World Population Day 2025: Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Future Amid Global Population Growth

World Population Day, observed annually on July 11, is a significant global event dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges and implications of population growth worldwide. The idea for this day originated in 1989 when the United Nations recognized the critical importance of population-related issues. This decision was inspired by the milestone reached on July 11, 1987, when the world population hit five billion people—a moment commemorated as "Five Billion Day." The proposal to mark this occasion as World Population Day was put forward by Dr. KC Zachariah, a senior demographer at the World Bank, who recognized the need to highlight global population concerns.

It took hundreds of thousands of years for the world population to reach one billion, but in just over 200 years, it increased sevenfold. This rapid growth raises important questions about sustainability and resource management. Today, the global population continues to grow steadily, with projections indicating it may reach around 9.7 billion by 2050. However, this growth is accompanied by a growing concern about a possible “population collapse” driven by declining fertility rates—the average number of children born per woman—which could lead to a shrinking population in some regions.

World Population Day serves as a platform to discuss these pressing issues. Over time, the focus has evolved beyond just population growth to encompass broader themes such as maternal health, child welfare, family planning, and human rights, particularly reproductive rights and choices. Reproductive rights refer to individuals' ability to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and family size, without discrimination or coercion. On this day, there is also emphasis on gender equality, youth empowerment, and ensuring equal access to education and healthcare, which are crucial for sustainable development.

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres' message for World Population Day 2025 highlights the urgency of addressing the consequences of population dynamics.

The theme for 2025, "Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world," focuses on the largest-ever generation of young people worldwide.

It underscores the importance of providing young adults with the rights, resources, and opportunities to determine their own futures, especially in the context of family planning and reproductive choices.

Population growth impacts resources and the environment, making it essential to promote access to reproductive health services and family planning. Family planning involves the ability of individuals and couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and the spacing and timing of their births, which directly affects population trends and socio-economic development.

Must read | State of World Population Report 2025

As of 2025, the world’s population is expected to cross 8.23 billion, with countries like India leading with approximately 1.46 billion people, followed closely by China with 1.42 billion. Other populous countries include the United States with 347 million, Indonesia at 286 million, Pakistan with 255 million, Nigeria at 238 million, Brazil at 213 million, Bangladesh with 176 million, Russia at 144 million, and Ethiopia with 135 million.

These figures highlight the uneven distribution of the global population, influencing national policies and international efforts to manage population growth and development challenges.

Did you know?

• Fears about the future—such as climate change, environmental degradation, wars, and pandemics—are impacting fertility decisions, with nearly 1 in 5 saying these concerns have led or would lead them to have fewer children than desired.

• Economic factors, including housing, childcare costs, and job insecurity, are major limits on family size; 39% reported financial issues affecting their ability to have their desired number of children.

• The global average age of childbearing has risen steadily and now stands at 28 years.

• Nearly 20% of adults of reproductive age expect they won’t be able to have their desired number of children.

• Access to reproductive healthcare remains a challenge, with 18% reporting difficulty obtaining contraception or fertility-related services.

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