UN Reference Framework for Civic Data
Central Data Registry
The Central Data Registry (CDR) is a UN reference framework that provides pre-modeled civic data concepts — Person, Address, Document, and more — so governments don't have to define them from scratch.
A shared vocabulary for civic data
Today, every country builds its own data models for civil registration, identity, and business formalization. The result: duplicated effort, incompatible systems, and costly integration when cross-border interoperability is needed.
CDR offers a shared vocabulary with country profiles. Each government adopts the subset it needs while maintaining full sovereignty over its data. No personal information ever touches the central registry.
Designed for government agencies, UN development programmes, and system integrators building digital public infrastructure.
Use Cases
Civil Registration
Birth, marriage, and death records built on standardized Person and LifeEvent schemas — enabling consistent vital statistics across jurisdictions.
Trade Facilitation
Business registration and licensing aligned across borders, reducing friction for cross-border trade and regulatory compliance.
Digital Identity
National ID systems grounded in interoperable data models, ensuring identity credentials can be verified and trusted across systems.