World Population Day is observed every year on 11 July to raise awareness of global population issues. The main purpose of this day is to draw attention towards the issues arising out of rising population across the globe. India has the world’s second-largest population after China.
The World Population Day is observed with the goal of highlighting the difficulties created by overpopulation and raising awareness about how overpopulation may harm the ecosystem and progress of humanity.
History of World Population Day
The day came about in 1989 when it was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme. It was inspired by the public interest in Five Billion Day on 11 July 1987, the approximate date on which the world’s population reached five billion people. The United Nations General Assembly decided to continue observing the day through its resolution 45/216 of December 1990 to enhance awareness about population issues, including their relations to the environment.
World Population Day serves to highlight the growing problems that come with a growing global population. Overpopulation is a crucial issue, especially considering that world resources are depleting at an unsustainable rate. Awareness about the effects of overpopulation on development and nature is emphasized. The increasing population also sheds light on health problems faced by women during pregnancy and childbirth, making the need for family planning, gender equality, and maternal health more important than ever.
The Theme of World Population Day 2021
This year, the theme of World Population Day 2021 is ‘the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on fertility’. It is organised by the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).