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Governments across Asia and the Pacific have made a pledge to ensure all births are registered and all deaths recorded by 2030.
It was adopted at the conclusion of the Third Ministerial Conference on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) in Asia and the Pacific.
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) said progress has been made - the number of unregistered children under five has dropped to 51 million, from 135 million in 2012.
Twenty-nine countries now register over 90 percent of births within a year, while 30 countries achieve the same for death registration.
However, an estimated 14 million children do not have their births registered by their first birthday; and each year, about 6.9 million deaths go unrecorded, most often those occurring outside of health facilities or in remote communities.
UNESCAP executive secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana said these numbers are more than statistics.
"They represent lives without legal recognition and families left without support," she said.
"We have seen inspiring examples of countries reaching the most marginalized, embracing digital innovation and strengthening legal and institutional frameworks."
ESCAP said in its statement the declaration sets out an ambitious roadmap to 2030 and "one that places people at the centre".
"The declaration also highlights the importance of marriage registration and the urgent need to build resilient and inclusive CRVS systems that can withstand future crises and reach everyone, especially the most vulnerable.
"It signals a united drive to close the remaining gaps, build resilient and inclusive CRVS systems and ensure that every person - regardless of gender, location or circumstance - is counted, protected and visible in public policy."
