World Population Day is an annual event that is observed every year on July 11. This day was established to raise awareness about the major issues that surround global population growth and the impact it carries on development and sustainability.
According to Worldometer, the current global population is 8,120,886,060 and rising.
The world's population has undergone a major shift in recent times. It took centuries for the population to reach 1 billion, however, in just a few hundred years, it has grown sevenfold. According to the UN, the population reached the 7 billion mark in 2011. This rapid growth poses many significant challenges.
What is the History of World Population Day?
Here's a breakdown of the origins of World Population Day:
- On July 11th, 1987, the global population reached an estimated five billion people. This milestone grabbed worldwide attention, sparking conversations about population growth. That is why July 11th, became known as the "Day of Five Billion." The interest in this event highlighted the need for a dedicated platform to address population issues.
- In 1989, following the momentum from the Day of Five Billion, the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) established World Population Day.
- In 1990, the first World Population Day was celebrated in more than 90 countries.
The UN mentions: “World Population Day, which seeks to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues, was established by the then-Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989, an outgrowth of the interest generated by the Day of Five Billion, which was observed on 11 July 1987.”
“By resolution 45/216 of December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly decided to continue observing World Population Day to enhance awareness of population issues, including their relations to the environment and development” it adds.
What is the Significance of World Population Day?
World Population Day holds significance for several reasons. Here are some key aspects:
- Increasing Awareness: It provides a worldwide platform that highlights the important concerns related to the growing population. This covers family planning techniques, reproductive health, demographic changes, and how these things are affecting sustainable development.
- Draw Attenntion to Opportunities and Challenges: The day also addresses issues such as poverty, resource scarcity, and environmental stress that is brought on by population growth. However, it also highlights the advantages of a larger population, such as innovation and a more diversified labour force.
- All-Inclusive Data Gathering: Ensuring accurate counts of all people in worldwide censuses has been a recent World Population Day goal. Policymakers need to know this information in order to comprehend population requirements and develop long-term solutions.
World Population Day 2024: Theme
"Leave No One Behind, Count Everyone," the theme for World Population Day 2024, draws attention to a crucial but sometimes neglected feature of population censuses: the inclusive and thorough data collection process. This theme ensures that everyone is fairly represented in the numbers—regardless of background, nationality, geography, or socioeconomic standing.
World Population Day 2024: UN General Secretary’s Message
Here is the UN Secretary-General's Message for World Population Day 2024 which is a call to action:
“This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action. It must also be the year we resolve to accelerate efforts and investments to turn its promises into a reality.
Central to the ICPD Programme of Action is the recognition that women’s sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights are cornerstones of sustainable development.
In the decades since it was adopted, we have made progress. More women than ever have access to modern contraception. Maternal deaths have fallen thirty-four per cent since the year 2000. The women’s movements and civil society have been critical to driving change.
But progress has been unequal and unsteady. It is outrageous that well into the 21st century, around 800 women die needlessly every day in pregnancy and childbirth – the vast majority in developing countries. And in some places, legislative advances in tackling vital issues such as female genital mutilation risk going into reverse.
As the theme of this year’s World Population Day reminds us, investing in data collection is important to understanding problems, tailoring solutions, and driving progress. So is finance. I urge countries to make the most of the Summit of the Future this year to unleash affordable capital for sustainable development.
Let’s deliver on the ICPD Programme of Action for everyone, everywhere.”