The Statelessness Index (https://index.statelessness.eu/) is an online comparative tool developed and maintained by the European Network on Statelessness (ENS), 1 that assesses European countries’ law, policy, and practice on the protection of stateless people and the prevention and reduction of statelessness against international norms and good practice. ENS has worked with its members to research and compile comparative information on statelessness in 32 countries in Europe so far, with further countries to be added in future updates. For information on the Statelessness Index methodology and how country data is gathered and analysed, see: (https://index.statelessness.eu/about/methodology). How is birth registration assessed in the Statelessness Index? The Statelessness Index and country analysis presented in this briefing use the following set of benchmarks to assess countries’ law, policy and practice on birth registration. The benchmarks are drawn from international and regional human rights standards, soft law, relevant reports, and consultation with experts. These benchmarks and their sources can be viewed in more detail on the Statelessness Index website. 1. Law and practice provide that all children are registered immediately upon birth, but not later than one year after birth, regardless of the ethnicity, disability, illness, migration or residence status, sexual and/or gender identity of their parents or family members. 2. Documentary proof of birth is issued to children regardless of ethnicity, disability, illness, their or family members’ residence/documentation status or parents’ sexual or gender identity. 3. Any official determination of the child's nationality is carried out by a competent authority with the necessary expertise, in line with good practice, and follows an established procedure that adheres to the best interests of the child. 4. The State determines whether a child would otherwise be stateless as soon as possible after birth. Such a period does not exceed five years. 5. There are no mandatory requirements for authorities to report undocumented individuals to immigration authorities. State clearly prohibits the sharing of information about migrants suspected of irregular presence with immigration authorities and these firewalls are binding on State authorities and the private sector. 6. Free and prompt birth registration is assured in law and practice even if the period within which the birth should have been declared has expired. The Index assessment for each of the 32 countries is intended to reflect their overall performance on birth registration across the six benchmarks. Elements of good practice from different countries as well as barriers to realising birth registration are highlighted throughout this briefing. These examples are illustrative and, given country performance varies both within and across the different benchmarks, they do not necessarily reflect the country’s performance and consequent assessment on birth registration overall. The Statelessness Index data is updated on a biannual cycle, so the overall assessment may change over time. This briefing was published in November 2024 based on Index data accurate as of January 2024. All sources for the assessments and examples presented in this briefing can be found in the Statelessness Index country surveys.