Population and housing censuses are one of the primary sources of data needed for formulating, implementing and monitoring policies and programmes aimed at inclusive socioeconomic development and environmental sustainability. Population and housing censuses are an important source for supplying disaggregated data needed for the measurement of progress of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially in the context of assessing the situation of people by income, sex, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability and geographic location, or other characteristics.

In recognition of the above, the ECOSOC resolution E/RES/2015/10 establishing the 2020 World Population and Housing Census Programme urges Member States to conduct at least one population and housing census during the period from 2015 to 2024, taking into account international and regional recommendations relating to population and housing censuses and giving particular attention to advance planning, cost efficiency, coverage and the timely dissemination of, and easy access to, census results for national stakeholders, the United Nations and other appropriate intergovernmental organizations in order to inform decisions and facilitate the effective implementation of development plans and programmes.

The indicator tracks the proportion of countries that have conducted at least one population and housing census in the last 10 years and hence provides information on the availability of disaggregated population and housing data needed for the measurement of progress of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The introduction of indicator 17.19.2 (b) as part of the SDG global framework reflects the recognition of the fundamental role of the civil registration system to the functioning of societies, and the legal and protective advantages that it offers to individuals. The essential purpose of civil registration system is to furnish legal documents of direct interest to individuals. Aside from the direct and overarching importance of civil registration to the public authorities, in that the information compiled using the registration method provides essential data for national and regional preparation and planning for medical and health-care programmes, the role played by civil registration in proving, establishing, implementing and realizing many of the human rights embodied in international declarations and conventions reflects one of its most important contributions to the normal functioning of societies.

(b) The two sub-indicators of the indicator 17.19.2(b) are expressed as proportions: at the global level, the proportion of countries that have achieved 100 per cent birth registration is measured as the number of countries that have achieved 100 per cent birth registration to the total number of countries. The computation is done in an analogous manner for the death registration part as well as for the regional measurements of both birth and death registration sub-indicators.

The latest compiled data for this indicator are part of the Statistical Annex to the 2017 SG’s progress report, available at https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/files/report/2017/secretary-general-sdg-report-2017–Statistical-Annex.pdf (please refer to the last two pages). These data are compiled using the country-reported information on availability and completeness of birth and death registration data at the country level, to the United Nations Demographic Yearbook, via the Demographic Yearbook Vital Statistics questionnaire and accompanying metadata. United Nations Demographic Yearbook collection and associated online compilations are published by the United Nations Statistics Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Please refer to: https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/default.htm

At the present time, the thresholds used for compiling the data for the indicator 17.19.2(b) are 90 per cent for birth registration and 75 per cent for death registration, due to the classification that has been used in the Demographic Yearbook metadata questionnaire on vital statistics. This classification has currently been modified to enable reporting according to the exact formulation of the indicator 17.19.2(b).

(a) The indicator could be disaggregated by geographic region.

(b) By their definition, the sub-indicators of the indicator 17.19.2(b) refer to the national levels of completeness of birth and death registration.

However, knowledge of the birth and death registration completeness at sub-national administrative areas, as well as by income, sex, age group, disability status, etc. is very important for monitoring and improving the functioning of birth and death registration systems.

(b) No attempts are made to provide estimates of completeness of birth and death registration, when such information is not reported via the United Nations Demographic Yearbook data collection.

(b) Not applicable

(b) The regional values of this indicator, presented at the Statistical Annex to the 2017 SG’s progress report, available at https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/files/report/2017/secretary-general-sdg-report-2017–Statistical-Annex.pdf (please refer to the last two pages), are compiled as follows:

17.19.2 (b.1) Number and proportion of countries with birth registration data that are at least 90 per cent complete: The number of countries or areas on each of the listed regions with birth registration data that are at least 90 per cent complete, and the proportion of such countries or areas to the total number of countries or areas in the respective region.

17.19.2 (b.2) Number and proportion of countries with death registration data that are at least 75 per cent complete: The number of countries or areas on each of the listed regions with death registration data that are at least 75 per cent complete, and the proportion of such countries or areas to the total number of countries or areas in the respective region.

(b) Not applicable since the information is derived from country reporting.

(b) Principles and Recommendations for a Vital Statistics System, Revision 3 , United Nations, New York, 2014 https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/standmeth/principles/M19Rev3en.pdf

(b) Principles and Recommendations for a Vital Statistics System, Revision 3, Part three, I, “Quality assurance and assessment of civil registration and register based vital statistics”

Follow up with National Statistical Offices as part of the annual United Nations Demographic Yearbook data collection, validation and processing.

(b) For the current availability please refer to the Statistical Annex to the 2017 SG’s progress report, available at https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/files/report/2017/secretary-general-sdg-report-2017–Statistical-Annex.pdf (please refer to the last two pages).

(a) ECOSOC resolution E/RES/2015/10 establishing the 2020 World Population and Housing Census Programme requests the Secretary-General to “monitor and regularly report to the Statistical Commission on the implementation of the Programme”. In response to this request UNSD regularly monitors the progress of implementation of population and housing censuses across Member States. UNSD sends a survey to all countries soliciting detailed metadata on census methods at three points (beginning, mid, end) over the 10-year spanning a census decade (currently the 2020 census round covering the years 2015-2024). In addition, information is also collected through the annual questionnaires sent to countries as part of the UN Demographic Yearbook collection.

(b) The national level of completeness of birth and death registration is provided by the National Statistical Offices of all countries and areas to the United Nations Statistics Division as part of the annual data collection for the United Nations Demographic Yearbook. This information is usually reported as part of the metadata worksheets of the Vital Statistics questionnaire. The template of this questionnaire is available at: https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dybquest.htm

(b) The first quarter of each year

(b) Annually

(a) National Statistical Office or Census Agency

(b) National Statistical Offices of all countries and areas.

(a) http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/sources/census/wphc/default.htm

References:

Resolution adopted by the ECOSOC on 10 June 2015 establishing the 2020 World Population and Housing Census Programme

United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses, Rev.3

(b) Principles and Recommendations for a Vital Statistics System, Revision 3, United Nations, New York, 2014 https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/standmeth/principles/M19Rev3en.pdf

United Nation Demographic Yearbook, United Nations, New York, annual
https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2.htm

Statistical Annex to the 2017 SG’s progress report, https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/files/report/2017/secretary-general-sdg-report-2017–Statistical-Annex.pdf