Worldwide Progress in Granting Millions Official Identification

The number of people without official identification has fallen to 800 million worldwide — down from 1 billion in 2017 — according to the World Bank’s latest Identification for Development report.

“Proving who you are is the first step to participating fully in society,” the report notes, highlighting how secure ID systems allow citizens to access services, exercise rights, and connect to the digital economy.

Progress is accelerating through national digital platforms like Singapore’s SingPass and Indonesia’s IKD, which now serve 16 million users. Yet challenges remain: 2.9 billion people still lack digital IDs for online transactions, and women continue to face greater barriers to ownership and use. With sustained global cooperation, experts say, universal and inclusive identification is within reach — unlocking opportunity for billions.