Enhancing Birth Registration in Indonesia: Addressing Disparities and Strengthening Vital Statistics Systems

Winida Albertha, BPS - Statistics Indonesia
Bellia Mega Sari, BPS-Statistics Indonesia

Birth registration is crucial for legal identity, human rights protection, and evidence-based policymaking, yet disparities persist, particularly in low and middle-income countries. In Indonesia, birth registration is mandated by law, with national targets aiming for universal registration by 2024. However, estimates from the National Socio-Economic Survey (Susenas) indicate that only 83% of children under five had birth certificates in 2023, leaving over 3 million unregistered. These unregistered children face heightened vulnerabilities, including limited access to education, healthcare, and protection against exploitation. This study utilizes Susenas data from 2015 to 2023 using multilevel binary logistic regression to examine household and regional-level factors associated with birth registration. The findings identify significant barriers, including demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, and regional disparities, contributing to unequal access to registration services. The study emphasizes the importance of addressing gaps in birth registration to strengthen Indonesia’s civil registration and vital statistics systems. By identifying key barriers, it provides actionable insights for aligning national efforts with the Regional Action Framework on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics. This study advocates for targeted policy reforms to ensure equitable access to legal identity, thereby advancing human rights and supporting sustainable development by ensuring every child’s right to be registered and recognized.

Keywords: Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, Population Policies, Multi-level modeling , Civil Registration and Vital Statistics

See extended abstract.