civilregistration

Civil registration is the system by which a government records all vital events that affect a person's civil status, including births, deaths, marriages, civil unions, divorces, adoptions, and changes of name. Established by law, it aims to create a continuous, permanent, and universal register of individuals and their legal status. Registration is typically compulsory for residents or citizens and is linked to the issuance of official documents such as birth certificates, identity documents, and marriage licenses. Data are collected by civil registries from civil authorities, health facilities, and informants, and kept in civil registers or in a national population registry. Records include event details, date, place, and parties involved, and may be updated to reflect changes in status.

Civil registration supports civil status evidence and serves as the primary source of official statistics on births, marriages, and deaths (vital statistics). Governments rely on this data for planning, health, education, social protection, and policy development, and to determine eligibility for services or nationality. It also underpins identity systems and social security.

Internationally, civil registration is governed by legal frameworks and standards; the United Nations has formulated principles and recommendations for vital statistics and civil registration to ensure completeness, accuracy, and timeliness. Countries differ in scope; some maintain dedicated registries, others integrate with population registries or national ID systems. Modern challenges include under-registration in remote areas, privacy and data protection concerns, data quality, interoperability among agencies, and the transition to digital, secure systems.