Indonesia Civil Registration

Asia Indonesia   Indonesia Genealogy

Indonesia does not yet have a fully functioning central civil registry.

Civil registration (Pendaftaran sipil: kelahiran, perkawinan, kematian)
Research use: Information can be used to compile pedigrees and family groups. Identifies parents, children and spouses and dates and places of vital events. Other relatives are often identified.

Record type: Births, marriages, marriage applications, deaths, divorces.

Time period: 1828-present. Some civil marriages and deaths were recorded as early as 1750. A number of records were destroyed during the Second World War. Contents: 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. Marriage applications, licenses, contracts: Names of prospective marriage partners, intentions, residences, parents, etc. 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.

Location: National archives and local civil registry offices.

Population coverage: Before 1945, 10%; 1945-1970, 40%, after 1970, 90%.

Reliability: Excellent.

Accessibility: By personal visit or correspondence.