Democratic Republic of the Congo Civil Registration

Civil registration
Research use: A primary source for family linking information.

Record type: Births, marriages, and deaths.

Time period: 1900 to present.

Contents: Birth – name, birth date and place, parents’ names, father’s occupation and residence, sometimes age of mother. Marriage – name of bride and of groom, date and place of marriage; father's name and mother’s name for both bride and groom, age, place of birth, residence, occupation, names of witnesses. Death – name of deceased, death and burial dates, age, residence at time of death, occupation, cause of death.

Location: National Archives in Kinshasa; some also in regional archives, and in Belgium.

Population coverage: Approximately 50% of the Belgians, 20% of Zairians, both before 1930. After 1930, ca. 75% of the Belgians, and 50% of the Zairians. These percentages are estimates only.

Reliability: Excellent.