Steady Progress in Birth Registration, but Millions Remain Uncounted
The global rate of birth registration for children under five has seen a significant boost, with over 500 million births recorded in the last five years. This accounts for approximately 8 in 10 children, according to UNICEF’s latest report, The Right Start in Life: Global Levels and Trends in Birth Registration, 2024 Update. However, 150 million children under five remain unregistered, leaving them effectively invisible to legal and government systems.
Key Findings of the UNICEF Report
The report highlights that 77% of children globally have their births registered, up from 75% in 2019. However, an alarming 50 million registered children lack birth certificates—essential documents required to confirm nationality, prevent statelessness, and ensure access to fundamental rights and services like healthcare and education.
Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s Executive Director, emphasized the critical role of birth registration in safeguarding children. “Birth registration provides immediate legal recognition, protecting children from harm and ensuring access to essential services,” she stated.
Regional Insights: Gaps and Achievements
Global progress in birth registration is attributed to various efforts, such as expanding services, digitalization, eliminating fees, and integrating registration with health and education systems.
- High Coverage Regions:
- Latin America and the Caribbean: 95%
- Eastern and South-Eastern Asia: 94%
- Central and Southern Asia: 78%
- Lagging Behind:
- Sub-Saharan Africa: Only 51%, with 90 million unregistered children.
Notably, sub-Saharan Africa faces unique challenges, including slow progress and a rapidly growing child population, which could result in over 100 million unregistered children by 2030 without intensified efforts.
Barriers to Registration
Families encounter numerous obstacles to registering their children, including:
- Weak political commitment.
- Long distances and multiple visits to registration centers.
- Lack of awareness about the process.
- High fees and indirect costs.
- Discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, or religion.
Success Stories: Lessons for Others
Some countries in sub-Saharan Africa are defying the odds. Botswana has achieved universal registration, while Côte d’Ivoire has surpassed 90%. Other nations, such as Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania, have also demonstrated steady progress, offering valuable models for replication.
UNICEF’s Call to Action
To achieve universal birth registration, UNICEF recommends the following five key actions:
- Register every child at birth to establish a legal identity lifecycle.
- Simplify processes and embrace digital solutions.
- Integrate registration with health, education, and social protection programs.
- Enact legal reforms to support equitable and inclusive registration systems.
- Empower communities to understand and demand their right to registration services.
“Too many children remain invisible to the law and governments,” Russell stated. “Every child deserves the right to recognition and protection through birth registration.”
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