World Population Day (WPD) 2025

World Population Day (WPD) has observed on Friday, July 11, 2025, with the theme: "Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world". It is an important United Nations initiative that highlights the significance of global population growth and its implications for sustainable development.

Key Highlights of World Population Day (WPD)

Theme for 2025:

• "Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world"
  This theme emphasizes the importance of reproductive rights, gender equality, and youth empowerment.

Background and History of World Population Day:

• Origin: The idea for World Population Day was established in 1989 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) following the global attention generated by "Five Billion Day" on July 11, 1987, when the world's population hit 5 billion.

• The day was first observed on July 11, 1990, and has been commemorated annually since then, in over 90 countries, to raise awareness about global population issues.

• Dr. K.C. Zachariah, a senior demographer at the World Bank, proposed the celebration of this day.

• In December 1990, the UN General Assembly decided to keep World Population Day as an annual event to promote greater understanding of how population issues intersect with environmental sustainability, development, and human rights.

Key Facts about the World’s Population:

• Global Population: The world population has crossed 8.2 billion as of July 2025.

• Population Growth: The population is expected to continue growing, reaching 9.7 billion by 2050, and 10.4 billion by the mid-2080s.

• India's Population: India has the largest population in the world, with 1.46 billion people, slightly ahead of China’s 1.41 billion. India’s population growth is projected to reach 1.7 billion in the next 40 years before it starts to decline.

• Fertility Rate in India: India’s total fertility rate (TFR) has fallen below the replacement level, a significant demographic shift.

Population Projections:

• Population Peak: The world’s population is expected to peak in the 2080s at around 10.4 billion.

• India’s Demographics: India’s growing population presents both challenges and opportunities for socio-economic development, with a strong focus on youth who will need to be equipped with the tools to address these challenges.

Focus Areas of World Population Day:

1. Sustainable Development: The goal is to highlight the need for sustainable practices to support the increasing population, including better resource management and equitable distribution of wealth.

2. Reproductive Rights: Ensuring access to family planning services and resources for individuals, especially young people, to make informed decisions.

3. Gender Equality: Addressing the inequalities that affect women and girls, especially in access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, which are essential for managing family planning and population growth.

4. Youth Empowerment: Empowering young people to make decisions about their reproductive health and future, providing them with education and opportunities that help them thrive in an evolving world.

Conclusion:

World Population Day 2025 will be a key moment to reflect on the global demographic trends and their implications for our planet’s future. The theme this year is a reminder of the importance of empowering young people with the knowledge and tools they need to shape the families and societies they want in a fair, hopeful, and sustainable world.