The data shows that birth registration in Nigeria increased from 47 per cent in 2016 to 57 per cent in 2021.
A new report has shown that only 57 per cent of children born in Nigeria are registered at birth with civil authorities.
The report, 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), indicates that over 40 per cent of children are still unregistered in the country.
Speaking on the findings of the survey at a media dialogue in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, UNICEF's chief of Monitoring for Result (M4R), Claes Johanson, said although there is a 10 per cent increase in number of birth registration between 2016-2021, there is still an existing gap to be filled.
Mr Johanson said birth registration increased from 47 per cent in 2016 to 57 per cent in 2021.
He said Lagos state recorded the highest number of birth registration with 94 per cent, closely followed by the FCT with 87 per cent. States with the lowest registration are Jigawa with 23.6 per cent and Sokoto with 22.5 per cent.
More findings
The survey shows that three per cent of children under the age of five had their births registered, but do not have birth certificates.
It also indicates that two out of every three mothers and caregivers of children aged below five years whose births were not registered did not know how to register births.
It shows that the percentage of children under the age of five whose births are registered ranges from as high as 89 per cent for the richest wealth quintile to as low as 33 per cent for the poorest wealth quintile.
MICS SURVEY
The MICS Survey is a household survey developed by UNICEF to assist countries in filling data gaps for monitoring human development indicators in general and the situation of children and women, in particular.
It has evolved over the years to respond to changing data needs, expanding from 28 indicators in the first round in 1999 to 200 in its current sixth.
About NBS
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) implemented MICS which provides data on child mortality, health, nutrition, education, child and social protection, women's healthcare and empowerment, water, sanitation and hygiene.
MICS was launched on 16 August alongside the National Immunisation Coverage Survey (NICS) by Nigeria's Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, who was represented by the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed.
