1. A system which authenticates an individual by use of fingerprint information, the system comprising: a storage section capable of holding data; a registration apparatus which generates matching data from information entered by a registration fingerprint information input section for capturing registrant fingerprint information and registers the matching data into the storage section; and an authentication apparatus which determines a person to be authenticated as a true person or a different person through use of the matching data written in the storage section, wherein the registration apparatus includes a registrant fingerprint characteristic data extraction section which extracts registrant fingerprint characteristic data from a registrant fingerprint image captured by the registration fingerprint information input section; a registrant fingerprint classification information extraction section which extracts registrant fingerprint classification information from the registrant fingerprint image captured by the registration fingerprint information input section; and a matching data generation section which writes the matching data into the storage section, the matching data being formed such that the registrant fingerprint characteristic data and the registrant fingerprint classification information are related with each other, and the authentication apparatus includes a person-to-be-authenticated fingerprint characteristic data extraction section which extracts person-to-be-authenticated fingerprint characteristic data from a person-to-be-authenticated fingerprint image captured by an authentication fingerprint information input section for capturing person-to-be fingerprint information, a person-to-be-authenticated fingerprint classification information extraction section which extracts person-to-be-authenticated fingerprint classification information from the person-to-be-authenticated fingerprint image captured by the authentication fingerprint information input section, a matching priority definition section which can output a matching priority for each of the matching data groups classified in accordance with the registrant fingerprint classification information, and a matching section which matches the person-to-be-authenticated fingerprint characteristic data against the registrant fingerprint characteristic data on the basis of the person-to-be-authenticated fingerprint characteristic data, the person-to-be-authenticated fingerprint classification information and the matching priority, and outputs a result of matching.