Millions of people remain invisible – but the leaders of Asia -Pacific engage in the change by 2030

Now governments have committed to filling this gap by 2030.

At the end of Third ministerial conference on civil registration and vital statistics in Asia and the Pacific,, The leaders have adopted a renewed declaration to strengthen national civil registration systems – the fundamental mechanisms that record births, deaths and other vital events.

This decision extends the regional initiative of the “decade of the CRVS”, launched for the first time in 2014, in a new phase aligned with the Sustainable development objectives (ODD), in particular Target 16.9 by ensuring a legal identity for all.

“” These figures are more than statistics, they represent lives without legal recognition and families are left without support »» said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escape), who summoned the forum.

“This week was a powerful call for action. We have seen inspiring examples from countries reaching the most marginalized, adopting digital innovation and strengthening legal and institutional frameworks. ”

More than statistics

Civil registration systems and civil statistics (CRVS) are essential to establish legal identity, access services and ensure inclusion in public policy.

A birth certificate can mean access to health care, education and social protection.

A death certificate allows families to claim inheritance, pensions and other rights.

Without these critical documents, individuals – in particular women, children and rural populations – exclusion of risks, vulnerability and injustice.

Unequal progress

According to a recent escape report,, The region has produced remarkable gains since 2012 – The number of children not recorded under the age of five has dropped by more than 60%, from 135 million to 51 million.

In 2024, 29 countries now recorded more than 90% of births in one year, and 30 do the same for deaths. The number of countries publishing civil statistics based on civil registration has almost doubled during this period.

However, progress remains uneven – around 14 million children in the region reaching their first birthday without their birth being recorded. And 6.9 million deaths are not recorded each year, in particular those that occur outside health establishments or in remote areas.

Many countries are always faced with gaps in the certification and coding of death causes, hampering the surveillance of diseases and public health responses, as shown in the COVID 19 pandemic.

Put everyone in the photo

The new ministerial declaration calls for universal and reactive CRVS systems which are inclusive, digitally compatible and resilient.

It emphasizes gender equity in registration, legal protections for personal data and continuity of services during emergencies.

Governments have also been committed to increasing training, extending community awareness and improving relationship relationships – including through verbal autopsies and improving certification systems.

“” Everyone counts. Data save livesMs. Alisjahbana said“Legal identity is a right, not a privilege. No one should be left behind – simply because they have never been counted in the first place. ”

“” Let’s finish what we started. Let’s give everyone in the photo and make sure that each life really matters.“”