Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) systems in low- and middle-income countries

This supplement covers various aspects of how to strengthen civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems in low- and middle-income countries. Eight peer-reviewed manuscripts included in this issue discuss topics such as institutional arrangements, linking CRVS with other systems, recommendations on hosting options for electronic CRVS systems, obstacles to birth registration, economic analysis of producing vital statistics using civil registration data, and more. Country examples and best practices from around the globe are included to provide practical guidance. It is important to improve CRVS systems globally, because they are the foundation for establishing a legal identity for individuals; for collecting reliable and continuous population data to be able to make informed decisions on government policies, programs, and services; and for monitoring national and subnational level development plans and the Sustainable Development Goals.