Death registration

Civil registration, that is the official registration of births and deaths is an important aspect of demography that is attempted worldwide with varying degrees of success. In the developed world it is largely successful, enforced by law and provides very valuable and accurate demographic data.

In the least-developed countries it is usually only successful in urban areas and even there is often unreliable. As such it is virtually useless as a process to provide accurate demographic data. In between these extremes there is a spectrum of success.

Civil registration not only provides demographic data but is also a civil procedure that enables certain benefits to be facilitated. Registration of births may allow certain benefits to be received. In many countries school enrolment is only possible with a valid birth certificate. Marriage registration enables legal rights to be established for the partners and their offspring.

Death registration may allow some benefits to be made available – bereavement and funeral-related benefits – but it has much less utility to many people, especially rural people, and therefore is ignored by many people in less-developed countries. It is especially ignored when the deceased is a very young child.

Death registration is also closely related to supplying a cause of death and this adds a further complication, and therefore a disincentive, to registration.