Africa’s share of unregistered children is nearly double that of South Asia and over four times the rest of the world combined

Key Takeaways

  • 56% (91 million) of unregistered children live in Africa, more than the rest of the world combined.
  • South Asia follows with 32%, while the rest of the world accounts for just 12%.
  • Africa’s share of unregistered children is nearly double that of South Asia and over four times that of the rest of the world.
  • This disparity underscores the urgent need for improved civil registration systems in high-impact regions.

Birth registration is a fundamental right, yet 164 million children remain invisible to legal systems worldwide. Africa bears the heaviest burden, with 56% of these unregistered children (over 91 million) deprived of official identity, nearly double South Asia’s 32% and over four times the rest of the world’s 12%.
This lack of documentation locks millions out of basic services like healthcare, education, and social protection. With more than half of the crisis concentrated in one region, urgent action is needed to strengthen birth registration systems and ensure every child’s right to an official identity.

Source:

UNICEF

Period:

2022
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