A shorter version of this article appeared on BMJ Blogs on October 31, 2013 under the same title. Co-written with Himabindu G L of IPH, Bangalore.
Much of the material remains unprocessed, or, if processed, unanalysed, or, if analysed, not read, or, if read, not used or acted upon
Basic demographic information forms the basis of policy, planning and public
discourse. The system through which governments record vital events such as births and deaths is the civil registration system. Defined by the United Nations as “the continuous, permanent, compulsory and universal recording of the occurrence and characteristics of vital events”, it forms the basis for identity, citizenship and civil rights. Established perhaps first by Sweden, as early as 1631, its importance was globally recognised and more countries have worked towards establishment of efficient and comprehensive civil registration systems.