ESCWA Publication: E/ESCWA/CL4.SIT/2025/TP.1
Country: Arab region, People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Kingdom of Bahrain, Union of the Comoros, Republic of Djibouti, Arab Republic of Egypt, Republic of Iraq, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Lebanese Republic, State of Libya, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Sultanate of Oman, State of Palestine, State of Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Federal Republic of Somalia, Syrian Arab Republic, Republic of Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Republic of Yemen
Publication Type: Information material
Cluster: Statistics, Information Society and Technology
Focus Area: Population dynamics & migration, Statistics
Initiatives: Older persons, Population & Housing Censuses, Civil registration & vital statistics
SDGs: Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being
Keywords: Algeria, Arab countries, Automation, Bahrain, Birth statistics, Capacity building, Civil registration, Comoros, Data analysis, Data quality, Divorce statistics, Djibouti, Egypt, Government policy, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Marriage statistics, Mauritania, Mortality statistics, Oman, Qatar, Questionnaires, Recommendations, Saudi arabia, Somalia, State of palestine, Syrian arab republic, Technical cooperation, Tunisia, Vital statistics, United arab emirates, Yemen
Report on the progress made by Arab countries in civil registration systems to produce high-quality vital statistics
March 2025
The present report provides an overview of the progress made by Arab countries in civil registration systems to produce high-quality vital statistics, based on a questionnaire prepared by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in December 2023. The report includes a descriptive analysis of the progress made at the national level over the past three years in implementing the regional strategic framework for improving civil registration and vital statistics systems in Arab countries for the period 2021-2025, and proposals for the coming years.
The questionnaire was completed by national statistical offices in 19 Arab countries in coordination and consultation with the authorities and ministries concerned with civil registration and vital statistics. It aims to identify good national practices, the difficulties facing the improvement and modernization of civil registration systems in accordance with national priorities, and the countries’ needs in terms of capacity-building programmes and technical assistance that may be provided by relevant United Nations and regional organizations.
The results of the questionnaire indicate that most Arab countries still need further capacity-building training programmes to continue developing their civil records in the coming years, especially in the following areas: computerization and electronic connectivity, data quality assurance, international concepts or terminology and evaluation of vital statistics systems, classification or coding of causes of death, and development of marriage and divorce statistics system. The report concludes by showing the disparities between Arab countries in terms of the efficiency of their civil registration systems to produce high-quality vital statistics.
Related content
Population dynamics & migration
, Statistics
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The present report provides an overview of the progress made by Arab countries in civil registration systems to produce high-quality vital statistics, based on a questionnaire prepared by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in December 2023. The report includes a descriptive analysis of the progress made at the national level over the past three years in implementing the regional strategic framework for improving civil registration and vital statistics systems in Arab countries for the period 2021-2025, and proposals for the coming years.
The questionnaire was completed by national statistical offices in 19 Arab countries in coordination and consultation with the authorities and ministries concerned with civil registration and vital statistics. It aims to identify good national practices, the difficulties facing the improvement and modernization of civil registration systems in accordance with national priorities, and the countries’ needs in terms of capacity-building programmes and technical assistance that may be provided by relevant United Nations and regional organizations.
The results of the questionnaire indicate that most Arab countries still need further capacity-building training programmes to continue developing their civil records in the coming years, especially in the following areas: computerization and electronic connectivity, data quality assurance, international concepts or terminology and evaluation of vital statistics systems, classification or coding of causes of death, and development of marriage and divorce statistics system. The report concludes by showing the disparities between Arab countries in terms of the efficiency of their civil registration systems to produce high-quality vital statistics.
