World Population Day is observed each year on July 11 and aims to raise awareness on various population issues such as the importance of family planning, gender equality, poverty, maternal health and human rights. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Rights and choices are the answer: Whether baby boom or bust, the solution to shifting fertility rates lies in prioritizing the reproductive health and rights of all people.” The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fertility will take center stage this year as the main theme for the commemoration.
This event was inspired by the massive surge of public interest in Five Billion Day, which took place on July 11, 1987. This was the date on which the world’s population officially reached five billion people. Since 1989, the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Program has promoted this holiday to continue to raise awareness of population issues on a global scale.
Global overpopulation is a major issue, especially when considering the unsustainable rate at which the world’s resources are depleting. World Population Day purposefully highlights the continuing issues that come hand in hand with a growing global population, with an emphasis on raising awareness of overpopulation on development and nature. This year specifically, the theme is shedding light on problems faced by women during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as creating a greater need for family planning, gender equality and maternal health.
“Close to a billion people – one-eighth of the world’s population – still live in hunger. Each year, two million children die through malnutrition. This is happening at a time when doctors in Britain are warning of the spread of obesity. We are eating too much while others starve”. – Jonathan Sacks
While there are smaller events nationwide, the UN hosted an online panel discussion with leading demographers and population experts on Wednesday, July 14. This event was moderated by Mr. Raj Kumar, founding President and Editor-in-Chief of Devex, and covered the impact of the pandemic on fertility preferences and behaviors, the availability and use of family planning, teenage marriage, challenges of data collection and more. To view the presentation, click on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N85SsWRJQeI.
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Please watch:
World Population Day 2021 | Facts about World Population Day | What is the Current Population 2021 video length: 7min
Dave Gardner discusses World Population Day video length: 4 min
