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: "To leave no one behind, count everyone." World Population Day 2024. as we mark this year observance, the importance of collecting inclusive data – counting everyone, everywhere, as they are – takes the spotlight. An often unrecognized hero, reliable data have helped drive global advancements in women’s access to reproductive care, reductions in maternal death and improvements in gender equality. But there is much to be done. Thirty years ago, at the landmark International Conference on Population and Development, world leaders called for reliable, timely, culturally relevant data, broken down by gender, ethnicity and other factors. While data collection and analysis tools have vastly improved since then, these changes have also exposed significant information gaps and potential risks, including the misrepresentation or misuse of data. So we have not yet delivered on that call to action. In an increasingly unpredictable world – with rapid population growth in some places, rapid ageing in others, and climate change, conflict and crises everywhere – reliable population data are more important than ever, and must be used to reach and respond to the needs of those who have been left behind. Too many people, communities and needs are going uncounted and unaccounted for. Indeed, research in UNFPA’s flagship State of World Population report shows that the world’s most marginalized communities have been largely excluded from progress. Why? Because we are not prioritizing investments in population data systems, or making data collection safe for all people, or working with marginalized communities to ensure they are represented. New and innovative data tools can bring invisible issues to light and illustrate the full picture of people’s experiences. But these applications must be carefully managed: Biases and risks to privacy remain unresolved concerns around technology such as artificial intelligence, or AI. As the world moves into a new era of data collection, societies must work to ensure that processes respect people’s rights and protect their information, while gathering data that capture multifaceted experiences. Countries and societies must champion data collection that counts people as they are, in all their complexity. To be sure, data alone cannot tell the whole story. Too often, data reduce people to simple statistics – reinforcing stereotypes, biases and stigma. Combating prejudice and inequality requires updating our data-collection processes to be inclusive, equitable and transparent. Individuals are experts in their own experiences. Empowering people, especially those left behind, to share their full stories and selves in data collection is key to a more resilient and equitable future for all. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #WorldPopulationDay; #11july, #sustainablefuture, #programmeofaction, #population, #LeaveNoOneBehind, #CountEveryone #megatrends, #icpd30.
EVENTS: On July 11th; to mark World Population Day 2024, 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.
MEETINGS: At UNHQ, Starting at 17:30 pm. EST will be launch of ICPD30 Think Pieces entitled “Navigating Megatrends: The ICPD Programme of Action for a Sustainable Future.” To mark the 30th anniversary of the ICPD, and as the international community prepares for the Summit of the Future in September 2024, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has produced five Think Pieces exploring key themes shaping the future of the ICPD mandate and providing future-focused ideas on how to achieve the PoA in a world of radical transformation. The think pieces are entitled - 1: Demographic Change and Sustainability - 2: The Future of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights - 3: The Future of Population Data - 4: ICPD and Climate Action - 5: A Safe Digital Future. The think pieces are intended to prompt discussion on future priorities and directions for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and accelerating, advancing and amplifying the vision and principles of the ICPD. Developed under UNFPA's leadership, the Think Pieces include technical contributions from more than 50 experts from the UN system, academia, civil society and INGOs. Read the Concept Note and watch the livestream!.
PUBLICATIONS: Read the World Population Propects and the 2024 State of World Population report entitled ‘‘Interwoven Lives, Threads of Hope” - Celebrating 30 years of progress · Weaving a path forward · Who has been left out? .
STATEMENTS: Read the statement from the United Nations Secretary-General on World Population Day 2024 and the Statement from the UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem on World Population Day 2024; 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: To end inequality, to find and grow peace and prosperity, to weave more threads of hope, the world needs to do more for inclusion. Participate to the 2024 Campaign “To Leave No One Behind, Count Everyone.” 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.