World Population Day 2025: Empowering Youth in a Changing World
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In light of World Population Day, we’ve put together a curated collection of books that revolve around the topic of population. Explore the collection here.
World Population Day, which takes place on 11th July, offers a moment to consider the challenges and opportunities presented by our growing global population. Observed annually, World Population Day encourages thoughtful reflection on population trends, as well at the potential implications for sustainable development.
What is World Population Day?
Established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1989, World Population Day has been observed every year since 11th July 1990. The date commemorates the day in 1987 when the world’s population reached five billion. Over the decades, the focus has evolved from simply addressing population growth to encompassing broader issues including reproductive rights, maternal health, gender equality, and sustainable development.
2025 Theme: Youth Empowerment
This year’s theme, “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world,” recognises the significance of this generation’s youth. The hope is that this theme can connect to the principles established at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development: that individuals should have the right to make informed choices about their lives and futures.
Supporting young people in making informed decisions about their futures, families, and reproductive choices is perceived as being particularly important in today’s world.
“Age structure provides important information about the characteristics of populations because people of different ages play very different roles in society. . . . Young adults are some of the most dynamic members of society, driving economic migration flows and providing labor and tax revenue to fuel the economy. Many people also become parents in their 20s or 30s, so a large young adult population increases fertility rates.”
– Hazen, H., Alberts, H. C., & Zaniewski, K. J. (2023). Population Geography: Social Justice for a Sustainable World. Routledge, Taylor & Francis.
Challenges and Opportunities for Today’s Youth
Generation Z, currently in their teens and twenties, faces several significant challenges. Economic uncertainty, gender inequality, health concerns, climate change, and regional conflicts all affect their ability to plan for the future. Nevertheless, young people continue to show resilience and initiative in addressing these global challenges
The Paradox of Population Trends
An interesting aspect of our current demographic landscape is the contrasting population trends seen worldwide. In recent years, falling fertility rates have become a concern in many countries, with some governments introducing policies to encourage higher birth rates. Indeed, population growth in many developed nations has slowed considerably compared to previous decades.
At the same time, millions of people worldwide still lack access to family planning resources that would allow them to make their own reproductive choices. In the eyes of many, this highlights that population issues are fundamentally about access to resources and individual rights.
The Global Picture
The world’s population distribution continues to evolve. India and China remain the world’s most populous nations, each with populations exceeding a billion people, while the United States maintains its position as the third most populous country at around 340 million.
These countries face different demographic trajectories in the coming decades, which is sure to influence their approaches to economic development, resource allocation, and social welfare systems.
“At its very simplest, the term ‘population’ means a count of people in a given space: how many people populate an area, a city, a nation-state, the world. It is about counting. More than this, however, population is a socially constructed concept, an object of thought that plays different roles in everyday society and everyday life.”
– Cover, R. (2021). Population, Mobility and Belonging: Understanding Population Concepts in Media, Culture and Society. Routledge, Taylor & Francis.
Youth as Agents of Change
Young people today are actively engaged in shaping population trends and policies. Youth advocates often emphasise how they consider not only their personal futures, but also broader societal and environmental concerns when making life choices.
This perspective shows how today’s youth may approach family planning decisions with consideration for issues like climate change, economic stability, and social justice. They understand the connection between personal choices and global challenges.
Supporting Youth Led Solutions
To address population challenges effectively, policymakers should consider young people’s needs and perspectives. Key areas for action include:
Ensuring access to comprehensive education, including that on sexual and reproductive health.
Providing quality healthcare services that respect individual autonomy.
Creating economic opportunities that allow young people to achieve financial stability.
Developing policies that support diverse family structures and choices.
Addressing gender inequality and harmful practices that limit reproductive freedom.
Looking Forward
As we observe World Population Day 2025, it’s worth remembering that sustainable development is closely linked to empowering young people to make informed choices about their lives and families. Supporting youth today contributes to a more equitable and sustainable future for everyone.
The complex population challenges of the 21st century will be significantly influenced by the decisions and actions of today’s young people. World Population Day 2025 reminds us that addressing demographic trends requires creating environments where all individuals can make informed choices and lead fulfilling lives.