anagrafe

Anagrafe is the civil registry system that records information about residents and vital events for a country or a municipality. In Italy, the term refers to the registers kept by each comune that contain data about people who live there and the events that affect their civil status.

The anagrafe typically includes identifying information such as name, date and place of birth, gender, nationality, and parents; residence data; and life events such as births, marriages, divorces, and deaths. It also tracks changes of address, name changes, and other status updates. The information stored in the anagrafe is used to produce demographics, issue official certificates, and support public services.

In recent years Italy has moved toward a centralized system known as the Anagrafe Nazionale della Popolazione Residente (ANPR). ANPR consolidates municipal registries into a national database to improve data accuracy, enable faster exchange of information between municipalities, and streamline procedures for citizens, including online access to certificates. The ANPR supports functions such as electoral rolls, social services, and civil documentation across jurisdictions.

The anagrafe operates under relevant national and European privacy and data-protection rules. It is governed by laws governing civil status, public administration, and digital governance, and is subject to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and related national regulations to protect personal data.

Overall, the anagrafe serves as the foundational administrative tool for identifying residents, recording demographic changes, and supporting public administration and statistical activities.