Statistics
Civil registration systems are used to record vital events, including births, deaths, and marriages. They have the potential to serve as the main source of national vital statistics. However, in many developing countries, civil registration and vital statistics systems are weak or nonexistent; as a result, key demographic, fertility and mortality statistics are not available on a continuous basis and do not cover large segments of the population.
The first step in addressing such weaknesses is to undertake a review of current status with a view to identifying areas requiring improvement and prioritizing actions. The World Health Organization (WHO), working with the University of Queensland in Australia, has developed a rapid and comprehensive guide to support countries that wish to improve their civil registration and vital statistics systems.
Information resources
Information resources
Improving mortality statistics in Africa – technical strategy 2015–2020 | French
Regional strategy for the improvement of civil registration and vital statistics systems, 2014–2019
Resolution on regional strategy for the improvement of civil registration and vital statistics systems 2014–2019 | Arabic - French
Handbook on civil registration and vital statistics systems - preparation of a legal framework
Fundamental principles of official statistics
Rapid assessment of national civil registration and vital statistics systems | Arabic | French
Civil registration and vital statistics comprehensive assessment [pdf 1.71Mb] | Arabic | French
Civil registration and vital statistics resource kit
Strategic planning to strengthen civil registration and vital statistics systems: Guidance for using findings from a comprehensive assessment | Arabic [pdf 389kb]
Links
WHO headquarters civil registration and vital statistics website