A government issued identification number, often referred to as a national identification number, is a unique identifier assigned to individuals by a government entity to facilitate identification and authentication. For instance, the United States Social Security Number (SSN) is a well-known example of a government issued identification number.
Government issued identification numbers are crucial for various reasons. They enable efficient record-keeping, streamline administrative processes, and prevent fraud. Historically, the need for such numbers emerged with the growth of administrative systems and the increasing complexity of modern societies.