Nigeria's Birth Registration Crisis: Only 40% Registered

The 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey indicates that only 40% of children under five in Nigeria have their births registered with civil authorities, with urban registration at 59% and rural at just 27%. The National Population Commission (NPC) reports a higher administrative coverage of about 57%, highlighting a discrepancy between administrative figures and household-survey estimates.

Death registration is even weaker, with coverage below 20%. Birth registration is crucial for establishing a child's legal identity and access to education, healthcare, and social protection.

The NPC recognizes civil registration as essential for understanding population dynamics and planning services. To address these issues, the NPC is implementing the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (E-CRVS) system, which aims to enhance the registration process.

Currently, there are 4,011 functional registration centers across Nigeria, with plans to expand to 8,000. However, challenges such as lack of awareness, registration points, and digital access in remote areas hinder progress.