Civil registration in El Salvador began officially in 1881, when the government mandated the recording of births, marriages, and deaths by municipal authorities rather than the church. These records are kept by local Registro del Estado Familiar offices and often include names, parentage, residence, and other identifying details.
Due to historical instability and regional record loss, coverage can be uneven. However, many municipalities have preserved and digitized older records, and earlier Catholic parish registers remain vital for pre-1881 research. Civil registration is a critical resource for Salvadoran genealogists, offering insights into family structures and generational continuity in the late 19th and 20th centuries.
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Birth, Marriage & Death
Civil Registrations
- El Salvador, Civil Registration, 1815-1910 371,476 records
