The completeness of birth registration in Eswatini rose to 61 per cent and death registration to 62 per cent in 2025, according to data released by the Central Statistical Office on Monday.
The figures were announced during the commemoration of the 9th Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Day held at the UN Building in Mbabane. The event was hosted by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development through the CSO.
In 2016, birth registration completeness stood at 8.3 per cent and death registration at 26.5 per cent. The commemoration was held under the continental theme: “The New CRVS Decade (2027–2036): Consolidating the Gains of APAI-CRVS and Securing the Future of CRVS in Africa through Integration, Decentralization and Digitalization.”
displaying the CSO report.
Three documents were launched during the event: the 2025 CRVS Annual Report, the findings of the Verbal Autopsy Pilot and the Standard Operating Procedures for Birth and Death Registration.
The SOPs were developed by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
Officials said the procedures are intended to standardize birth and death registration processes across health facilities, civil registry offices and community structures.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Minister of Home Affairs, Minister Mabulala Maseko, said civil registration and legal identity are critical for inclusive development, effective governance and the protection of individual rights.
Maseko noted that Eswatini continues to make significant progress in strengthening its CRVS system. He attributed the improvement to increased decentralization of services, collaboration with the health sector, and engagement with traditional leadership.
“Civil registration and legal identity are important in promoting inclusive development, effective governance and the protection of individual rights,” Maseko said.
UNFPA Eswatini Officer-in-Charge, Thamary Silindza, said reliable CRVS data is essential for understanding population trends and for planning public programmes.
“Reliable CRVS data is important in understanding population trends, designing targeted programmes and strengthening public health interventions,” Silindza said.
She further stated that as the country advances toward digitalisation, CRVS systems must remain inclusive, accessible, secure and trusted.
The Verbal Autopsy Pilot findings launched at the event are expected to improve cause-of-death statistics for deaths that occur outside health facilities. The method uses structured interviews to determine probable causes of death.
Stakeholders present reaffirmed commitments for the upcoming decade. Key priorities identified include integration of CRVS data with other government systems, decentralisation of registration services and digitalisation of records and processes.
Participants cited the need for strengthened collaboration across government ministries, the health sector, justice, statistics, traditional leadership, development partners and communities.
The message adopted at the commemoration was that every person should be counted, every vital event registered, every identity recognised and no one left behind.
Despite the gains recorded since 2016, registration completeness remains below universal coverage. Authorities said efforts will continue to close remaining gaps, particularly in rural areas.
