World Population Day: An Overview

  • World Population Day is an annual observance held on 11th July to create awareness about globally pertinent population issues and the significance of reproductive health and rights.
  • It is an initiative of the United Nations, initially established in 1989.
  • The day encourages global action and solutions, aiming to encompass global population concerns and reproductive health in essential dialogues.

World Population Day

 

Parsing through History

  • The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) suggested 11th July to be acknowledged as World Population Day in 1989. The goal was to cultivate international awareness about the importance and urgency of dealing with population issues.
  • "Five Billion Day", observed on 11th July 1987 when the world population hit 5 billion, had evoked global public interest and influenced the conception of World Population Day.

Theme of the Year: 'Leave No One Behind, Count Everyone'

  • The theme for World Population Day 2024 is "Leave no one behind, count everyone", aiming to ensure every person is considered in population-related discussions, plans, and actions.
  • The theme emphasises inclusivity and equal consideration for all, irrespective of their social, economic, or geographical status.

Monitoring Global Population Growth

  • The world's population is progressively rising; it reached 7 billion in 2011 and stood at nearly 7.9 billion in 2021.
  • Future predictions suggest that the global population will continue to grow, potentially hitting around 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050, and a staggering 10.9 billion by 2100.
  • As per the UN's World Population dashboard, India's population stands at around 1.428 billion in 2024.

Importance of World Population Day

  • World Population Day encourages collective cognizance and action on global population-related issues such as human rights, poverty, maternal health, gender equality, and sustainable development.
  • It promotes the significance of reproductive health and rights, enabling individuals globally to have a deeper understanding and play their part in encouraging responsible behaviours and policies.
  • The day also persuasively underscores the pressing need to manage unruly population growth which confronts existing resources and sustainable development.

Trivia: Globally, China and India are the two countries with the highest populations. On a continental scale, Asia houses more than half of the world’s population. Each year, more than 80 million people are being added to the world’s population.