ID4D Global Dataset 2021: Volume 3 - Trends in Identification for Development (English)

This paper accompanies the release of new qualitative indicators as part of the WorldBank's Identification for Development (ID4D) Global Dataset, vastly expanding thedescriptive data available for each country's identification (ID) system to establish aclearer picture of the global ID landscape. The authors collected new data through asurvey of ID authorities and a comprehensive desk review of public materials for 175countries, available for download at http://id4d.worldbank.org/global-dataset. This paperand data are intended to serve as a benchmarking tool, an information repository, anda catalyst of discussion for ID practitioners and the broader ecosystem of stakeholdersworking on identity and civil registration. While the data are accurate to the best of ourability, significant missingness in some variables highlights the need for improved publicinformation and crowdsourcing to ensure up-to-date information about these criticalsystems. This paper begins with a discussion of our objectives and methodology, followedby a description of global trends in identification, organized according to major stagesof the identity lifecycle: registration, issuance, use, and management. In-depth countryexamples are provided to illustrate certain patterns and outliers.