World Population Day: History, Significance, Objectives

By : Neha Dhyani

Updated : Feb 23, 2022, 6:34

World Population Day is an annual event that takes place on 11th July each year to raise awareness about worldwide population issues. The event was founded by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989. It was sparked by the public interest in Five Billion Day, which occurred on 11th July 1987, when the world's population hit five billion people. The main goal of World Population Day is to raise public awareness about issues such as family planning, gender equality, poverty, maternal health, and human rights.

When Dr K.C. Zachariah was working as a Sr. Demographer at the World Bank, he suggested commemorating the day when the population hits five billion. While the media and general public's interest in the global population increases in increments of billions, the worldwide population grows by 100 million people every 14 months. 

World Population Day Timeline

Year

Event

1804

The world reaches its first billion

1927

The world population doubles to 2 billion.

1960

The world's population surpasses 3 billion people.

1989

The United Nations recognizes 11th July as World Population Day.

2000

The population doubles to 6 billion in just 40 years after reaching 3 billion.

2022

The current world population is at 7.9 billion

Why is World Population Day Celebrated?

Every year on 11th July, the world commemorates World Population Day to highlight the problems caused by overpopulation and raise awareness about how overpopulation can impact the environment and humanity's progress. Family planning, poverty, sexual equality, maternal health, civil rights, and the health challenges that childbearing women face are also discussed on the day.

The purpose of the celebration is to draw attention to the community's reproductive health issues, which are the leading cause of ill health and fatalities among pregnant women around the world. Every year, the World Population Day campaigns are held with the aim of improving people's reproductive health and family planning knowledge and abilities.

Sexuality-related difficulties among youth, particularly those aged 15 to 19, urgently need to be addressed. It is a human right to have access to safe, voluntary family planning measures. It is also crucial to emphasize gender equality and support women's empowerment as well as poverty reduction. Investments in family planning to improve economic and other benefits that can help move development forward.

Objectives for Celebration

  1. Safeguard and empower young people of all genders.
  2. Provide individuals with detailed information on sexuality and postpone marriages until they are able to grasp their responsibilities.
  3. Educate youths on how to avoid unplanned pregnancies using realistic and youth-friendly techniques.
  4. Eradicate gender stereotypes by educating individuals.
  5. Raise public knowledge about the dangers of early childbirth and educate people about pregnancy-related disorders.
  6. Educate individuals on STDs (sexually transmitted illnesses) to keep them safe from infection.
  7. Ensure that all children have equitable access to primary education.
  8. Ensure that reproductive health services are easily accessible everywhere.
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FAQs About World Population Day

  • Which place has the Densest Population in the World?

Monaco has the Densest Population in the World.

  • What is the Percentage of Millenials in the Total Population?

Millennials constitute 27% of the Total Population. 

  • What is the Total Population of the World in 2022?

The Total Population of the World in 2022 is 7.9 billion.