PURPOSE: By the resolution 45/216 since 1989, The World Population Day is observed every year on 11 July, The Day seeks to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues, including their relations to the environment and development. A population and housing census is among the most complex and massive peacetime exercises a nation can undertake. It requires careful planning, resourcing and implementation – from mapping an entire country, mobilizing and training large numbers of enumerators, and conducting major public awareness campaigns, to canvassing all households, carefully monitoring census activities, and analysing, disseminating and using the resulting data. The United Nations Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs conducts demographic research, supports intergovernmental processes at the United Nations in the area of population data, population development, and assists countries in developing their capacity to produce and analyse population data and information.
FORUM: ".Empowering Youth to Build the Families They Want." World Population Day 2025. Global fertility rates are falling, prompting warnings about “population collapse.” But the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)’s State of World Population report shows the real issue is a lack of reproductive agency—many people, especially youth, are unable to have the children they want. The observance this year, will highlight this challenge, focusing on the largest-ever generation of young people. The theme calls for ensuring youth have the rights, tools, and opportunities to shape their futures. Young people are already driving change, but face major obstacles: economic insecurity, gender inequality, limited healthcare and education, climate disruption, and conflict. A UNFPA–YouGov survey of over 14,000 people in 14 countries found most wanted more children but were prevented by social, economic, or health barriers. To respond to global population trends effectively, leaders must prioritize young people’s needs and voices. They need more than services—they need hope, stability, and a future worth planning for. As one youth activist told UNFPA, “Young people are not just thinking about their future children—they are thinking about the world those children will inherit.” Supporting their rights is key to sustainable development, peace, and human dignity. The UNFPA’s flagship State of World Population report showcases global population data, including fertility rate, gender parity in school enrolment, information on sexual and reproductive health, and much more. Together, these data shine a light on the health and rights of people around the world, especially women and young people. This World Population Day reminds us that reproductive freedom is not about the ability to have children, but to build a world where every young person has the power to decide for themselves, when, with whom and how many children they will have. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #WorldPopulationDay; #11july, #sustainablefuture, #programmeofaction, #population, #LeaveNoOneBehind, #CountEveryone #megatrends, #icpd30.
EVENTS: On July 11th; the high-level event to mark World Population Day 2025 under the theme “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world,” , the UNFPA and the Specialized agencies will highlight the need or reliable data collection and analysis tools. This World Population Day is a moment to ask who is still going uncounted and why – and what this costs individuals, societies and our global efforts to leave no one behind. It is also a moment for all of us to commit to doing more to ensure that our data systems capture the full range of human diversity so that everyone is seen, can exercise their human rights and can reach their full potential which will help achieve progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.“ During the celebration, we will reflect not just on numbers– but on lives, futures, and the shared responsibility we all hold in shaping a sustainable world. UNFPA emphasizes that supporting young people to realize their reproductive potential is not only a matter of health, but also a matter of sustainable development. Ensuring access to comprehensive sexual education, youth-friendly health services, employment opportunities, and inclusive decision-making processes are all essential steps towards creating a better future for young people. Read the concept note and register to participate!
CEREMONY: The aim of the UN Population Award Ceremony 2025 is to celebrate the achievements of laureates and their contributions to the development and/or implementation of solutions to issues and questions related to population and development. Each year, the Committee for the United Nations Population Award honours an individual and/or institution in recognition of outstanding contributions to population and reproductive health questions and to their solutions. The Award was established by the General Assembly in 1981, in resolution 36/201, and was first presented in 1983. It consists of a gold medal, a diploma and a monetary prize. The Committee for the United Nations Population Award is comprised of 10 UN Member States, with United Nations Secretary-General and UNFPA Executive Director serving as ex-officio members. Nominations for the award are accepted through 31 December of each year. Watch the 2025 United Nations Population Awards Ceremony!
PUBLICATIONS: Read the UNDESA World Population Prospects and the UNFPA 2025 State of World Population report entitled ‘The Real Fertility Crisis” - In 2025, falling fertility rates are making global headlines, with some governments warning of a “population collapse” and introducing drastic policies to boost births. But at the same time, millions of people still can’t have the number of children they actually want. According to UNFPA’s latest State of World Population report, the real crisis isn’t about population numbers. It’s about people losing the ability to make their own choices. It’s a crisis of reproductive freedom.
STATEMENTS: Read the statement from the United Nations Secretary-General on World Population Day 2025 and the Statement from the UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem on World Population Day 2025; July 11th.
PODCASTS: Focusing exclusively on population totals and growth rates misses the point – and often leads to coercive and counter-productive measures and the erosion of human rights. In fact, people are the solution, not the problem. Experience shows that investing in people, in their rights and choices, is the path to peaceful, prosperous and sustainable societies. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: This year, the UNFPA calls for a renewed commitment to empowering young people to shape their reproductive futures; Participate to the 2025 Campaign “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world.” and Get the communication materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
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PARTNERSHIPS
The World Population Day is co-hosted by the United Nations Information Centres; The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); The U.N. Population Division of the United Nations Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA); The U.N. Data; The United Nations Statistical Division; The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); The Institut national d'études démographiques (INED); The Oxford University iInitiative - Our World in Data. We work also with many partners, both within and outside the United Nations system, including Governments, non-governmental organizations, civil society, faith-based organizations, religious leaders and others, to organize the Day.
World Population Day is an annual event, observed on July 11th every year, which seeks to raise awareness of global population issues. The event was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989. Despite these challenges, the story behind 8 billion and how we’ve got here is a story of triumph. We have reduced poverty and achieved remarkable advancements in healthcare. There are more of us humans than ever before due, in part, to increasing life expectancy and declining infant and maternal mortality. The UNFPA works to support family planning by: ensuring a steady, reliable supply of quality contraceptives; strengthening national health systems; advocating for policies supportive of family planning; and gathering data to support this work. UNFPA also provides global leadership in increasing access to family planning, by convening partners – including governments – to develop evidence and policies, and by offering programmatic, technical and financial assistance to developing countries.
The challenges facing humanity are acute: generation-defining issues such as climate change, conflict and COVID-19 are disproportionately affecting the most marginalized and vulnerable among us.
Enhance awareness of population issues, including their relations to the environment and development.
Help people who live in poverty.
Give assistance to people who suffer from hunger and malnutrition.
Adopt the 9 standards to uphold the human right to family planning.
Give access to healthcare and social protection.
Help children and Youth to complete quality primary and secondary education.
Recognize the fundamental right for women to make decisions over their bodies and futures.