II

Technical Papers

Number 31
April 1988

ORGANIZATION AND STATUS OF CIVIL REGISTRATION

IN AFRICA AND RECOMMENDATIONS

F OR IMPROVEMENT

lnterqational Institute for Vital Registration and Statistics

9650 Rockville Pike

Bethesda, Maryland 20814

U.S.A.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

.................................
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I I V R S Survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Structure o f the C i v i l R e g i s t r a t i o n System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Organization of the V i t a l S t a t i s t i c s Survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Status o f C i v i l ,Registration and V i t a l S t a t i s t i c s . . . . . . . . . . . .,.
Recommendations from Regional Seminars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Annex 1. Year of Establishment o f the System f o r R e g i s t r a t i o n

o f L i v e B i r t h s and Deaths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Annex 2. Agencies Responsible for C i v i l R e g i s t r a t i o n and National
Vital Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Foreword

Annex 3.

Annex 4.

Number of Local R e g i s t r a t i o n Offices, Population and Land Area

Served by an Average Local R e g i s t r a t i o n Office, and t h e Estimated
Number o f B i r t h s and Deaths Occurring i n an Average Local
Registration Office

......................
Estimated Completeness o f B i r t h and Death R e g i s t r a t i o n . . . . .

Page

i
1

10

14

15

The program o f the International Institute f o r Vital Registration and Statistics, including the
publication and distribution o f the Technical Papers, is supported by a grant from the United Nations
Fund for Population Activities.

FOREWORD

This report brings together information from various sources on the organizat i o n and status of the c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n and v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s systems i n the various countries on the African continent. Although l e g i s l a t i v e authority for the
r e g i s t r a t i o n o f v i t a l events has existed f o r many years i n the African countries,
r e l a t i v e l y l i t t l e progress has been made i n the development o f national c i v i l
A t present, there are only a few countries i n northern
r e g i s t r a t i o n systems.
Africa and i n the small island countries o f subsaharan Africa with r e g i s t r a t i o n
systems producing usable v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s . The r e g i s t r a t i o n systems i n the other
countries on the African continent are i n different stages of development, but a l l
are i n need of major improvements. I t i s hoped t h a t the information contained i n
t h i s report w i l l provide background data f o r planning strategy for the improvement
o f c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n and v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s i n Africa.

ORGANIZATION AND STATUS OF C I V I L REGISTRATION I N AFRICA

AN0 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT

Introduction

The r e g i s t r a t i o n o f b i r t h s and deaths i s not a new concept i n A f r i c a . I n 28 out o f t h e 36

countries on the A f r i c a n continent, c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n systems have been i n existence f o r more than
50 years1,* (see Annex I).
I n 8 of these countries, namely, Algeria, Ghana, Lesotho, Madagascar,
Mauritius, Seychelles and S i e r r a Leone, a c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n system had been established before the
t u r n o f the century.
Although c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n dates back i n t o c o l o n i a l h i s t o r y i n most African countries, t h i s
does n o t mean t h a t the general population o f these coyntries was covered by the c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n
laws.
I n t h e c o l o n i a l period, the r e g i s t r a t i o n laws encompassed only nationals 'of t h e c o l o n i a l
power, or t h e European population. L a t e r l e g i s l a t i o n included t h e Asians and then p o s s i b l y the
e n t i r e population o f the country. I n most countries o f French-speaking Africa, r e g i s t r a t i o n was
f i r s t l i m i t e d t o French subjects. I n 1950, the r e g i s t r a t i o n law was extended i n a number of these
countries t o include a l l inhabitants r e s i d i n g w i t h i n 10 kilometers from the r e g i s t r a t i o n centers.
I n s t i l l other countries, c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n i s compulsory only f o r the p r i n c i p a l c i t i e s and towns
and/or f o r the c a p i t a l c i t y .
Although information concerning t h e establishment o f a c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n system i s a v a i l a b l e
f o r only 36 out o f the 55 A f r i c a n countries from the two sources c i t e d , i t i s probable t h a t
I t i s also
v i r t u a l l y a l l o f the countries o f the region have some form o f r e g i s t r a t i o n system.
l i k e l y t h a t t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n laws o f the m a j o r i t y o f countries provide f o r r e g i s t r a t i o n coverage o f
t h e e n t i r e population o f the country.
Despite t h i s , only a small number o f countries i n Africa have c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n systems whose
coverage of v i t a l events, especially b i r t h s , are f a i r l y satisfactory.
These are mainly the
countries i n North Africa, namely, Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. I n subsahara Africa, t h e countries
t h a t have a t t a i n e d reasonable nationwide coverage are t h e small i s l a n d countries such as Cape Verde,
Sao Tome, Scychelles and Mauritius.
There has been growing i n t e r e s t i n t h e development o f c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n and v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s
i n Africa. A number o f countries have promulgated l e g i s l a t i o n f o r t h e compulsory r e g i s t r a t i o n o f
Also,
v i t a l events and have been engaged i n studies f o r the improvement o f t h e i r CR/VS systems.
there have been a number o f seminars on c i v i l reqiStratim and v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s i n the A f r i c a n region
which have produced a number o f recommendations f o r the improvement o f c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n and v i t a l
s t a t i s t i c s i n t h e A f r i c a n countries.

I t i s t h e purpose o f t h i s r e p o r t t o review the organization and s t a t u s o f the c i v i l

r e g i s t r a t i o n and v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s systems o f the African countries, and t o present a summary o f the
recommendations made by the various r e g i o n a l seminars f o r the improvement o f c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n and
v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s i n Africa.
I I V R S Survey

I n order t o study the organization o f the c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n and v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s systems i n

the various countries o f the world, the I I V R S embarked on a questionnaire survey i n August 1984. I n
t h e i n i t i a l m a i l out, a v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s questionnaire and a c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n questionnaire were
sent t o the respective o f f i c e s represented i n the I I V R S membership. This was l a t e r supplemented by
a questionnaire t o t h e n a t i o n a l s t a t i s t i c a l o f f i c e s on the United Nations S t a t i s t i c a l O f f i c e m a i l i n g
l i s t which were not i n the I I V R S membership directory. The r e t u r n s on the v i t a l s $ t a t i s t i c s
questionnaire frequently provided the name o f the n a t i o n a l r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e . This was followed
up w i t h a c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n questionnaire t o the o f f i c e so i d e n t i f i e d .

t i o n s Handbook o f V i t a l , S t a t i s t i c s Systems and Methods. Vol. 11, Review o f National Pract i c e s , Series F No. 35, United Nations. NY 1985.

Makannah, T.J.,
Methods and Problems o f C i v i l R e g i s t r a t i o n Practices and V i t a l S t a t i s t i c s C o l l e c t i o n
i n Africa. Technical Report No. 16, I I V R S , 1981.

The q u a l i t y of responses received was g e n e r a l l y good, b u t t h e response r a t e was n o t . A f t e r 3

f o l l o w ups over a p e r i o d o f 7 or 8 months, o n l y 64 percent o f t h e questionnaires sent t o v i t a l
s t a t i s t i c s o f f i c e s i n t h e various c o u n t r i e s o f t h e world were returned. The response r a t e f o r t h e
n a t i o n a l r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e s was considerably poorer, 40 percent.
The response r a t e s for t h e A f r i c a n c o u n t r i e s are summarized i n Table 1. Only 56 percent o f t h e
v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s questionnaire were r e t u r n e d whereas t h e response r a t e f o r t h e c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n
questionnaire was l e s s than h a l f t h a t , 26 percent. The response r a t e f o r t h e English-speaking
c o u n t r i e s was r e l a t i v e l y h i g h whereas they were low f o r other countries. A c t u a l l y , out o f t h e 2 1
francophone c o u n t r i e s i n subsahara, only two countries, Madagascar and Z a i r e , r e t u r n e d a completed
c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n questionnaire.
Table 1.

Questionnaire Response Rate i n Percent

A f r i c a n Continent
Anglophone subsaharan c o u n t r i e s
Francophone subsaharan c o u n t r i e s
Other

vs

CR

'56.4
81.2
38.1
61.1

25.5
56.3
9.6
22.2

S t r u c t u r e of t h e C i v i l R e g i s t r a t i o n System
The o r g a n i z a t i o n of t h e c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n may be centrali,zed or decentralized.
A c e n t r a l i z e d system i s one where t h e network of l o c a l r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e s i s d i r e c t l y c o n t r o l l e d
A decentralized
and administered by a c e n t r a l a u t h o r i t y or an agency i n t h e n a t i o n a l government.
r e g i s t r a t i o n system i s one i n which t h e l o c a l r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e s a r e supervised o r administered by
some a u t h o r i t y a t a subnational l e v e l such as a d i s t r i c t , region, s t a t e o r province.
I n these
instances, t h e r e i s no n a t i o n a l o f f i c e t o oversee t h e l o c a l r e g i s t r a t i o n operations. However, t h e r e
may be a n a t i o n a l agency f o r the c o o r d i n a t i o n o f t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n system and/or f o r e s t a b l i s h i n g
n a t i o n a l standards such as uniform r e g i s t r a t i o n laws, d e f i n i t i o n s o f v i t a l events, r e g i s t r a t i o n
p r a c t i c e s , e t c . I n t h i s region, there i s a t l e a s t one country, Malawi, with a n a t i o n a l r e g i s t r a t i o n
o f f i c e which coordinates b u t does n o t supervise o r d i r e c t t h e D i s t r i c t Commissioners responsible f o r
c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n . T h i s o f f i c e a l s o maintains a f i l e o f i n d i v i d u a l b i r t h and death records.
In
a d d i t i o n t o Malawi, t h e r e are 3 countries, C e n t r a l A f r i c a n Republic, Somalia, and Swaziland with no
The C e n t r a l A f r i c a n Republic was
c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n a u t h o r i t y i n t h e c e n t r a l government.
a n t i c i p a t i n g , a t t h e time o f t h e survey, t h e c r e a t i o n o f a n a t i o n a l center f o r c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n .
I n some countries, t h e r e appears t o be a d u a l system o f r e g i s t r a t i o n . For example, i n E t h i o p i a t h e
M i n i s t r y o f I n t e r i o r i s responsible for t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n o f b i r t h s and deaths i n the r u r a l areas,
whereas the M i n i s t r y o f Housing and Urban Development r e g i s t e r s t h e v i t a l events o c c u r r i n g i n t h e
urban areas. I n Botswana, c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n i s t h e r e s p o n s i b l i t y o f t h e M i n i s t r y o f Home A f f a i r s .
I n a d d i t i o n , t h e M i n i s t r y o f Health receives b i r t h and death n o t i f i c a t i o n s on i n s t i t u t i o n a l as w e l l
as on n o n - i n s t i t u t i o n a l events.
I n t h e c e n t r a l i z e d system o f c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n , t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e may be o f two
types.
The f i r s t i s where the l o c a l r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e s are under t h e d i r e c t c o n t r o l o f t h e
n a t i o n a l r e g i s t r a t i o n a u t h o r i t y . According t o Makannah, t h e n a t i o n a l r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e i n t h e
English-speaking c o u n t r i e s o f A f r i c a i s g e n e r a l l y responsible f o r t h e s u p e r v i s i o n and c o o r d i n a t i o n
o f a l l t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n u n i t s i n t h e country. On t h e other hand, i n t h e French-speaking countries,
Ita more d e c e n t r a l i z e d system e x i s t ; many l o c a l r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e s each independent o f t h e
other--usually named centres principaux--have been established, each responsible for t h e s u p e r v i s i o n
and c o o r d i n a t i o n o f t h e f u n c t i o n s o f r e g i o n a l r e g i s t r a t i o n agencies, u s u a l l y named centres
secondaires1I. This probably means t h a t i n t h e francophone countries, as i n many other c o u n t r i e s i n
A f r i c a and other p a r t s o f t h e world, t h e l o c a l r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e s a r e a p a r t of t h e l o c a l
government a d m i n i s t r a t i v e services n o t i n t h e d i r e c t l i n e o f a u t h o r i t y o f t h e n a t i o n a l r e g i s t r a t i o n
o f f i c e . Under t h i s system, t h e l o c a l r e g i s t r a r s may perform many tasks o t h e r than t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n
o f v i t a l events.
The l a c k o f d i r e c t c o n t r o l or supervision over r e g i s t r a t i o n s e r v i c e s by t h e
n a t i o n a l r e g i s t r a t i o n agency, and t h e number o f other c i v i l and l e g a l functions competing for t h e
a t t e n t i o n o f t h e l o c a l r e g i s t r a r make t h i s system a d m i n i s t r a t i v e l y d i f f i c u l t from t h e c i v i l
r e g i s t r a t i o n p o i n t o f view. This s i t u a t i o n may be f u r t h e r complicated i n c o u n t r i e s where t h e
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e o r g a n i z a t i o n i s n o t t h e same a t the subnational l e v e l s . I n such cases, the n a t i o n a l
r e g i s t r a t i o n a u t h o r i t y w i l l have t o work through more then one m i n i s t r y or department i n
communicating with t h e l o c a l r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e s .

Annex
statistics,
countries,
almost 20
Justice.
Ministry o f

2 i d e n t i f i e s t h e n a t i o n a l agencies l e g a l l y responsible f o r c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n and v i t a l

and t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n a u t h o r i t i e s a t t h e subnational l e v e l . I n about 40 percent o f the
t h e M i n i s t r y o f I n t e r i o r or Home A f f a i r s i s responsible f o r c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n .
In
percent o f the countries, t h e c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n function i s lodged i n t h e M i n i s t r y o f
I n another 113 percent o f t h e A f r i c a n countries, c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n i s centered i n the
Health.

I n c o u n t r i e s with a n a t i o n a l c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n service, 29 out o f 35 are c e n t r a l r e g i s t r a t i o n

agencies.
I n 3 countries, Gambia, L i b e r i a and Sudan, c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n i s t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f
t h e h e a l t h administration.
The c e n t r a l s t a t i s t i c a l o f f i c e i s t h e n a t i o n a l a u t h o r i t y for c i v i l
r e g i s t r a t i o n i n o n l y one country, Nigeria.
L o c a l r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e s . I n a l l c o u n t r i e s , t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n of v i t a l events takes p l a c e a t
t h e l o c a l r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e . These r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e s may be t h e primary r e g i s t r a t i o n u n i t or a
sub-office o f t h e primary unit. The number o f r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e s needed depends upon the
population d i s t r i b u t i o n , and t h e type o f t e r r a i n . I n a small compact country,, r e l a t i v e l y few
i s thinly
r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e s a r e needed. On t h e o t h e r hand, c o u n t r i e s where t h e popul&ion
d i s t r i b u t e d , or where t h e r e are many p o p u l a t i o n c l u s t e r s , w i l l r e q u i r e more r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e s t o
provide t h e same service.
The number o f l o c a l r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e s as r e p o r t e d t o t h e s e v e r a l sources may be seen i n
Annex 3. The i n f o r m a t i o n reported t o t h e U n i t e d Nations S t a t i s t i c a l O f f i c e and t o t h e UN Economic
Commission f o r A f r i c a i s for the year 1979 w h i l e t h e I T V R S survey data a r e for 1984. These f i g u r e s
from t h e d i f f e r e n t sources are n o t n e c e s s a r i l y comparable so t o o much importance should n o t be
attached t o them.
The number o f l o c a l r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e s i n a country v a r i e s g r e a t l y ranging from 4 i n the
Seychelles t o 1271 i n Tunisia. There i s a l s o a l a r g e v a r i a t i o n i n t h e number o f i n h a b i t a n t s per
The
r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e as w e l l as i n t h e average l a n d area served by a l o c a l r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e .
lowest average number o f population per l o c a l r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e i s 2,100 i n t h e Cape Verde I s l a n d s
and t h e l a r g e s t , 472,000, i n Kenya. I n terms o f l a n d area, t h e lowest i s 44 square k i l o m e t e r s per
r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e i n Mauritius. The h i g h e s t i s 38,300 square k i l o m e t e r s per r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e
i n Libya.
These averages are f o r the country as a whole. For urban areas, t h e a c t u a l population served
by a l o c a l r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e w i l l be much greater than the estimated average. The reverse w i l l be
t r u e f o r t h e r u r a l areas. By t h e same token, t h e a c t u a l l a n d area per r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e f o r
c i t i e s and towns w i l l be smaller than t h e estimate, and l a r g e r i n t h e r u r a l areas.
Although the
estimates o f t h e average l a n d area covered by a r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e g i v e some i d e a ' o f t h e t r a v e l
i n v o l v e d i n t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n o f b i r t h s and deaths, they do n o t i n d i c a t e t h e d i f f i c u l t y o f access t o
registration offices.
Some segments o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n on i s o l a t e d i s l a n d s w i t h o u t t r a n s p o r t may
have
problems i n reaching population centers where t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e s a r e located.
Mountainous t e r r a i n may make access t o r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e s d i f f i c u l t .
There may be o t h e r p h y s i c a l
b a r r i e r s which discourage r e g i s t r a t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y f o r a p o p u l a t i o n w i t h o u t i n c e n t i v e s t o r e g i s t e r
v i t a l events.
The estimates o f t h e average number o f people per l o c a l r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e were used as a
population base t o which t h e p r o j e c t e d crude b i r t h and deaths3 f o r 1984 were applied t o estimate the
number of b i r t h s and deaths t h a t w i l l occur i n a p e r i o d o f a year i n t h e area covered by t h e l o c a l
r e g i s t r a t i o n unit. BecauTe o f incomplete r e g i s t r a t i o n i n most o f these countries, the a c t u a l number
of b i r t h s and deaths t h a t a r e being r e g i s t e r e d w i l l be much lower than t h e estimated number.
According t o t h e estimated number o f b i r t h s and deaths o c c u r r i n g i n t h e various countries, the
workload o f an average r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e i s n o t u n i f o r m l y heavy. I n some, t h e r e a r e fewer then
one r e g i s t r a t i o n a day. I n c o u n t r i e s l i k e L i b e r i a , Tanzania, Malawi and Kenya, the r e g i s t r a t i o n
l o a d i n an average day i n a l o c a l r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e i s much heavier. I n L i b e r i a , f o r example,
some 30 r e g i s t r a t i o n s o f b i r t h s and deaths may be expected on an average day i n a l o c a l r e g i s t r a t i o n
o f f i c e assuming t h a t r e g i s t r a t i o n o f v i t a l events is complete. I n Kenya, t h e estimated number o f
v i t a l events o c c u r r i n g i n an average day i n a l o c a l r e g i s t r a t i o n area i s about 95.
7

From World Population: 1984. Recent Demographic Estimates f o r Countries and Regions o f t h e World.
1SP-WP-84.
U.S. Bueau o f t h e Census, November 1984.

&,w&ih.give
o n l y a rough i d e a o f t h e workload.
I n some cases, i t may even be misleading.
Crdy70flthe workload problem, i t i s suggested t h a t t h e number o f b i r t h and death c e r t i f i c a t e s
rIf,i*led.in each l o c a l r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e over a p e r i o d o f time be used. Such a study w i l l
ul for planning t h e establishment o f s u b - r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e s or f o r c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f some
7 registration offices.
5 : '

Central

file

of

v i t a l records.

One o f t h e e s s e n t i a l requirements o f

civil

cegistration

@&em is the p r o v i s i o n f o r permanent storage o f v i t a l records with proper safeguards t o p r o t e c t t h e

r,ecords from loss or damage. A l l t h e c o u n t r i e s t h a t responded t o t h i s question o f permanent
r e p o s i t o r y o f records i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e r e was a c e n t r a l f i l e o f b i r t h and death records. Most of
these f i l e s a r e l o c a t e d i n t h e l o c a l and/or S t a t e r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e s . A few maintained a n a t i o n a l
file.
On t h e o t h e r hand, 3 out o f 14 o f c o u n t r i e s t h a t responded t o t h i s i t e m on t h e questionnaire do
n o t prepare an alphabetic index t o these records. Without an a l p h a b e t i c index, i t would be
d i f f i c u l t , i f n o t impossible, t o f i n d a p a r t i c u l a r v i t a l r e c o r d on f i l e w i t h o u t the k owledge of t h e
exact place and time o f r e g i s t r a t i o n (as contrasted t o t h e t i m e o f occurrence o f t h e event) i n
a d d i t i o n t o t h e personal p a r t i c u l a r s . An alphabetic index t o t h e v i t a l records on f i l e i s e s s e n t i a l
t o f a c i l i t a t e access t o records o f i n d i v i d u a l s for c e r t i f i c a t i o n purposes.

Organization o f t h e v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s system
According t o a v a i l a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n summarized i n Table 2, t h e c e n t r a l s t a t i s t i c a l o f f k e i s
responsible f o r n a t i o n a l v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s i n about 80 percent o f t h e A f r i c a n countries.
I n the
remainder o f t h e countries, n a t i o n a l v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s a r e compiled by t h e n a t i o n a l r e g i s t r a t i o n
o f f i c e and by t h e n a t i o n a l h e a l t h agency.
Table 2.

Countries i n A f r i c a C l a s s i f i e d According t o Agencies P r o v i d i n g V i t a l S t a t i s t i c s

and C i v i l R e g i s t r a t i o n Services

National V i t a l
Statistics
Services

Total

N a t i o n a l R e-g i s t r a t i o n Services

No N a t i o n a l
Registration
Office

Total

Registrat i o n Office

Health Administration

Statistical
Office

Other &
Unknown

29

28

25

Registration
Office

Health Administration

Other & Unknown

1-

No N a t i o n a l

V i t a l Statis-

t i c s Services

-2

-1

-1

39

36

30

Statistical
Office

I n most countries, t h e n a t i o n a l v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s services depend on t h e network o f t h e n a t i o n a l

r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e f o r t h e r e p o r t s of v i t a l events. I n 5 countries, t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r
n a t i o n a l r e g i s t r a t i o n and v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s i s lodged i n t h e same agency. I n Gambia and L i b e r i a , t h e
In
c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n and v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s f u n c t i o n s a r e c a r r i e d o u t i n t h e h e a l t h a d m i n i s t r a t i o n .
Ghana and Kenya, they a r e i n t h e n a t i o n a l r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e . I n N i g e r i a , they are i n t h e c e n t r a l
statistical office.
I

An important advantage o f l o c a t i n g v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s and c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n i n t h e same m i n i s t r y

or a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i s t h e ease o f communication between these two o p e r a t i n g bodies. However, t h e r e
a r e a number o f o t h e r considerations t h a t go i n t o t h e development o f a c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n and v i t a l

s t a t i s t i c s system. One i s the r e l a t i v e strength o f the c e n t r a l s t a t i s t i c a l office.

Ifthere i s a
strong established n a t i o n a l s t a t i s t i c s agency, i t w i l l be d i f f i c u l t t o set up a new n a t i o n a l v i t a l
s t a t i s t i c s d i v i s i o n i n another agency. Another consideration i s the existence of a n a t i o n a l
functional network such as t h a t f o r l o c a l government administration or f o r the d e l i v e r y o f h e a l t h
services.
This explains why the l o c a l r e g i s t r a t i o n services i n so many countries are under the
j u r i s d i c t i o n of town and municipal governments. There are fewer countries where n a t i o n a l and l o c a l
r e g i s t r a t i o n services are p a r t of the h e a l t h services, but t h i s p a t t e r n i s not uncommon.
I n the
case of h e a l t h services, there i s an added advantage i n t h a t many o f the v i t a l events, t h a t i s ,
b i r t h s and deaths, occur i n the health f a c i l i t i e s . Some countries such as Kenya may e l e c t t o
e s t a b l i s h a special r e g i s t r a t i o n network.
Although a n a t i o n a l a u t h o r i t y f o r v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s exists, n a t i o n a l v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s are not
now being compiled by the following countries: Ethiopia, Botswana, the Central African Republic,
Mali, Somalia, Swaziland and Uganda. Although the Planning and Programming Service i n t h e M i n i s t r y
o f I n t e r i o r i s responsible f o r n a t i o n a l v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s i n Ethiopia, i t is reported t h a t a system
has not yet been established. I n Botswana, the Central S t a t i s t i c s Office has not processed the data
t h a t have been c o l l e c t e d thus far. I t i s now experimenting with a special v i t a l s t s t i s t i c s system
on a sample basis i n the r u r a l areas. I n the Central African Republic, v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s are
compiled only for the c a p i t a l c i t y ; the c r e a t i o n o f a n a t i o n a l center for c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n i s
I n Mali, v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s are available only f o r a few c i t i e s . I n Somalia, there i s
anticipated.
n e i t h e r a c e n t r a l r e g i s t r a t i o n a u t h o r i t y nor a n a t i o n a l agency f o r v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s ,
Some l o c a l
government a u t h o r i t i e s have been c o l l e c t i n g v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s but i t i s reported t h a t none have been
found useful.
The Central S t a t i s t i c s Department is now making n a t i o n a l estimates of v i t a l
s t a t i s t i c s through sample surveys i n Somalia. I n Swaziland, the c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n law was
implemented i n January 1984 and the Central S t a t i s t i c a l O f f i c e was expecting t o s t a r t compilation o f
v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s shortly. Uganda reported t h a t the compilation system for v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s has been
i n v i r t u a l disarray because o f l a c k of funds and other problems.
The exact count o f countries which are n o t c u r r e n t l y producing n a t i o n a l v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s i s not
O f the 20 A f r i c a n
known because t h i s s p e c i f i c question was not asked i n the questionnaire.
countries responding t o the United Nations questionnaire, 5 were not making any compilations o f
I n addition, as w i l l be seen l a t e r i n the discussion o f status o f c i v i l
v i t a l statistics.
r e g i s t r a t i o n and v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s , there are a number o f countries compiling v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s based
on incomplete returns.
Basis o f n a t i o n a l v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s . Compilations o f n a t i o n a l v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s are generally
based on i n d i v i d u a l v i t a l records which are transmitted from the l o c a l r e g i s t r a t i o n o f f i c e s through
channels t o the n a t i o n a l v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s agency. However, i n some countries summary reports are
prepared a t a subnational l e v e l and sent t o the c e n t r a l o f f i c e for aggregation i n t o n a t i o n a l t o t a l s .
There are probably others, but o f the African countries, Benin, Central African Republic, L i b e r i a ,
Malawi, Nigeria, S i e r r a Leone and Zaire are known t o use summary reports as a basis of n a t i o n a l
statistics.
The advantage o f summary reports i s t h a t the coding and data processing are done closer t o the
p o i n t o f data c o l l e c t i o n , and problems arising,from poor q u a l i t y o f returns can be more r e a d i l y
rectified.
Another advantage i s t h a t the decentralization o f coding and t a b u l a t i n g makes i t
unnecessary f o r the n a t i o n a l v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s agency t o maintain a l a r g e c l e r i c a l s t a f f .
On the
other hand, the c e n t r a l i z a t i o n o f coding and data processing i s more e f f i c i e n t than a decentralized
A much smaller c l e r i c a l s t a f f w i l l be needed than the aggregate number of people involved
system.
, i n handling the same documents on a decentralized basis.
More important is the p o s s i b i l i t y o f
obtaining uniformity i n coding o f records when coded by the same group c e n t r a l l y . Another important
advantage o f c e n t r a l coding and t a b u l a t i n g o f data from i n d i v i d u a l records i s t h a t i t provides
f l e x i b i l i t y i n making data available. Summary reports l i m i t the a v a i l a b i l i t y o f n a t i o n a l data t o
the contents of summary reports. Lastly, there i s the question o f timeliness.
The decentralized
coding and t a b u l a t i n g of data w i l l take more time than the t r a n s m i t t a l o f i n d i v i d u a l reports o f
v i t a l events t o the n a t i o n a l o f f i c e . Because the c e n t r a l o f f i c e w i l l not be able t o make n a t i o n a l
aggregations from these summary reports u n t i l data for the l a s t r e p o r t i n g area are i n , delays i n the
preparation of summary reports i n even one area w i l l hold up the issuance of n a t i o n a l v i t a l
s t a t i s t i c s . The disadvantages o f a decentralized data processing system f a r outweigh the advantages
so t h a t serious consideration should be given t o the p o s s i b i l i t y o f changing over t o coding
i n d i v i d u a l reports o f v i t a l events and preparing tabulations i n the n a t i o n a l v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s
agency. Despite the o v e r a l l economy t h a t w i l l r e s u l t , i t w i l l increase the n a t i o n a l expenditure for
v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s . Therefore, i t should be recognized t h a t the t r a n s f e r o f functions from the States
t o the n a t i o n a l v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s agency ma take a l i t t l e time t o accomplish, especially i n
countries with l a r g e volumes o f v i t a l records o process c e n t r a l l y .
5

Status o f C i v i l R e g i s t r a t i o n and V i t a l S t a t i s t i c s
The e v a l u a t i o n o f s t a t u s or t h e present s t a t e o f development o f t h e c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n and
v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s systems w i l l i n v o l v e t h e assessment o f various aspects o f t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n and
s t a t i s t i c a l process such as adequacy o f t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n laws and r e g u l a t i o n s , promptness and
completeness o f r e g i s t r a t i o n , e f f i c i e n c y o f services i n p r o v i d i n g c e r t i f i c a t i o n o f v i t a l events,
q u a l i t y of data, adequacy and usefulness o f data produced, t i m e l i n e s s i n t h e issuance o f data, e t c .
Perhaps t h e most u s e f u l s i n g l e index o f s t a t u s i s a measure o f completeness with which b i r t h s and
deaths are r e g i s t e r e d .
P e r i o d i c a l l y , t h e c o u n t r i e s are asked by t h e U n i t e d Nations t o make an assessment o f t h e
r e g i s t r a t i o n completeness o f v i t a l events. These evaluations, (C) f o r r e g i s t r a t i o n completeness o f
90 percent or more and (U) f o r completeness o f l e s s than 90 percent, a r e published i n t h e U n i t e d
Nations Demographic Yearbook. I n some cases, t h e evaluations a r e based on t h e r e s u l t s o f sample
surveys.
Most o f them are "guesstimatesl1. However, i n terms o f t h e U n i t e d Nations standard o f
completeness, these 'fguesstimatesfl probably represent a reasonably good assessment o t h e s i t u a t i o n .
I n a few instances, t h e a u t h o r i t i e s may be over o p t i m i s t i c about t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s &the
compulsory
p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n law.

I n t h e I I V R S survey, t h e questionnaire c a l l e d for t h e a c t u a l percentage o f t h e completeness of

b i r t h and death r e g i s t r a t i o n . This p r e c i s i o n made a proper response a l i t t l e more d i f f i c u l t ,
so
t h a t i n a number o f r e t u r n s , t h e i t e m was l e f t blank. I n Annex 4 a r e shown t h e completeness o f
The data a r e from t h e I I V R S survey, t h e U n i t e d Nations
r e g i s t r a t i o n o f b i r t h s and deaths.
S t a t i s t i c a l O f f i c e and t h e United Nations Economic Commission f o r A f r i c a , and covers a l l t h e
c o u n t r i e s i n t h e A f r i c a n continent, except 3. F o r these 3 countries, i t would seem reasonable t o
assume t h a t r e g i s t r a t i o n completeness i s l e s s than 90 percent.
15 percent o f t h e A f r i c a n c o u n t r i e s a r e meeting t h e acceptable standard of b i r t h
r e g i sOn?
t r a i o n completeness.
These c o u n t r i e s are: Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Cape Verde, M a u r i t i u s ,
Reunion, Sao Tome and P r i n c i p e and Seychelles. The corresponding f i g u r e f o r death r e g i s t r a t i o n i s
11 percent and includes 6 countries, Egypt, Cape Verde, M a u r i t i u s , Reunion, Sao Tome and P r i n c i p e
and Seychelles. A l l t h e Subsaharan c o u n t r i e s a r e small i n s u l a r populations.

The c r i t e r i o n o f 90 percent or more as a measure o f adequacy o f t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n system may be

t o o r i g o r o u s i n some instances. I f a segment o f t h e n a t i o n a l p o p u l a t i o n l i v e s o u t s i d e t h e u s u a l
for
n a t i o n a l s o c i a l and economic c u l t u r e , t h e immediate need f o r r e g i s t r a t i o n may n o t e x i s t ; and if,
example, the f i r s t use o f a c h i l d ' s b i r t h c e r t i f i c a t e i s t o e s t a b l i s h age f o r school entrance l i t t l e
harm i s done i f r e g i s t r a t i o n i s delayed beyond t h e f i r s t year. The l e g a l r e c o r d has value f o r
p r o v i n g i d e n t i t y , age, c i t i z e n s h i p , f i l i a t i o n , m a r i t a l s t a t u s and so f o r t h , p r i m a r i l y i n t h e
s e t t l e d , l a r g e l y urban populations, w h i l e nomadic and t r i b a l populations may have l i t t l e need f o r
such proof. To b r i n g them i n t o t h e mainstream would be contingent on s o c i a l change t h a t may n o t be
imminent i n many countries. S t i l l , i n such countries, t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n system may be more or l e s s
adequately s e r v i n g one o f t h e purposes f o r which i t e x i s t s a t t h e present l e v e l o f demand f o r
i n d i v i d u a l documentation. On t h e other hand, i f a country has i n s t i t u t e d a p o p u l a t i o n r e g i s t e r or a
personal i d e n t i t y system, t h e i n t e g r i t y o f such a system cannot be maintained w i t h o u t an adequate
c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n system f o r a continuous update.
The present c r i t e r i o n o f completeness was e s s e n t i a l l y developed f o r t h e use o f v i t a l records
f o r s t a t i s t i c a l purposes. For t h i s , i t would be i d e a l t o have a nationwide count o f 100 percent o f
t h e v i t a l events o c c u r r i n g i n t h e country, and complete coverage f o r a l l t h e important variables.
How would such data be used? For example, most c o u n t r i e s o f t h e w o r l d a r e now p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h e
WHO program o f Health for A l l by t h e Year 2000. One o f t h e important goals i n t h i s program i s t o
reduce t h e i n f a n t m o r t a l i t y r a t e i n t h e developing c o u n t r i e s t o 50 i n f a n t deaths p e r 1000 l i v e
b i r t h s by t h e year 2000. I t i s expected t h a t i n f a n t m o r t a l i t y r a t e s f o r t h e country as a whole and
f o r t h e geographic areas be used f o r m o n i t o r i n g h e a l t h programs. The question i s , can t h e various
c o u n t r i e s provide t h e necessary data i n s u f f i c i e n t p r e c i s i o n t o p r o v i d e h e a l t h program guidance and
f o r t h e e v a l u a t i o n o f t h e effectiveness o f t h e program? Unless t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n o f b i r t h s and
deaths i s reasonably complete, how would i t be p o s s i b l e t o determine i f t h e s t a t e d goal has been
Unless i n t e n s i v e e f f o r t s are made t o improve c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n , most o f t h e developing
achieved?
c o u n t r i e s i n t h e r e g i o n w i l l n o t be i n t h e p o s i t i o n t o make an assessment o f t h e i r h e a l t h program b y
r
t h e year 2000.

Recommendations from Regional Seminars

The f i r s t A f r i c a n seminar on v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s was held i n Addis Ababa, E t h i o p i a i n 1964 under
the auspices o f the Economic Commission f o r Africa. Since then, 5 other meetings, seminars o r
workshops have taken place. Four o f these were convened by the Union Douaniere e t Economique de
L ' Afrique Central (UDEAC) and the Organisation Commune A f r i c a i n e e t Mauricienne (OCAM) f o r the
Francophone countries o f Africa. Except f o r the recommendations from t h e most recent workshop held
i n Addis Ababa i n 1985 by the\ Economic Commission, t Q e recommendations emanating from the other
regional meetings have been already presented by I I V R S

The recommendations from the various r e g i o n a l seminars and workshops on c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n

v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s i n A f r i c a are given below i n capsule form:
1.

and

Legal Provisions

A l e g a l base f o r the r e g i s t r a t i o n o f v i t a l events and f o r t h e compilation o f i v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s

i s essential. Laws which can be changed only by l e g i s l a t i v e amendments should conkain only those
major elements o f the c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n process which are f a i r l y immutable. Rules and regulations
which can be changed by administrative processes should cover the elements which are expected t o
change over time. Laws, o r amendments thereto, should not be promulgated u n t i l the organization o f
the system has been s a t i s f a c t o r i l y tested.

2.

National and Public I n t e r e s t

National resources need t o be mobilized t o put i n t o operation a strategy t o motivate the p u b l i c

t o r e g i s t e r v i t a l events t a k i n g i n t o account l o c a l customs and t r a d i t i o n s . The usual information
media should be used i n a program f o r the enlightenment of the public.
However, r e l i a n c e on
conventional media i s not enough, e w e c i a l l y i n the r u r a l areas. Person-to-person communication i s
suggested as the most effective means o f enlightenment i n such cases.
3.

Administrative Organization

A n a t i o n a l commission a t the highest m i n i s t e r i a l l e v e l composed o f m i n i s t e r s and/or t h e i r

permanent secretaries o f the relevant agencies with r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r any phase o f c i v i l
r e g i s t r a t i o n and v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s should be created f o r the establishment o f the n a t i o n a l CR/VS
systems.
Also t o be included i n such a commission are representatives o f the major users o f v i t a l
statistics.
Such a commission w i l l also serve as a coordinating mechanism i n a c t i v i t i e s i n v o l v i n g
more than one agency. The designation o f the m i n i s t r y or m i n i s t r i e s t o which the CR/VS systems
should be attached depends on the p o l i t i c a l and administrative organization o f t h e country.
A separate committee i s suggested f o r a program o f p u b l i c enlightenment o f t h e
procedures of the r e g i s t r a t i o n system, and on t h e uses o f v i t a l records by i n d i v i d u a l s .
4.

aims

and

Registration Methods and Procedures

Uniform n a t i o n a l standards on content and types o f r e g i s t r a t i o n documents need t o be

established t o ensure the c o l l e c t i o n o f a minimum o f basic t o p i c s for a l l population groups and
geographic subdivisions.
Documents should be designed and system developed which w i l l i n t e g r a t e
r e g i s t r a t i o n and s t a t i s t i c a l functions and produce alphabetical indexes needed by r e g i s t r a t i o n
personnel and s t a t i s t i c a l data f o r dissemination o f v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s . Provisions should be made f o r
systematic and timely transmission o f v i t a l records t o the c e n t r a l s t a t i s t i c a l o f f i c e .
Because o f the r a p i d d e t e r i o r a t i o n of paper i n Africa, the preservation o f records i s a serious
problem which needs attention. Work i s a l s o needed t o develop an e f f i c i e n t system o f storage and
r e t r i e v a l o f records.
5.

Personnel

The status o f the l o c a l r e g i s t r a r i n the community i s an important factor i n the e f f e c t i v e

performance o f h i s duties. I t i s recommended t h a t the c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n and v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s
personnel be made an i n t e g r a l ' p a r t o f t h e n a t i o n a l c i v i l administration. They should be given
p e r i o d i c t r a i n i n g , in-service courses and appropriate supervision.
Recommendations from Regional Conferences and Seminars on C i v i l R e g i s t r a t i o n and V i t a l S t a t i s t i c s ,
I I V R S Technical Papers No. 18, Sept. 1982.
7

.6. T r a i n i n g

Four l e v e l o f t a i n i
are recognized: (1) P o l i c y makers t o take a two-week study t o u r t o an
A f r i c a n country w i t h a f a i
s a t i s f a c t o r y c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n system; ( 2 ) High l e v e l technicians t o
be h e l d i n a country w i t h a f a i r l y s a t i s f a c t o r y r e g i s t r a t i o n system f o r about 3 months o f l e c t u r e s
and j o b attachment; ( 3 ) D i s t r i c t r e g i s t r a r s f o r 14 days; and ( 4 ) R e g i s t r a t i o n assistants t o be
t r a i n e d f o r two t o seven days on the a c t u a l functions t o be performed.
f

Recommends n a t i o n a l and regional seminars f o r the exchange o f experiences and seeking s o l u t i o n s

t o mutual problems.
Need was
region.

expressed f o r a t r a i n i n g manual which can be used by t h e various

countries

i n the

8. F a c i l i t i e s and Equipment
D i f f i c u l t i e s have been experienced by many countries i n g e t t i n g r e g i s t r a t i o n hwuments and
printing
forms printed. I t was recommended t h a t every e f f o r t be made t o provide the r e g i s t r yht i&
and processing equipment, or t o provide i t with easy access t o such f a c i l i t i e s .
9 . Needed Research and Study

Studies on methods and problems o f c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n systems and v i t a l s t a t i s t i c s c o l l e c t i o n

i n A f r i c a should be undertaken on a p e r i o d i c basis. An inventory o f information on s t a t u s and
problems o f e x i s t i n g r e g i s t r a t i o n systems should be taken t o enable t h e preparation of medium and
long-term programs f o r the expansion and improvement o f the system i n the country.
A study o f c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n problems r e l a t i n g t o t h e nomadic population i s needed.
Also,
special measures need t o be provided f o r remote r u r a l areas where t h e question of distance and
d i f f i c u l t y o f t e r r a i n as w e l l as l a c k o f i n s t r u c t i o n o f the population have t o be taken i n t o
account.
A v i t a l r e g i s t r a t i o n system organization and personnel manual i s needed. This w i l l permit
countries t o use i t as a general framework f o r the elaboration o f t h e i r own system.

the

Research on the best way t o achieve complete coverage should be undertaken.

10. Evaluation

Each n a t i o n should make an evaluation o f - t h e e x i s t i n g r e g i s t r a t i o n system.

11. P r i o r i t i e s

Recognition should be given by Governments t o the fundamental importance o f

c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n system a t the e a r l i e s t possible oppor.tunity

establishing

The States should pay special a t t e n t i o n t o the development o f r e g i s t r a t i o n i n t h e r u r a l areas.

13. Technical Assistance
The United Nations should give the f u l l e s t possible support t o the promotion
r e g i s t r a t i o n i n A f r i c a , i n c l u d i n g m a t e r i a l c o n t r i b u t i o n and t e c h n i c a l assistance.

of

civil

Relevant t e c h n i c a l and research information should be made a v a i l a b l e t o the A f r i c a n

by n a t i o n a l and i n t e r n a t i o n a l agencies.

countries

The World Health Organization i s requested t o conduct courses on coding causes o f

provide assistance i n adapting l a y r e p o r t i n g forms f o r use i n Africa.

death and

14. Other Recommendations

I

There i s need t o consolidate the documentation used i n c i v i l r e g i s t r a t i o n , and t o keep them a t

a minimum consistent with the objectives o f t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n process.

Annex 1.

Year o f Establishment o f t h e System f o r R e g i s t r a t i o n

o f L i v e B i r t h s and Deaths

Country
Algeria
1
Benin

Year

Country

1882

Mali'
Maritania

1933

1
0otswana

Year
1933
1

Chad'

1961

Maur i ti u s
1
Morocco
1
Niger
1
Nigeria
1
Rwanda
1
Senegal

Congo'
1
Gabon
1
Ghana

1922

Seychelles

1939
1

1933

Burkina Faso
1
Burundi
1
Cameroon

1922
1917

Central A f r i c a n Rep.

1933
.

1904
1880
1968

1950
1933
1867
l&2
1916
1893

S i e r r a Leone
1
Somalia
2
South A f r i c a
1
Swaziland
1
Tanzania
1
Togo

1976

1793

1888

Lesotho'
2
Libya

2
Malawi

1940

1940

Guinea-Bissau
2
I v o r y Coast
2
Kenya

Madagascar

1933

TunisiaL
2
Uganda
2
.Zaire

1878
1904

1801
1904
.

1924
1900
1917
1923
1918
1905
1958

'Makannah, T. J. Methods and Problems o f C i v i l R e g i s t r a t i o n Practices and

V i t a l S t a t i s t i c s C o l l e c t i o n i n Africa. I I V R S Technical Paper No. 16,
p. 15-16, July 1981.
2United Nations. Handbook o f V i t a l S t a t i s t i c s Systems and Methods, Studies
i n Methods. Series F No. 35, p. 43, 1985.
Note: There are differences i n t h e information from t h e two sources. Where
they d i f f e r , t h e United Nations appear generally t o r e l a t e t o recent
h i s t o r y , t h a t i s , r e g i s t r a t i o n systems re-established a f t e r independence.
On t h e other hand, Makannah's data go back t o t h e c o l o n i a l period.

Annex 2. Agencies Responsible for Civil Registration and National

Vital Statistics
CIVIL REGISTRATION ADMINISTRATION

National

Subnational

COUNTRY

...

...

Algeria

NATIONAL VITAL STATISTICS OFFICE

...

Angola

Registo civil

Direccao Nacional dos

Registos Notariado e

Identificacao, Ministerio

da Justica

Direccao Nacional de Estadistica

Ministerio da Plano

Benin

Maire

Ministere de 1'Interieur

Institut National de la Statistique

et de 1'Analyse kcpnomique, Minis-

tere du Plan et ie la Statistique

Botswana

District administration

Registration Section
Ministry o f Home Affairs

Central Statistical Office

Ministry o f Finance & Development
Planning

Centres d'etat civil

Ministere de 1'Interieur

None

Burkina Faso

Burundi

...

...

...

Cameroon

Les centres d'etat civil

dans les communes

Direction de la Statistique et de

Service d'Etat Civil

Administration Territorial
la Comptabilite National, Ministere

du Plan et Amenagement du Territoire

Cape Verde

Secretariado adminis-

trativos

Direccao Geral dos Regis-

Oireccao Geral de Estatistica

tos e Notariado, Ministerib

la Justica

Central African

Les centres d'etat-civil

None

Service de 1'Etat-Civil et du

Recensement Demographique, Minis-

tere de 1'Interieur

Chad'

Centres d'etat civil

Ministere de 1'Interieur

Sous-direction de.la Statistique,

Direction du Plan, Ministere de

1'Economic du Plan des Transports

Comoros

Congo

Djibouti

...

...

Bureau d'etat civil (de

chaque zone)

Direction Nationale de

1'Etat Civil

Departement de 1 'adminis-

t.ration du Territoire

...

...

...
Centre National de la Statistique

Department du Plan

...

Egypt

Health centers

Civil Registration
Department, Ministry o f
Interior

Central Agency f o r Public Mobilization and Statistics

Equatorial Guinea

District courts of justice

Juzcado de Distrito

Ministerio de Justica

Culto y Registro Civil

Direccion General de Estadistica

Ethiopia

...

Ministry o f Interior (rural Planning & Programing Service

areas), Ministry o f Housing
and Urban Development
(urban areas 1

10

I :

Annex 2. Agencies Responsible for Civil Registration and National

Vital Statistics (Cont.1
COUNTRY

CIVIL REGISTRATION ADMINISTRATION

National

Subnational

NATIONAL VITAL STATISTICS OFFICE

...

Gabon2

Centres Principaux et

secondaires

Ministeries o f the
Interior and Justice

Gambia

Health inspectors

Medical & Health Dept.,

Ministry of Health,
Labour & Social Welfare

Medical & Health Dept., Ministry

o f Health, Labour & Social Welfare

Ghana

Regional Registration

Offices

Birth & Death Registry

Ministry o f Local
Government

Birth & Death Registry

Ministry o f Locai Government

Registro Civil,

Delegacaoes do Registro

Civil (Sector REgional)

Comissariado de Estado

de Justica

Direcao General de Estadistica,

Cornissariado de Estado de

Disenvolvimento Economico e

Plani facacao

Ivory Coast

Les Mairies et Sous-

Prefectures

Ministere de 1 ;Interieur

Direction de la Statistique

Ministere de 1'Economique et des

Finances

Kenya

Local registry, offices

& District registers

Department of Registrar

General, Attorney

General's Office

Statistics Section, Registrar

General of Births & Deaths

Lesotho

Chiefs & other village

administra'tors

Registrar General's Office

Bureau of Statistics, Ministry
o f Planning, Employment &
Prime Minister's Office

Economic Affairs

Liberia

County registrars

Bureau of Health & Vital

Statistics, Ministry of
Health & Social Welfare

Libya

Civil registration office

Civil Registration Section
Secretariat o f Utilities

Madagascar

Communes

Institut National de la Statistique

Direction du Controle et

et de la Resherche Economique

de la Tutelle des Col-

lectivites, Ministere de
Presidence charge des Finance et

du Plan

1'Interieur

Malawi

District Commissioner Is

office

Registrar General's Dept. , Registrar General's Department

Ministry o f Justice
Ministry of Justice
(coordination & National
files o f births 6 death
records)

Guinea-Bissau

Mali

Mauritania

Mauritius

Centres 1'Etat Civil

Civil Status Office

Census & Statistics Department,

Secretariat of Planning

Direction National de la Statisque

Direction Nationale de

et de 1'Informatique

1'Interieur et de

Collectivite Territoriale
Ministere du Plan

Ministere de 1 Interieur

...

...

Bureau of Health & Vital Statistics

Ministry of Health & Social Welfare

Civil Status Office

Prime Minister's Office

11

...
Central Statistical Office
Ministry o f Economic Planning &
Development

Annex 2. Aqencies Responsible f o r Civil Registration and National

Vitai s t a t i s t i c s (cant.)
COUNTRY
Morocco

CIVIL REGISTRATION ADMINISTRATION

Subnational
National
Bureau locaux d'etat civil Division d'etat Civil
Ministere de 1 ' Interieur

...
...
...

Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria

Rwanda

...

...
...

...
...

Bureaux communaux d'etat

civil

Direction General des

Affaires Politiques et
Administrative
Ministere de 1'Interieur
et du Oevelopment
Communal

...
...

Sao Tome & Principle

...
...

...
Direction Generale de la Statis-

tique, Ministere du Plan

...

...

Senegal'

Centres d'etat' civil

Division de l'etat Civil

Secretariat d'Etat a la
Decentralisation

Direction de la Statistique

Ministere des Finance et des

Affaires Economiques

Seychelles

Government Administration

Civil Status Division

Department of Youth and
Defense

Statistics Division

Sierra Leone

Births & deaths office

Ministry of Health

Office of Chief Registrar

Ministry of Health

Medical Statistics Unit

Ministry of Health

Somalia

None

None

None

Department of Home Affairs

Department of Co-operation
& Development

Central Statistical Services

Department of Constitutional
Development & Planning

Ministry of Health

Department of Statistics
Ministry of Finance & Economic
Planning

South Africa

...

.,

.,
'

Sudan

Hospitals, dispensaries,
dressing stations

Swaziland

Hospitals , clinics,
police stations,
chiefs o f area

Registrar General's Office

Ministry of Justice

Central Statistical Office

Department of Economic Planning
& Statistics

Tanzania

District registry

Office of Registrar
General

Bureau of Statistics
Ministry of Planning & Economic
Affairs

'

12

Nationah Populakon Bureau

Cabinet Office '

...

...

Saint Helena

Direction de la Statistique

Ministere du Plan

...

State ministries of health National Population Bureau

local government & teach- Cabinet Office
ing hospitals

Reunion

NATIONAL VITAL STATISTICS OFFICE

Annex 2. Agencies Responsible f o r Civil Registration and National

Vital Statistics (Cant.1
COUNTRY

CIVIL REGISTRATION ADMINISTRATION

National
Subnational

Togo

Centres d'etat civil

Division des Affaires

Politiques et Administratives, Minister de

1'Interieur

Tunisia'

Centres d'etat civil

(Commune

Ministere de 1 Interieur

District civil .registry

Registrar General of
Births & Deaths
Ministry of Justice

Uganda'

Western Sahara

...

NATIONAL VITAL STATISTICS O F f I E

Direction de la Statistique

Ministere du Plan

'

...

Direction des Statistiques,

Demographiques et Sociales
Institut Nationale de la Statistique
Ministere du P1E;h.
Statistics Department
Ministry o f Planning

...

Zaire

Bureaux de l'etat civil

Etat Zairois
Ministere de Administration du Territoire

Institut National de la Statistique

Ministry du Plan

Zambia

Provincial, district &

subcenters (schools,
health centers &
local courts)

Department of National
Registration
Ministry of Home Affairs

Census & Statistics Department

Zimbabwe

Provincial & district

registries

Central Registry
Ministry of Home Affairs

Central Statistical Office

Ministry o f Finance, Economic
Planning & Development

'United Nations. Handbook of Vital Statistics Systems and Methods Vol. 11. Review of National Practices,
Series F, No. 35, p. 51, 1985.
'Makannah, T. J. Methods and Problems of Civil Registration Practices and Vital Statistics Collection in

Africa, IIVRS Technical Report No. 16, July 1981.

13

Annex 3. Number o f l o c a l R e g i s t r a t i o n O f f i c e s , Population and

Land Area Served by an Average L o c a l R e g i s t r a t i o n O f f i c e ,
and the Estimated Number o f B i r t h s and Deaths Occurring
i n an Average L o c a l R e g i s t r a t i o n Office:
Africa
Country
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Cape Verde
C e n t r a l A f r i c a n Rep.
Chad
Congo
Gabon
Ghana
Guinea-Bissau
I v o r y Coast
Kenya
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mauritius
Morocco
Niger
.Rwanda
Senegal
Seychelles
S i e r r a Leone
Swaziland
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zaire
Zambia
Zimbabwe

No. o f L o c a l
Offices

Population
per Office

Area (Km2)
per O f f i c e

227l
17
7462
926l
15
1832
3502
3542
48l
604
42
1,295'
41
10
46
1,252
24
47

17,100
60,800
9,000
10,300
2,100

7,500
472,000
216,000
81,300
7,700
284,500
21,500
26,500
20,100

500
35,300
370
513
270
3,400
3,670
9743
5,580
395
36,100
250
14,200
11,100
38,300
470
4,900
44
700
4,060

42,100
7,900

180
238

360
14,500
510
1,100
1,100
2,250
395

16,300
21,600
93,000
239,200

70

415

115

410
2,480
10,700

980
4,510
11,100

485
1,440
4,300

130
130
280
2,400
425
6,600

295
175
860

115
40
310
500
60
2,200

888
312l
143l
8232
4
175
72

88

428
1,271*
8452
991
1,772
59

14,200
14,600
4,900
20,000
22,900
210,000

6,800
5,600
18,000
32,300
3,700
142.000

Estimated Annual Number

Births
Deaths

850
2,740
430
450
70
690
715
220
2,000
1,030
8,900
360
24,500
9,700
3,700

1,440
175
6,800

300
760
210
180
\.

28

260
270
80
400
250
4,500
100
5,200
3,240
940
130
6,700
150
320
430
715
140

Makannah, T.S.,
Methods and Probl7ms o f C i v i l R e g i s t r a t i o n P r a c t i c e s and V i t a l S t a t i s t i c s
C o l l e c t i o n i n A f r i c a . I I V R S Technical Papers No. 16, p. 19, J u l y 1981.

*United Nations. Handbook o f V i t a l S t a t i s t i c s Systems and Methods Vol. 11.

Practices, Series F, No. 35, p. 51, 1985.

14

REview o f N a t i o n a l

Annex 4.

Estimated Completeness o f B i r t h and Death R e g i s t r a t i o n :

% Registration

Country

,Angola

Benin

Malawi

Mali2

Botswana

Burkina Faso
Burundi

-Cape Verde
Chad'
2

Comoros
1

Djibouti'

Ethiopia2

Mauritius

Morocco

100

100

40

40

Namibia

...

.c . . u

Niger2

Mozambique

...

11

Nigeria

Reunion

.C

Rwanda

51

S t . Helena'

Sao Tome 13 P r i n c i p e

.C

100

Senegal2

53

58

Seychelles

100

100

S i e r r a Leone2

Egypt
E q u a t o r i a l Guinea

...

C e n t r a l A f r i c a n Rep.

Mauritania

...

Completeness
Birth
Death

U
\

Cameroon

Congo

% Registration

Country

Com~leteness
Birth
Death

Algeria

Africa

100

Gabon

...

...

Somalia

Gambia

50

10

South A f r i c a 2

Ghana

43

28

Sudan

25

23

26

Guinea2

Swaziland2
1

Guinea-Bissau

Tanzania

I v o r y Coast2

Togo

80

15

Tunisia'

Lesotho

25

15

Uganda2

Liberia

35

Western Sahara2

Zaire2

-Zambia2

Zimbabwe'

20

Kenya

Libya
Madagascar

12

90

62

'Makannah, T. J., Methods and Problems o f C i v i l R e g i s t r a t i o n P r a c t i c e s and V i t a l S t a t i s t i c s

C o l l e c t i o n i n A f r i c a . I I V R S Technical Papers No. 16, .p. 17 and 18, J u l y 1981.

United Nations Handbook o f V i t a l S t a t i s t i c s Systems and Methods, Vol. 11.

Practices, Series F, No. 35, p. 73, 1985.

15

Review o f N a t i o n a l

PUBLICATIONS OF THE IlVRS TECHN1CA.L PAPERS

1. A Programme for Measurement of Life and

Death in Ghana, D.C. Mehta and J.B. Assie,
June 1979
2. Vital Statistics System of Japan, Kozo Ueda
and Masasuke Omori, August 1979
3. System of Identity Numbers in the Swedish
Population Register, Karl-Johan Nilsson,
September 1979
4. Vital Registration and Marriage in England
and Wales, Office of Population Censuses
and Surveys, London, October 1979
5. Civil Registration in the Republic of Argentina,
Jorge P. Seaid and Marcelo E. Martin, November 1979
6. Coordinating Role of National Committees on
Vital and Health Statistics, World Health Orga nizat ion, Geneva, January 1980
7. Human Rights and Registrationof Vital Events,
Nora P. .Powell, March 1980
8.. The Organization of the Civil Registration System of the United States, Anders S. Lunde,
May 1980
9. Organization of Civil Registration and Vital
Statistics System in India, P. Padmanabha, July
1980
10. Registration of Vital Events in Iraq, Adnan S .
AI-Rabie, September 1980
11. Generation of Vital Statistics in MBxico,
General Bureau of Statistics, MBxico, N0ve.mber 1980
12. Age Estimation Committee in Qatar, Sayed A.
Taj El Din, December 1980
13. The Development of the Vital Statistics 'System in Egypt, Gama1 Askar, January 1981
14. Vital Statistics Data Collection and -Compilation System: Hong Kong, Donna Shum, March
1981
15. Major Obstacles in Achieving Satisfactory
RegistrationPractices and Vital Events and the
Compilation of Reliable Vital Statistics, IIVRS,
May 1981
16. Methods and Problems of Civil Registration
Practices and Vital Statistics Collection in
Africa, Toma J. Makannah, July 1981
17. Status of Civil Registrationand Vital Statistics
in El Sa1vador;Enrique Olmado Sosa, July 1982

18. Recommendations from Regional Conferences

and Seminars on Civil Registration and Vital
Statistics, IIVRS, September 1982
19.' Potentials of Records and Statistics from Civil
Registration Systems for Health Administration
and Research, lwao M. Moriyama, September
1982
20. Improving Civil Registration Systems in Developing 'Countries, Forrest E. Linder, October
1982
21. Social Indicators Derived from Vital Statistics,
Nora P. Powell, November 1982
22. The Operation of the Vital Statistics System of
the United States of America, A n d b S.
Lunde, April 1983
23. Demographic Information from Vital Registra.tion Offices in Mexico, 1982, Juan 'Carlos
Padilla, Jose Garcia NuAez and Jaime Luis
Padilla, June 1983
24. 'General Description of Population Registration
in Finland, Hannu Tulkki, July 1983
25. The National Importance of Civil Registration
and the Urgency of Its Adaptation to a Modern
Society, Committee on Legal and Organizational Requirementsfor a Civil Registration Sys.tern in Latin America, August 1983
26: Study of A Civil Registration System of Births
and Deaths-An Experiment in Afghanistan,
B.L. Bhan, October 1983
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