To assess the current state of the world's civil registration and vital statistics systems based on publicly available data and to propose strategic development pathways, including priority interventions, for countries at different levels of civil registration and vital statistics performance.We applied a performance assessment framework to publicly available data, using a composite indicator highly correlated with civil registration and vital statistics performance which we then adjusted for data incomparability and missing values.Globally, civil registration and vital statistics systems score on average 0.70 (0-1 scale), with substantial variations across countries and regions. Scores ranged from less than 0.50 in emerging systems to nearly 1.00 in the most developed systems. Approximately one fifth of the world's population live in the 43 countries with low system performance (< 0.477). Irrespective of system development, health sector indicators consistently scored lower than other determinants of civil registration and vital statistics performance.From our assessment, we provide three main recommendations for how the health sector can contribute to improving civil registration and vital statistics systems: (i) enhanced health sector engagement in birth and death notification; (ii) a more systematic approach to training cause of death diagnostics; and (iii) leadership in the implementation of verbal autopsy methods. Four different civil registration and vital statistics improvement pathways for countries at different levels of system development are proposed, that can constitute a blueprint for regional civil registration and vital statistics strengthening activities that countries can adapt and refine to suit their capabilities, resources, and particular challenges.