The United Nations Statistics Division is the primary agency responsible at an international level for

- collecting official national data on natality and mortality, that is on fertility, foetal deaths and deaths. Data on natality have been collected from national statistical offices and disseminated through the Demographic Yearbooksince its first issue in 1948.

A review of the national reporting of fertility and mortality data (United Nations, 2004) describes the experience of countries with regard to reporting of the requested data to the Demographic Yearbook for the period 1961 to 2000, and relate national practices with respect to classifications to relevant international recommendations for fertility.

- issuing guidelines and methodologies in the collection, compilation and dissemination of statistics on natality and mortality.

- documenting and disseminating country practices and activities in the collection, compilation and dissemination of statistics on natality and mortality – United Nations Statistics Division Work programme on the improvement of civil registration and vital statistics

- providing technical guidance and support to countries in collecting, compiling and disseminating natality and mortality statistics.