The United Nations(UN)’s World Population Day is annually observed across the globe on 11th July to focus on the urgency and importance of population issues and their relation to environment and development issues.
Background:
i.In 1989, the then-Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) established World Population Day, an outgrowth of the idea generated by the “Day of Five Billion” observed on 11th July 1987.
ii.The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/45/216 in 1990 and decided to continue the observance of “World Population Day”.
iii.World Population Day was first observed on 11th July 1990 in more than 90 countries across the globe.
Significance:
i.The World Population Day 2022 offers a platform to celebrate human progress.
ii.The UN has been working on addressing these complex and interrelated issues through the works of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
Population Trends: UN:
i.According to the UN’s data, the global population reached the 7 billion mark in 2011 and it was almost 7.9 billion in 2021. In 2022, the population is set to reach the mark of 8 billion.
ii.Between 2000 and 2020, the global population grew at an average rate of 1.2% per year, around 48 countries or areas grew at least twice as fast, this included 33 countries or areas in Africa and 12 in Asia.
iii.The world’s population is expected to grow to almost 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050, and 10.9 billion in 2100.
iv.The data also shows that the fertility rates and life expectancy have increased in the past few years.
v.By 2015, total fertility for the world had fallen to below 2.5 children per woman which was around 4.5 children per woman in 1970.
vi.The average global lifespans have increased from 64.6 years in the early 1990s to 72.6 years in 2019.
India will overtake China in population during 2023
According to the 27th edition of United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division’s 2022 World Population Prospects, India is projected to surpass China as the world’s most populous country in 2023.
- As of now, China retains the status of most populous country in the world with 1,426 million, but India’s population is 1,412 million which considered to be slightly less than China.
- But this projection leads to the India Population will reach 1.668 billion in 2050 meanwhile China’s Population will be 1.317 billion.
- The report also mentioned that the world population is projected to reach 8 billion on November 15, 2022.
About United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA):
UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency.
This aims to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
Executive Director– Dr Natalia Kanem
Headquarters– New York, United States of America (USA)
