Lebanon Civil Registration

Offices to Contact
Here are three places to obtain copies of or information from birth, marriage, and death records:


 * Mukhtar: The primary registration unit is the office of the Mukhtar (head of the local government).  Each village in Lebanon has a Mukhtar that is in charge of keeping records. See Lebanon Mukhtar Records to learn more about Mukhtars and how to contact them.


 * Bureau of the Census: "If you know the Arabic names and the appropriate dates, you may be able to obtain birth and death certificates from district or central offices of the Bureau of the Census. Address your inquiry to the Census Office in the community (i.e., village, city, county) where your ancestor lived."


 * Muhafazat: Birth, death and marriage records are also kept at the Office of the Registrar in each governate (called muhafazat). The contact information for the Office of the Registrar in each district can be found on the appropriate district page. Click below for the district you need:

Historical Background
Lebanon has kept civil records since about 1920. Before that, they were part of the Ottoman Record, where records were kept as well.


 * The civil registration system in Lebanon is centralized. The ... Ministry of Interior and Municipalities is responsible for the registration of vital events such as births, deaths, marriages and divorces.... There are 52 registry offices working under the central office through regional departments in 6 provinces. The primary registration unit is the mayor’s office in the village. The appointed civil registrars records vital events and issue certificate or permit (burial permit for deaths). The local registrar also reports civil registration data to higher level offices.

Census Records
Ottoman Censuses before 1967 "Tabu Daftari" carried out every 30-40 years. Located at the Archives of Presidency of the Council of Ministers in Istanbul, Turkey.

Census done in 1860 Can be found in Lebanese Serails and Lebanese and Turkish Ministries of Interior. Mukhtars can request Ottoman documents.

Census done in 1913 Can be found in Lebanese Serails and Lebanese and Turkish Ministries of Interior.

1921 Census carried out by the French.

1932 Last official census. Includes: Can be found in archives of Division of Personal Status at the Ministry of Interior.
 * resident records
 * personal status records
 * foreigner records
 * immigrant and refugee records