Vietnam has approved a new National Action Program on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) for 2026–2030, marking a major step toward modernizing the country’s administrative data systems. The program aims to ensure that all vital events, births, deaths, marriages, and other civil status changes, are recorded accurately, promptly, and in digital formats.

A core priority is expanding and digitalizing birth registration. The government targets a timely birth registration rate of 95% by 2028 and 98.5% by 2030, with all children born in medical facilities receiving birth certificates, including electronic versions. The plan also introduces a two-phase “retroactive digitization” process to ensure that every living Vietnamese citizen holds a valid legal birth certificate by 2030.

The program further strengthens management of marital status records. By 2028, all divorce data from court judgments will be synchronized directly from the Supreme People’s Court to the Electronic Civil Status Database, with real-time synchronization expected by 2030 to streamline procedures and improve data quality.

Implementation will be overseen by a National Steering Committee led by the Minister of Justice and including representatives from key ministries. By accelerating digital transformation and enhancing local-level authority, the government aims to build a transparent, citizen-centered civil registration system that supports human rights and inclusive socio-economic development.

The National Action Program was developed with support from UNFPA and Vital Strategies.

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