Birth registration is less than 50% in many African countries

Birth registration refers to the permanent and official recording of a child’s existence by a country’s administration or government. In many economies in Sub Saharan Africa, as well as some countries in South Asia, birth registration in rural areas is very low. According to the most recent surveys available in Ethiopia, Chad, and Zambia, less than 10 percent of children under the age 5 had their births registered at the time of the latest survey. In these countries, and a few others, registration in urban areas was also less than 50 percent.

Lack of registration can negatively impact the ability to access basic services, like health or education, and the protection of individual rights. The Global Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Scaling Up Investment Plan, developed by the World Bank and the World Health Organization in collaboration with other institutions, aims to achieve universal civil registration of births, deaths, marriages, and other vital events, including reporting cause of death, and access to legal proof of registration for all individuals by 2030.