Birth Registration Increases, But 150 Million Children Still ‘Invisible’
10 December 2024
New York – The number of children registered at birth has increased significantly in recent years, but an estimated 150 million children under the age of 5 still remain unregistered, according to a new report released today by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The report, “Birth Registration for Every Child by 2030: Progress Report,” found that the global birth registration rate has increased from 64% in 2016 to 74% in 2022. This means that an additional 80 million children have been registered at birth since 2016.
However, the report also found that progress has been uneven across regions. In South Asia, for example, the birth registration rate has increased by only 5% since 2016, and in sub-Saharan Africa, the rate has increased by just 7%.
As a result, an estimated 150 million children under the age of 5 still remain unregistered. These children are often the most vulnerable and marginalized, and they are more likely to be denied access to basic services such as health care, education, and social protection.
“Birth registration is a fundamental right for every child,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “It is the key to unlocking their full potential and ensuring that they are counted and protected.”
Birth registration is also essential for tracking the progress of Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, which calls for providing legal identity for all, including birth registration, by 2030.
UNICEF is calling on governments to take urgent action to increase birth registration rates, particularly in the regions where progress has been slowest. This includes investing in birth registration systems, raising awareness of the importance of birth registration, and working with communities to overcome the barriers to registration.
“Every child deserves to be counted and protected,” said Russell. “Birth registration is the first step towards making this a reality.”
Birth registration increases, but 150 million children still ‘invisible’
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