World Population Day - 11 July 2023 | Theme, History & Importance

World Population Day is an annual event observed every year on the 11th of July to spread awareness not only about the increasing population and its impact on society, nations, and environment but also educating the public to control it.

The day came into existence when the world population reached 500 crores in 1987, intending to address the public interest and educate the people about the population issues like benefits of family planning, gender equality, poverty, maternal health, human rights, etc.

World Population Day 2023 Theme 

This year 2023, the World population day theme is "Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world's infinite possibilities". 

Realizing the necessity in the basic understanding of sexual and reproductive health as well as the rights for all, this year's theme aims the foundation and propagation of gender equality, dignity and opportunity by empowering the female gender through increased access to modern contraception, education and apart from supporting them in their aspirations to plot their lives. 

While alarmists claim the incoming verge of either disastrous overpopulation or catastrophic population collapse, calling to curtail or induce population growth, it must be understood that similar measures which have been executed in the past proved futile. 

Instead of focusing on the numbers and population, the focus should be on people. Currently, the world is facing extreme diversity in the fertility rates of populations and mean age of countries. 

As the female gender makes up 49.7% of the global population, it is their right to obtain an equal opportunity and platform for their voice, but they are largely ignored.

Through this year's theme, the following goals are bound to achieve: 

• Voicing against the pervasive injustice which keeps women and girls out of school.
• Making informed decisions about the health, sexual and reproductive lives
• Avoiding or at least understanding the harmful practices which heighten their vulnerability to violence and maternal death. 

Year by year, the previous themes for World Population Day are: 

• World Population Day 2022 theme: A world of 8 billion: Towards a resilient future for all - harnessing opportunities and ensuring rights and choices for all. 
• World Population Day 2021 theme: The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on fertility. 
• World Population Day 2020 theme: How to safeguard the health and rights of women and girls now.
• World Population Day 2019 theme: no official theme was declared.
• World Population Day 2018 theme: Family Planning is a Human Right.

History of World Population Day

The World Population Day was established in 1989 by the then Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme to address the urgency and importance of population issues created due to outgrowing population; in 1987, the world population had reached 500 crores. This figure triggered the idea of having a dedicated day to promote awareness of population issues, including their ties to the environment and development.



After the establishment of world population day in 1990, the United Nations decided to continue this event and the first event was witnessed on the 11th of July 1990 in 90 countries.

World Population Day - Importance and Significance

According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Although the global population growth rate will continue to decline in the coming decades, the world's population will likely be between 20-30% greater in 2050 than in 2020.

It is undeniable that the growing world population is becoming a threat to human survival. In 2017, the world population was around 700 crores; this year, in 2023, it is reported as 804 crores. Because of overpopulation, the world's natural resources are depleting daily at an unsustainable rate.

Health science and technology advancements have reduced mother and child mortality and increased life span. However, it is evident that overgrowing population is a challenge to climate change and the violence faced by too many people is still based on their gender, ethnicity, class, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and origin.

So, to curb the threat to a healthy society and provide a better and sustainable future for the upcoming generation, it is essential to create awareness and educate people about the risk associated with overpopulation.

• Educating youth about sexuality and late marriage till they understand their responsibilities.
• World population day intended to protect and empower youth of both genders.
• Promoting youth-friendly measures to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
• Educating people to avoid gender stereotypes in society.
• As part of essential primary health care, ensuring every couple has unhindered access to reproductive health services.
• Educating couples about pregnancy-related illnesses to make them aware of early childbirth danger.