The present invention describes a personal authentication system using fingerprint information, which includes a fingerprint characteristic data section for extracting person-to-be-authenticated fingerprint characteristic data from a person-to-be-authenticated fingerprint image; a fingerprint pattern information extraction section for extracting a person-to-be-authenticated fingerprint pattern from a person-to-be-authenticated fingerprint image; a matching priority definition section for outputting a matching priority for each of matching data groups classified in accordance with a registrant fingerprint pattern; a matching section for matching the person-to-be-authenticated fingerprint characteristic data against registrant fingerprint characteristic data on the basis of the person-to-be-authenticated fingerprint characteristic data, person-to-be-authenticated fingerprint classification information and the matching priority. Even when a perfect match does not exist between the pattern of the fingerprint of the person to be authenticated and registered patterns, a person can be authenticated without fail and the amount of computation can be omitted significantly.