at FamilySearch — index and images

FamilySearch Catalog

 * 1802-1902: Registres de l'état civil de Saint-Benin-d'Azy (Nièvre) 1793-1862; tables décennales 1802-1902,

Historical Background

 * 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.

Coverage and Compliance
Population coverage: Estimated at 70% for the more recent time period.
 * 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
Research use: They identify names of parents, prove other relationships, and are very useful for linking generations.

Record type: Births, marriages, and deaths.

Time period: 1893 to present.

Contents: Birth – name, birth date and place, parents’ names, father’s occupation and residence. Marriage – name of bride and groom, date and place of marriage, names of parents. Death – name of deceased, date and place of death, age and residence at time of death, occupation, cause of death.