UNICEF Reports Increase in Global Birth Registration, But 150 Million Children Still “Invisible”

UNICEF Reports Increase in Global Birth Registration, But 150 Million Children Still “Invisible”

The United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF, has reported a significant increase in global birth registration, with nearly 80 percent of children under five years old now registered. This marks a positive step forward for millions of children gaining their legal identity, but challenges remain, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

In a recent report, UNICEF’s Executive Director, Catherine Russell, celebrated the progress but urged stronger efforts to ensure that every child is registered at birth. “Birth registration is essential for protecting children from harm and exploitation, as well as for granting them access to vital services such as healthcare and education,” Russell stated.

Despite the progress, around 150 million children remain unregistered and are thus invisible to government systems. More than half of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa, where birth registration rates vary widely. Southern Africa leads with 88 percent registration, while Western Africa has made notable strides, reaching 63 percent over the past 15 years. However, Eastern and Middle Africa lag behind, with rates as low as 41 percent.

The lack of birth certificates remains another issue. UNICEF found that over 50 million children who are registered still do not have this critical document, which is necessary for proving nationality, preventing statelessness, and protecting children’s rights.

Countries making notable progress include Botswana, which has achieved universal birth registration, and Côte d’Ivoire, where over 90 percent of children are now registered. Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania have also shown steady improvements in the past decade.

UNICEF warns that if the current pace of progress continues, there could be over 100 million unregistered children by 2030, especially given the rapid population growth in sub-Saharan Africa. Barriers to registration include weak political commitment, long distances to registration centers, high costs, and discrimination.

Source: Africa News