Malawi Civil Registration

Civil Registration
Research use:Primary source of birth, marriage, and death information in Southern Africa.

Note: There is a separate category for the Indian population that covers the years 1858 to 1921.

Record type: Births, marriages and deaths maintained by civil authorities.

Time period: 1904 to present

Contents: Births –identification number, name, date and place of birth, race, sex; parents residence, marriage place, names and race, dates and places of  birth; name, capacity, and residence of informant. Marriages - identification number of bride and groom, names, date and place of marriage, race, birth date and place, marital status, occupation, residence, banns or notice of intention. Deaths – identification number; name, date and place of death; sex, race; age at death; birth date; marital status; occupation; pension; cause of death; birth place; residence; intended place of burial; name of parents (if deceased under the age of ten); place of mother’s residence (if child deceased under the age of one year); and name, address, and capacity of informant.

Location: National, provincial, and district archives.

Population coverage: 95% of White population, 100% of Asian, 95% of Colored, and 0 to 5% of African.

Reliability: Excellent, a primary source.