Basic Information
World Population Day is an annual event observed on 11 July to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues in the context of overall development plans and programs and the need to find solutions for these issues.
Observed on: July 11
Organized by: UNDP, UNFPA, UN
Introduced in: 1989 (UN Proclamation)
Observed: Worldwide
About World Population Day
The Governing Council of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) declared 11 July as the World Population Day through its decision 89/46 in 1989. It was inspired by public interest on five billion day on 11 July 1987, an approximate day on which World Population reached five billion. In 1994 an International Conference on Population and Development was conducted, where 179 governments recognized that reproductive health and gender equality are essential for achieving sustainable development.
This day is chosen to celebrate in order to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues in the context of overall development plans and programs and the need to find solutions for these issues.
Observance on the day is on the basis of a theme selected for that year. The aim of the observation is to give awareness about different problems or issues arise at time due to growing population.
World population is growing rapidly. The population growth had profound implications on development. This growth in population is an opportunity as well as a challenge with implications on sustainability, urbanization, access to health services and youth empowerment.
Activities and Programs on World Population Day
Different programs and activities are conducted across the world to give knowledge about different methods of family planning and disadvantages of bigger families. Also many programs are conducting across the world to raise awareness about different problems arises due to growing population based on a theme selected for particular year.
World Population Day is celebrated across the world with programs to increase people’s awareness on various population issues such as the importance of family planning, including gender equality, poverty, maternal health and human rights. Many business groups, community organizations and individuals are taking part in this celebration with different programs.
Programs like walkathon, seminars, competitions, discussions, education information sections etc. are conducting on this occasion to spread the message.
United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) encouragement, governments, non-governmental organizations, institutions and individuals organize various educational activities to celebrate the annual event.
In India activities and programs with regards to stabilizing national population is organizing by a registered autonomous society under the Ministry of health and family Welfare called Janasankhya Sthirata Kosh (JSK) (National Population Stabilization Fund). It is undertaking programs and activities to achieve its goal of achieving population stabilization at a level consistent with the needs of sustainable economic growth, social development and environment protection, by 2045.
Theme for World Population Day
World Population Day 2020 Theme is “Putting the breaks on COVID-19: how to safeguard the health and rights of women and girls now“
There is no specific theme for World Population Day 2019. The day calls for global attention to the unfinished business of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development.
World Population Day 2018 Theme was “Family Planning is a Human Right“
2017 Theme: Family Planning: Empowering People, Developing Nations
2016 Theme: Investing in Teenage Girls
2015 Theme: Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies
2014 Theme: A time to reflect on population trends and related issues and Investing in Young People
2013 Theme: Focus is on Adolescent Pregnancy
2012 Theme: Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services
2011 Theme: 7 Billion Actions
2010 Theme: Be Counted: Say What You Need
2009 Theme: Fight Poverty: Educate Girls
2008 Theme: Plan Your Family, Plan Your Future
2007 Theme: Men at Work
2006 Theme: Being Young is Tough
2005 Theme: Equality Empowers