National identification number

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A national identification number or national identity number is used by the governments of many countries as a means of uniquely identifying their citizens or residents for the purposes of work, taxation, government benefits, health care, banking and other governmentally-related functions. They allow authorities to use a unique identifier which can be linked to a database, reducing the risk of misidentification of a person. They are often stated on national identity documents of citizens.

The ways in which such a system is implemented vary among countries, but in most cases citizens are issued an identification number upon reaching legal age, or when they are born. Non-citizens may be issued such numbers when they enter the country, or when granted a temporary or permanent residence permit. Such numbers may also locally referred to as a national insurance number, social security number, tax identification number, JMBG/EMBG or by their local name.

Some countries issued such numbers for a separate original purpose, but over time become a de facto national identification number. For example, the United States developed its Social Security number (SSN) system as a means of organizing disbursing of welfare benefits. The United Kingdom issues National Insurance Numbers for a similar purpose. In these countries, due to lack of an official national identification number, these substitute numbers have become used for other purposes to the point where it is almost essential to have one to, among other things, pay tax, open a bank account, obtain a credit card, or drive a car.^[1][2]