Birth records in Modern Greece have undergone significant changes since the establishment of the Greek state in 1821. Following is an overview of the evolution of birth records in Modern Greece.
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Early years (1821-1920s)
During the early years of the Greek state, birth records were primarily maintained by the Greek Orthodox church. Priests were responsible for recording births/baptisms within their parishes, and these records were often handwritten in church registers. Many of the records prior to 1900 have been lost or destroyed. Some of the larger cities like Athens, Thessaloniki, etc., along with some of the islands that were governed by the British, may have older records.
Establishment of civil registration (1920s-1940s)
In the 1920s, the Greek government recognized the need for a centralized system of civil registration, including birth records. The civil code of 1928 established the responsibility of municipal authorities to maintain birth records. This marked the transition from a church-based system to a state-controlled one. By law the state had the authority, but the church still kept their own set of records.
Post-World War II (1945-1980s)
After World War II, the Greek government made efforts to improve the accuracy and accessibility of birth records. In the 1950s, a national population registry was established,[1] which included birth records. This registry aimed to provide a centralized database for vital records.
Modern era (1990s-present)
In the modern era, Greece has embraced digitization and technological advancements to modernize its birth registration system. The introduction of electronic databases and online platforms has streamlined the process of registering births and accessing birth records.
Privacy issues
Due to unclear privacy laws in Greece, some government offices have chosen to limit availability to records for direct ancestors only.
See also
Explore more about birth records in Greece
- Greece, Corfu Vital Records, 1841-1932 record collection at MyHeritage
- An Introduction to Tracing your Greek Ancestry webinar on Legacy Family Tree Webinars
- Common Challenges in Greek Genealogy Research webinar on Legacy Family Tree Webinars
- Discover Family Records at Greek Ancestry
References
- ↑ Country Profile of Greece. United States Statistics Division