World Population Day

Held on : 11th July

The World Population on the 20th anniversary of Five Billion Day, July 11, 2007, was estimated to have been 6,727,551,263. Worldwide, the largest group of young women ever is entering their childbearing years, requiring an expansion of family planning services to meet their needs and enable more couples to have the smaller families they desire. In the long term, smaller families will contribute to individual and family well-being, to a slowdown in population growth rates, and to sustainable economic development. But the number of people on earth is not the real story. The real story is improving the quality of life of every one. A number of interconnected issues play a critical role in today's world: sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and youth, gender and human rights, family planning and safe motherhood, environmental protection, employment and economic development etc.

In 1968 world leaders proclaimed that individuals had a basic human right to determine freely and responsibly the number and timing of their children. About 40 years later modern contraception remains out of reach for millions of women, men and young people. World Population Day was instituted in 1989 as an outgrowth of the Day of Five Billion, marked on July 11, 1987. The UN authorized the event as a vehicle to build an awareness of population issues and the impact they have on development and the environment. Since then, with the United Nations Population Fund's (UNFPA) encouragement, governments, non-governmental organizations, institutions and individuals organize various educational activities to celebrate the annual event. World Population Day is annually observed on July 11 to reaffirm the human right to plan for a family. It encourages activities, events and information to help make this right a reality throughout the world.

The 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) was a milestone in the history of population and development. 179 governments committed to the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). The ICPD prescribes the steps that will not only save millions of women's lives but empower societies to achieve a better future. Concrete goals include providing universal education; reducing infant, child and maternal mortality; and ensuring universal access by 2015 to reproductive health care, including family planning, assisted childbirth and prevention of sexually transmitted infections including HIV. Thus World Population Day aims 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. The day is celebrated worldwide by business groups, community organizations and individuals in many ways. Activities include seminar discussions, educational information sessions and essay competitions.

Alternate Name - The United Nations' (UN) World Population Day

Holidays Status - It is not a public holiday.