Web Desk: The World Population Day is being observed on Friday.
The theme of this year is ‘Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world.’
Origin:
World Population Day was established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1989, inspired by “Five Billion Day” on July 11, 1987, when the world’s population reached approximately five billion.
Purpose:
The day aims to raise awareness about global population issues, including family planning, gender equality, poverty, maternal health, human rights, and their interconnections with environment and development.
Global Trends:
The global population is estimated to be over 8.1 billion in mid-2025 and is projected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030. While global growth rates are slowing due to declining fertility rates, certain regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, continue to experience significant growth.
Challenges and Opportunities:
World Population Day highlights both the challenges posed by population growth, such as pressure on resources and infrastructure, and the opportunities, particularly the potential for a “demographic dividend” in countries with a large working-age population.
Youth Focus:
The 2025 theme underscores that the current generation of young people (ages 10-24) is the largest in history. Empowering them with education, healthcare, and reproductive autonomy is crucial for sustainable development. Many young people face barriers like economic instability, limited access to healthcare, and anxiety about the future, which impact their ability to form the families they desire.
