1930 Mexico National Census

Mexico’s 1930 national census (“El Quinto Censo General de Población y Vivienda 1930, México”) is both the largest and most recent Mexican census to be made available to the public. Mexican officials sought to make the 1930 census a vehicle for national unity, and it was accompanied by an aggressive propaganda campaign urging citizens to take part as a civic duty. The census was taken on 15 May 1930 and is considered one of the best Mexican censuses conducted in the 20th century.

Authors of Finding Your Mexican Ancestors, George and Peggy Ryskamp, assert that “it’s easy to see how a census record listing an ancestral family can be a valuable find. With even minimal study and imagination, you should find yourself piecing together new information and understanding about your family members and the locality in which they lived.” With approximately 12.8 million names, the 1930 Mexico National Census database is a good starting place for Mexican research in that era, especially if family, vital, or religious records are missing.

About the Records

The 34 columns on the 1930 census form provide a wide spectrum of details about individuals and families. These include

• name
• age (in years, months, and days)
• gender
• head of household
• birthplace
• marital status
• whether marriage was civil or church
• nationality
• religion
• occupation
• unemployment
• native language
• address
• physical or mental defects
• real estate holdings
• literacy

Names in the database will link to images of the census taken from microfilm produced by the Genealogical Society of Utah. Unfortunately, at the time these census records were microfilmed, some localities were missing, including the Federal District, where Mexico City is located.

These records are in Spanish.