Papua New Guinea Civil Registration

Online Collections

 * 1888-2004 - Papua New Guinea Births, 1888-2004. Not all have been digitized yet. Indexed in:
 * 1884-1979 - New Guinea indexes to births, marriages and deaths, 1884-1979
 * 1884-1967 - Birth index (New Guinea) 1884-1967. The records for this index are currently on film only and cannot be circulated to family history centers.
 * 1892-1995 - Papua New Guinea Marriages, 1892-1995
 * 1892-1974 - Marriage records, 1892-1980; indexes 1892-1978. Records are mostly for Europeans living in Papua and New Guinea. Only the indexes for 1892-1974 are online. The records are currently on film only and cannot be circulated to family history centers.
 * 1867-2005 - Papua New Guinea Deaths. Deaths between 1983 and 2005 are not yet online as of 1 April 2020).

The following can only be used at family history centers or the Family History Library:
 * 1964-1969 - Native death certificates, 1964-1969

Offices to Contact
Civil Registry Office PO Box 470 WAIGANI National Capital District Papua New Guinea

Sambra Haus - Waigani Telephone: + (675) 313 3000 Ext:7002

Civil Registry Office - Boroko Telephone: + (675) 323 6510

Historical Background
Time period: 1884-present Prior to 1967 most entries are for non-natives. Records for the Territory of (German) New Guinea were destroyed during the Second World War, however, reconstructed registers were compiled afterwards. The available records have been indexed.

"Civil Registry Office is a statutory mandated entity responsible for registration of all vital events including birth, marriages and death registration including cases in separation, divorce and adoption."

Coverage and Compliance
Population coverage before 1967 is 5%; after 1967 is 80%

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

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