The Births and Deaths Registration Act

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CHAPTER 108
THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT
[PRINCIPAL LEGISLATION]
Arrangement of Sections
Section Title
1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
The Registrar-General
3. Appointment and duties of Registrar-General.
4. Indexes, searches, certified copies.
5. Appointment, powers and duties of Assistant Registrars-General.
6. Delegation of powers and functions of Registrar-General.
District Registrars
7. District registrars.
8. Substitution of other officers for district registrars.
9. Registrar-General may give special directions to district registrar.
Registration of Births
10. Register to be kept in every district.
11. Mode of registration.
12. Duty to register births.
13. Registration of child born out of wedlock.
14. Registration of exposed child.
15. Change of name.
Registration of Deaths
16. Register to be kept in every district.
17. Mode of registration.
18. Duty to register deaths.
19. Registration of death occurring outside country.
20. Provisions relating to medical certificates of cause of death.

.
18. Duty to register deaths.
19. Registration of death occurring outside country.
20. Provisions relating to medical certificates of cause of death.

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THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT [CAP. 108 R.E. 2023]
General
21. Late registration of birth or death.
22. Electronic Register and system interoperability.
23. Power to hold inquiry.
24. Repealed.
25. Quarterly returns of births and deaths.
26. Disposal of filled up registers.
27. Correction of errors.
28. Deletion of entry in register.
29. Certified copies.
30. Compulsory registration of births.
31. Registration on presumption of death.
32. Confidentiality.
33. Issuance of registration certificate upon adoption.
34. Repealed.
35. Repealed.
36. Offences and penalties.
37. Registers kept under Proclamation.
38. Rules.

e of registration certificate upon adoption.
34. Repealed.
35. Repealed.
36. Offences and penalties.
37. Registers kept under Proclamation.
38. Rules.

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CHAPTER 108
THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT
An Act to make provision for the registration of births and deaths and for
the issue by medical practitioners of certificates of the cause of death. [15th December, 1920]
[s. 1(1)]
[1st April, 1921]
R.L. Cap. 108
Ords. Nos. 12 of 1920
29 of 1922
20 of 1926
19 of 1943
39 of 1949
30 of 1955
[R.L. Cap. 277]
Acts Nos. 11 of 1976
13 of 1988
19 of 1992
1 of 1993
13 of 2005
3 of 2009
11 of 2019
5 of 2021
GN. No. 478 of 1962
1. This Act may be cited as the Births and Deaths Registration
Act. 2.

of 1992
1 of 1993
13 of 2005
3 of 2009
11 of 2019
5 of 2021
GN. No. 478 of 1962
1. This Act may be cited as the Births and Deaths Registration
Act. 2.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for legal affairs;
“prescribed particulars” means-
(a) as to any birth, the sex, name, date, and place of birth,
the names, residence, occupations and nationality of
the parents, and such other particulars as the Minister
may, by rules, prescribe; and
(b) as to any death, the name, age, sex, residence, occupation
and nationality of the deceased, and the date, place,
and cause of death, and such other particulars as the
Minister may, by rules, prescribe. The Registrar-General
3.–(1) The Minister shall appoint a Registrar-General of Births
and Deaths hereinafter called “the Registrar-General”. Short title
Interpretation
Act No. 1 of 1993 Sch. Appointment
and duties of
Registrar-General
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 7

called “the Registrar-General”. Short title
Interpretation
Act No. 1 of 1993 Sch. Appointment
and duties of
Registrar-General
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 7

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THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT [CAP. 108 R.E. 2023]
(2) The Registrar-General shall have powers to register
any birth or death which occurs at any place within Mainland
Tanzania. (3) It shall be the duty of the Registrar-General to compile,
after the close of each year, a summary of births and deaths
of such year and a report on the increase or decrease of the
population of the country, and on any special causes appearing
to affect the same. (4) The Registrar-General shall have the custody of all filed
Register books and of all quarterly returns made by the district
registrar. (5) It shall be the duty of the Registrar-General to provide the
district registrar with such book and forms as may be required
and with such instructions as he may consider necessary for
the registration of births and deaths in his district. 4.–(1) The Registrar-General shall cause to be prepared from
the returns made to him alphabetical indexes of the births and
deaths registered.

strict. 4.–(1) The Registrar-General shall cause to be prepared from
the returns made to him alphabetical indexes of the births and
deaths registered.

(2) Any Register in the custody of a district registrar, and
any Register, copy of a Register, return, or index in the custody
of the Registrar-General shall, on payment of the prescribed
fee and subject to the prescribed rules, be open to inspection. 5.–(1) The Minister may appoint as many Assistant Registrars-
General of Births and Deaths as he may consider necessary for
the purposes of this Act. (2) Subject to directions of the Registrar-General, an
Assistant Registrars-General of Births and Deaths shall have
all the powers and perform all the duties and be subject to all
the obligations of the Registrar-General. 6.–(1) Without prejudice to the powers and functions vested
upon the Registrar-General under this Act, the Registrar-
General may, in writing, delegate to the District Executive
Indexes, searches,
certified copies
Ord. No. 29 of 1922 s. 9
Appointment,
powers and duties
of Assistant
Registrars-
General
Ord. No. 19 of 1943 s. 2
Delegation of
powers and
functions of
Registrar-General
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 8

s and duties
of Assistant
Registrars-
General
Ord. No. 19 of 1943 s. 2
Delegation of
powers and
functions of
Registrar-General
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 8

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THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT [CAP. 108 R.E. 2023]
Director, Ward Executive Officer, mtaa Executive Officer or
Village Executive Officer powers to register births and deaths
occurring in their respective districts, wards, mtaa and
villages. (2) Upon delegation of powers and functions under
subsection (1), the District Executive Director, Ward Executive
Officer, mtaa Executive Officer or Village Executive Officer
shall, subject to directives of the Registrar-General, perform
the functions and exercise the powers of the Registrar-General
as delegated. (3) Any delegation of powers and functions of the Registrar-
General made to the District Executive Director, Ward
Executive Officer, mtaa Executive Officer or Village Executive
Officer, prior to the coming into operation of this section, shall
be deemed to be a valid delegation made under this Act.

fficer or Village Executive
Officer, prior to the coming into operation of this section, shall
be deemed to be a valid delegation made under this Act.

(4) The Minister may, in consultation with the Minister
responsible for local government, make regulations prescribing
the manner, forms and mechanism, including the use of
technology, for effective and efficient registration of births and
deaths by District Executive Director, Ward Executive Officer,
mtaa Executive Officer or Village Executive Officer. [s. 5A]
District Registrars
7. The Registrar-General may, by notice published in the
Gazette appoint the administrative officer of a district or such
other person, as he deems fit, to be district registrar of that
district. [s. 6]
8. The Registrar-General may direct that, the duties of the
district registrar of any district shall, in that district be
performed by any other public officer or by any person who is
in charge of a hospital institution. [s. 7]
District
registrars
Ord. No. 20 of 1926 s. 2
Act No. 3 of 2009 s. 11
Substitution of
other officers for
district registrars
Acts Nos. 13 of 1988 Sch. 3 of 2009 s. 12

rars
Ord. No. 20 of 1926 s. 2
Act No. 3 of 2009 s. 11
Substitution of
other officers for
district registrars
Acts Nos. 13 of 1988 Sch. 3 of 2009 s. 12

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THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT [CAP. 108 R.E. 2023]
9. The Registrar-General may give general or special directions
to any district registrar as to the performance of his duties
or functions and any district registrar shall comply with any
general or special directions so given. [s. 8]
Registration of Births
10. The district registrar shall keep a Register, and enter therein
every birth, whereof the prescribed particulars are reported to
him, of a child born alive within his district. [s. 9]
11. Every person registering the birth of a child shall, to
the best of his knowledge and ability, give the prescribed
particulars, and shall certify to their correctness either by
signing, or, where he is illiterate, by affixing his mark to the
Register, or where the registration is effected without personal
attendance by signing, or affixing his mark to, the prescribed
form on which the prescribed particulars are reported to the
district registrar. [s. 10]
12.

dance by signing, or affixing his mark to, the prescribed
form on which the prescribed particulars are reported to the
district registrar. [s. 10]
12.

In the case of every child born alive after the commencement
of this Act, it shall be the duty of the father and mother, and in
default of the father and mother, of the occupier of the house in
which to his knowledge such child is born, and of each person
present at the birth and of the person having charge of such
child, to register the birth within three months of the birth. [s. 11]
13. A person shall not be bound as father to register the birth
of a child born out of wedlock and a person shall not be entered
in the Register as the father of such child except at his own
request and upon his acknowledging himself to be the father
of the child and signing or affixing his mark to the Register as
such. [s. 12]
Registrar-General
may give special
directions to
district registrar
Ord. No. 30 of 1955 s. 2
Register to be
kept in every
district
Mode of
registration
Duty to register
births
Act No. 3 of 2009 s. 13
Registration of
child born out of
wedlock

2
Register to be
kept in every
district
Mode of
registration
Duty to register
births
Act No. 3 of 2009 s. 13
Registration of
child born out of
wedlock

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THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT [CAP. 108 R.E. 2023]
14. Where any living new-born child is found exposed, it
shall be the duty of any person finding such child and of any
person in whose charge such child may be placed, to give such
information as the informant possesses for the purpose of
registering such birth. [s. 13]
15. Where the birth of any child has been registered before it
has received a name, or the name by which it was registered is
altered, the parent or guardian of such child may, at any time
before the child attains the age of eighteen years and upon
payment of the prescribed fee and on providing such evidence
as the district registrar may think necessary, register the name
that has been given to the child. [s. 14]
Registration of Deaths
16. The district registrar shall keep a Register and enter
therein every death occurring within the district after the
commencement of this Act whereof the prescribed particulars
are reported to him. [s. 15]
17.

erein every death occurring within the district after the
commencement of this Act whereof the prescribed particulars
are reported to him. [s. 15]
17.

A person registering a death shall, to the best of his
knowledge and ability, give the prescribed particulars, and
shall certify to their correctness either by signing or, where
he is illiterate, by affixing his mark to the Register, or, where
the registration is effected without personal attendance, by
signing or affixing his mark to the prescribed form on which
the prescribed particulars are reported to the district registrar. [s. 16]
18.–(1) In the case of every person dying after the
commencement of this Act, it shall be the duty of the nearest
relatives of such person who were present at his death or
in attendance during his last illness, and in default of such
Registration of
exposed child
Act No. 3 of 2009 s. 14
Change of name
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 9
Register to be
kept in every
district
Mode of
registration
Duty to register
deaths
Acts Nos. 3 of 2009 s. 15
5 of 2021 s. 10

e
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 9
Register to be
kept in every
district
Mode of
registration
Duty to register
deaths
Acts Nos. 3 of 2009 s. 15
5 of 2021 s. 10

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THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT [CAP. 108 R.E. 2023]
relatives, of every other relative dwelling within the district,
and in default of such relatives, of each person present at
the death and of the occupier of the house in which to his
knowledge such death took place, and in default of any of the
persons hereinbefore mentioned, of any inmate of the house,
or of any person finding or taking charge of the body of such
person, or causing such person to be buried, to register the
death within one month after the death or finding of the body
or, where the district registrar is satisfied that from any cause
registration could not be effected within the said period and
that no undue delay has taken place, within three months after
the death or finding of the body. (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a death certificate
shall be collected by the surviving spouse or child, or if for
any reason the spouse or child is incapable of collecting the
certificate, next of kin of the deceased.

ed by the surviving spouse or child, or if for
any reason the spouse or child is incapable of collecting the
certificate, next of kin of the deceased.

(3) The Registrar-General shall issue guidelines on the
implementation of subsection (2). [s. 17]
19.–(1) Where any citizen of the United Republic dies in any
country outside the United Republic, the parents, spouse or
relative of the deceased shall furnish to the relevant Tanzania
Embassy, High Commission or Consular, official record
from the relevant authority indicating the particulars of the
deceased. (2) Upon receipt of the records under subsection (1),
the relevant Embassy, High Commission or Consular shall
immediately transmit the records to the Registrar-General who
shall take judicial notice of such death and where applicable,
enter such records in the Register of deaths occurring outside
the United Republic. (3) Where the record received relate to a citizen of the
United Republic who is a resident of Tanzania Zanzibar, the
Registrar-General shall transmit such records to the relevant
authority in Tanzania Zanzibar. Registration of
death occurring
outside country
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 10

l shall transmit such records to the relevant
authority in Tanzania Zanzibar. Registration of
death occurring
outside country
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 10

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THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT [CAP. 108 R.E. 2023]
(4) The Minister may make regulations prescribing the
forms, manner and procedure for registration of deaths
occurring outside the United Republic. [s. 17A]
Certificates of the Cause of Death
20.–(1) The Registrar-General shall furnish to every district
registrar printed forms of certificates of cause of death by
licensed and registered medical practitioners, and every such
registrar shall furnish such forms gratis to any such medical
practitioner residing or practising in such registrar’s district.

ioners, and every such
registrar shall furnish such forms gratis to any such medical
practitioner residing or practising in such registrar’s district.

(2) In case of the death of any person who has been attended
during his last illness by a licensed or registered medical
practitioner, that practitioner shall sign and give to some
person required by section 18 to register the death, a certificate
stating to the best of his knowledge and belief, the cause of
death and such person shall, upon registering the death, deliver
that certificate to the district registrar and the cause of death
as stated in that certificate be entered in the Register together
with the name of the certifying medical practitioner. (3) Where an inquest is held on the body of any deceased
person, a medical certificate of the cause of death need not
be given to the district registrar, but the coroner’s finding as
certified by him in his inquisition shall be sufficient. (4) Where any person to whom a medical certificate is given by
a medical practitioner in pursuance of this section fails to deliver
that certificate to the district registrar, commits an offence and on
conviction shall be liable to a fine not exceeding forty shillings. [s. 18]
General
21.

rtificate to the district registrar, commits an offence and on
conviction shall be liable to a fine not exceeding forty shillings. [s. 18]
General
21.

A district registrar shall not enter in the Register
any birth after three months from the date of such birth
or any death after one month from the date of such death
unless-
Provisions
relating to
medical
certificates of
cause of death
Ord. No. 19 of 1943 s. 3
Late registration
of birth or death
Ord. No. 30 of 1955 s. 3;
Acts Nos. 1 of 1993 Sch. 13 of 2005 s. 35

tes of
cause of death
Ord. No. 19 of 1943 s. 3
Late registration
of birth or death
Ord. No. 30 of 1955 s. 3;
Acts Nos. 1 of 1993 Sch. 13 of 2005 s. 35

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THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT [CAP. 108 R.E. 2023]
(a) he is satisfied with the correctness of the particulars
tendered for registration; and
(b) payment is made of the prescribed fee. [s. 19]
22.–(1) Subject to sections 10 and 16, the Registrar-General
shall, for the purpose of promoting cooperation, coordination,
integration and interoperability with other identification and
registration systems, keep and maintain the electronic Register
of births and deaths. (2) The Registrar-General shall share and exchange
registration information kept in the electronic Register of
births and deaths with other public institutions mandated to
identify and register persons. (3) Where the Registrar-General receives validated
registration information of persons extracted from the public
institutions mandated to identify and register persons, such
information shall be deemed to have been registered by the
Registrar-General in the electronic Register of births and
deaths.

d register persons, such
information shall be deemed to have been registered by the
Registrar-General in the electronic Register of births and
deaths.

(4) The Minister may make regulations for better carrying
out of the provisions of this section. [s. 19A]
23.–(1) For the purpose of satisfying himself pursuant to
section 21 of the correctness or otherwise of particulars
tendered for entry in the Register, a district registrar may make
or cause to be made such inquiries as he may deem fit. (2) For purposes of any inquiry made under subsection (1),
the district registrar may administer oaths and may issue a
summons under his hand directing the person named therein
to attend at the time and place therein mentioned to give
evidence or to produce documents therein specified or to do
both. (3) Where any person upon whom a summons issued under
the provisions of subsection (2) has been served refuses or
Electronic
Register
and system
interoperability
Act No. 5 of 2021 s. 11
Power to hold
inquiry
Ord. No. 30 of 1955 s. 3;
Act No. 11 of 1976 Sch.

ses or
Electronic
Register
and system
interoperability
Act No. 5 of 2021 s. 11
Power to hold
inquiry
Ord. No. 30 of 1955 s. 3;
Act No. 11 of 1976 Sch.

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THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT [CAP. 108 R.E.

ts reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.489
THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT [CAP. 108 R.E.

2023]
omits without sufficient cause to attend at the time and place
mentioned in the summons, or refuses without sufficient cause
to answer fully and satisfactorily to the best of his knowledge
and belief all questions put to him by or with the concurrence
of the district registrar or refuses or omits without sufficient
cause to produce any documents in his possession or under
his control which are mentioned in the summons, commits an
offence and on conviction shall be liable to a fine not exceeding
one thousand shillings:
Provided that, no person giving evidence before the district
registrar may be required to answer any question the answer
to which may tend to expose him to any criminal charge,
penalty or forfeiture, and that every person shall, in respect of
any evidence given by him or any document he is required to
produce, be entitled to all the privileges to which a witness in
a trial before the High Court is entitled in respect of evidence
given by him or a document he is required to produce before
such court. [s. 20]
24. [Repealed by Act No. 1 of 1993 Sch.]
[s.

ed in respect of evidence
given by him or a document he is required to produce before
such court. [s. 20]
24. [Repealed by Act No. 1 of 1993 Sch.]
[s.

21]
25.–(1) Every district registrar shall, in every January, April,
July, and October, make and deliver to the Registrar-General
on forms to be supplied for the purpose by the Registrar-
General a true copy of all the entries of births and deaths in the
registers in his custody made during the three months ending
on the last day of the preceding December, March, June, or
September, as the case may be, or, if no entry has been made
during that period, then a certificate to that effect signed by
him. (2) There shall be attached to every such copy a certificate in
the prescribed form signed by the district registrar. [s. 22]
Repealed
Quarterly returns
of births and
deaths
Ord. No. 29 of 1922 s. 6

certificate in
the prescribed form signed by the district registrar. [s. 22]
Repealed
Quarterly returns
of births and
deaths
Ord. No. 29 of 1922 s. 6

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THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT [CAP. 108 R.E. 2023]
26. Every Register of births and deaths, when filled up, shall
as soon as possible, be delivered to the Registrar-General and
shall be preserved by him. [s. 23]
27.–(1) Where it is shown to the satisfaction of any district
registrar or the Registrar-General that any error has been made
in any Register, copy of a Register, or index in his custody, he
may correct the error. (2) Every correction of an error shall be so made that, the
original entry remains legible and shall be dated and signed by
the officer making the correction. (3) Before making any correction, the district registrar or
Registrar-General may, if he considers it necessary, require the
true facts to be proved by evidence on oath (which he is hereby
authorised to administer) or by statutory declaration. [s.

s it necessary, require the
true facts to be proved by evidence on oath (which he is hereby
authorised to administer) or by statutory declaration. [s.

24]
28.–(1) Where the Registrar-General is satisfied that-
(a) there exists in the register of births or deaths, two or
more entries in respect of one person; or
(b) the existence of an entry in the register of births or
deaths was procured by fraud or misrepresentation,
the Registrar-General shall, subject to subsection (2), delete
any of such entries in the register of births or deaths, and
cancel any certificate of registration issued in respect of such
birth or death. (2) Without prejudice to the powers granted under
subsection (1), the Registrar-General shall, in deleting an
entry in the Register pursuant to this section, be guided by the
presumption that the earlier entry in the Register is genuine. (3) Where the Registrar-General deletes an entry and
consequently cancels any registration certificate under this
section, such entry and the certificate granted in respect of
such birth or death shall cease to have legal effect. [s. 24A]
Disposal of filled
up registers
Ord. No. 29 of 1922 s. 7
Correction of
errors
Ord. No. 29 of 1922 s. 8
Deletion of entry
in register
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 11

l of filled
up registers
Ord. No. 29 of 1922 s. 7
Correction of
errors
Ord. No. 29 of 1922 s. 8
Deletion of entry
in register
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 11

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THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT [CAP. 108 R.E. 2023]
29.–(1) On payment of the prescribed fee-
(a) every district registrar and the Registrar-General shall
give a certified copy of any entry in any Register of
births or deaths in his custody;
(b) the Registrar-General shall give a certified copy of
any entry in any copy of a Register delivered to him
under the provisions of this Act or of any entry in any
quarterly return of births or deaths made before the 1st
January, 1923, in pursuance of the provisions of section
13 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1920,
which section was repealed by the Births and Deaths
Registration Act, 1922. (2) Every certified copy given under the provisions of this
section shall be certified in the prescribed manner.

hs and Deaths
Registration Act, 1922. (2) Every certified copy given under the provisions of this
section shall be certified in the prescribed manner.

(3) Every certified copy of an entry in a Register of births
or deaths or of an entry in a copy of such a Register delivered
to the Registrar-General under the provisions of this Act or
of an entry in a quarterly return of births or deaths made
as aforesaid shall, where it purports to be certified in the
prescribed manner, be admissible in evidence without proof,
and be prima facie evidence of the facts recorded therein. [s. 25]
30. The registration of the birth of a child shall be compulsory. [s. 26]
31.–(1) Without prejudice to sections 123 and 124 of the
Evidence Act, where a court has issued an order as to the
presumption of death of any person, the Registrar-General
shall, upon receipt of an order of the court from any relevant
person, register such death. (2) In this section, “relevant person” means the administrator
of the estate duly appointed, or a Government official duly
authorised by the court to register the death. Certified copies
Ord. No. 29 of 1922 s. 10
Compulsory
registration of
births
Act No. 3 of 2009 s. 16
Registration on
presumption of
death
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 12
Cap. 6

d. No. 29 of 1922 s. 10
Compulsory
registration of
births
Act No. 3 of 2009 s. 16
Registration on
presumption of
death
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 12
Cap. 6

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THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT [CAP. 108 R.E. 2023]
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), where the Registrar-
General is satisfied that a person declared by the court to be
dead on presumption of death is found alive, the Registrar-
General shall delete from the Register any entry entered
thereto in respect of such person. [s. 26A]
32.–(1) All particulars submitted to the Registrar-General by
any person in relation to birth or death shall, unless directed
otherwise by the court or any other written law, be treated as
confidential. (2) A person shall not disclose any confidential information
under this section unless authorised by the Registrar-General. (3) A person who contravenes the provisions of this section,
commits an offence and on conviction, shall be liable to a fine
of not less than three hundred thousand shillings but not
exceeding five hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment
for a term of not less than three months but not exceeding six
months or to both. [s.

not
exceeding five hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment
for a term of not less than three months but not exceeding six
months or to both. [s.

26B]
33.–(1) Subject to the provisions of the Law of the Child Act,
where the High Court has granted an adoption order of a child,
the Registrar-General may, upon application, register the birth
of the child and issue a certificate to that effect. (2) An application under subsection (1) shall be
accompanied with the certified copy of the adoption order of
the High Court, application fees and other particulars as may
be prescribed in the regulations. [s. 26C]
34. [Repealed by Act No. 3 of 2009 s. 17.]
[s. 27]
35. [Repealed by Act No. 3 of 2009 s. 18.]
[s. 28]
Confidentiality
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 12
Issuance of
registration
certificate upon
adoption
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 12
Cap. 13
Repealed
Repealed

[s. 28]
Confidentiality
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 12
Issuance of
registration
certificate upon
adoption
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 12
Cap. 13
Repealed
Repealed

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.493
THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT [CAP. 108 R.E. 2023]
36.–(1) A person who, being under an obligation to register
the birth or death of a person, fails to do so within the periods
mentioned in section 11 or 17 hereof, as the case may be,
commits an offence and on conviction shall be liable to a
fine not exceeding one hundred thousand shillings, and the
court may after convicting any person under this subsection
order such person to register the birth or death, as the case
may be, notwithstanding the fact that the said period shall
have expired, and any person failing to obey such order of the
court, commits an offence and on conviction shall be liable to
the same penalties as are hereinafter set out for the offence of
refusing to register.

court, commits an offence and on conviction shall be liable to
the same penalties as are hereinafter set out for the offence of
refusing to register.

(2) A person who, being under an obligation to register
the birth or death of any person, refuses to register or to state
any of the prescribed particulars, commits an offence and on
conviction shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred
thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding
one month, or to both, and the court may after convicting any
person under this subsection order such person to register
the birth or death, as the case may be, or state the prescribed
particulars, notwithstanding the fact that the period thereof
shall have expired, and any person failing to obey such order
of the court, commits an offence and on conviction shall be
liable to the same penalties as are herein set out for refusing to
register or to state any of the prescribed particulars.

and on conviction shall be
liable to the same penalties as are herein set out for refusing to
register or to state any of the prescribed particulars.

(3) A person who makes any statement or gives any
information to or produces any document to any district
registrar which is false in any material particular and which he
either knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be
true, with the intention of procuring any entry in any register
of births or deaths or knowing or believing that the same may
be produced in evidence by a person seeking to procure any
such entry, commits an offence and on conviction shall be liable
to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand shillings or to
imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both. [s. 29]
Offences and
penalties
Ord. No. 30 of 1955 s. 4
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 13

ings or to
imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both. [s. 29]
Offences and
penalties
Ord. No. 30 of 1955 s. 4
Act No. 11 of 2019 s. 13

©2025 Government of Tanzania. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed without permission of OAG.494
THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ACT [CAP. 108 R.E. 2023]
37. The registers of births and deaths kept in pursuance of
Proclamation No. 15 of 1917 (Civil Area), dated the twenty-
eighth day of August, 1917 (which is hereby repealed), shall, as
soon as convenient, be delivered to the Registrar-General, and
the provisions of this Act as to inspection and certified copies
shall apply to every such register in like manner as they apply
to registers kept under this Act. [s. 30]
38.

ct as to inspection and certified copies
shall apply to every such register in like manner as they apply
to registers kept under this Act. [s. 30]
38.

The Minister may make rules with regard to the following
matters, and generally for carrying into effect the provisions of
this Act:
(a) the place in each district and the hours at which births
and deaths may be registered;
(b) the conditions under which and the mode in which
registration may be effected without personal
attendance;
(c) the forms of all registers, returns, and other documents
required for purposes of this Act;
(d) the amount of any fee where a fee is prescribed by this
Act;
(e) the inspection of registers, returns, and indexes, and
the provision of certified copies; and
(f) the places at which births and deaths occurring on
board ships while within the territorial waters of
Tanzania shall be registered. [s. 31]
Registers
kept under
Proclamation
No. 15 of 1917
Ord. No. 29 of 1922 s. 11
Rules