Birth Registration for Every Child by 2030
Are we on track?
Highlights
Society first acknowledges a child’s existence and identity through birth registration. The right to be recognized as a person before the law is a critical step in ensuring lifelong protection and is a prerequisite for exercising all other rights. A birth certificate is proof of that legal identity, and is the basis upon which children can establish a nationality, avoid the risk of statelessness and seek protection from violence and exploitation.
This publication presents the latest available country data and global and regional estimates of the number of unregistered children. It also assesses progress over time and presents evidence for the amount of effort that will be needed – at both global and regional levels – to achieve universal birth registration by 2030.
Since birth registration ideally takes place immediately after birth, estimates of the number of unregistered children are provided for both those under 5 years of age and under 1 year of age. Estimates are also provided for the number of children and infants without birth certificates.
The publication draws from some 400 data sources spanning a period of nearly 20 years. Its findings are intended to inform the development of related policies and programmes. The publication also seeks to raise awareness of the need to strengthen civil registration systems as the most effective strategy to achieve universal birth registration and to ensure that every child is given a legal identity from birth.
