World population day observed annually on July 11 is on the Thursday in 2024. The purpose of this 30-year-old celebration is to draw attention to the significance of population concerns around the world. Its 1989 implementation was proposed by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme. This unique day was created as a result of the excitement generated by “Five Billion Day” on July 11, 1987. The world population surpassed 5 billion people on this day. The International Conference on Human Rights took place in 1968. Family planning was confirmed to be a human right for the first time ever. The Tehran Proclamation, which was approved during the meeting, declares that the ability of parents to choose the number and spacing of their children is a fundamental right. Worldwide, millions of women continue to lack access to reliable family planning options. Because of this, it has previously been chosen as the subject of attention. The ability to access safe and efficient family planning is a fundamental human right. Additionally, it must be an active decision. It is necessary for women’s empowerment and gender equality. Additionally, it has a significant role in lowering poverty. On a significant scale, six of the planet’s seven continents are continuously populated. We know the World Population Dashboard showcases global population data, including fertility rate, gender parity in school enrolment, information on sexual and reproductive health, and much more. Together, these data shine a light on the health and rights of people around the world, especially women and young people. The numbers here come from UNFPA and fellow UN agencies, and are updated annually. With 8.1 billion people, Asia is the continent with the highest population, making up 60% of all people on earth. Together, China and India, the two most populous nations on earth, account for nearly 36% of all people. With 1.4 billion people, or 17.89% of the world’s population, Africa consisting of 54 countries with Nigeria on top in population and Mauritius claims top spot as the richest country in Africa whereas African country Somalia the world’s poorest country, is the second most populous continent. As on 8th July, 2024, Europe’s population of 741,637,995 people accounts for 9.32% of the global population, while the Latin American and Caribbean areas are home to about 670,049,461 people (8.28 percent ). Around 381, 088,832 people (4.71%) live in Northern America, which is mostly made up of the United States and Canada, whereas 46,117,747 people live in Oceania, which is the least populous continent (0.56 percent). There are around 1300 to 5,100 (seasonal) people living in Antarctica, most of whom are located in polar scientific stations. The world’s population surpassed 7 billion people in 2011. The number crossed 8 billion this year, triggering the appropriate reactions. Some people will be in awe at the advances in medicine that have increased lifespans, decreased infant and maternal mortality, and sped up the discovery of vaccines. Others will extol technology advancements that have made life easier and made us more connected than ever. Others will signal advancements in gender equality.
However, not everyone has seen growth, which brings inequity into stark contrast. In delivery, women continue to pass away. Gender disparities are still present. More women and people in underdeveloped nations are offline due to the digital divide. The world is allegedly on the cusp of either catastrophic overcrowding or catastrophic population collapse, according to alarmists. Both parties are likely to demand actions to stop or encourage population rise. Engineering population numbers, however, has not been effective in the past. Instead, it runs counter to the International Conference of Population and Development Programme of Action and only serves to undermine human rights, including reproductive rights, when women are forced to have more or fewer children against their will or because they lack access to the information and services to assist them in making that decision. The average age of nations and population fertility rates are extremely diverse for the first time in history. While an increasing number of countries’ populations are ageing and around 60% of the world’s population resides in nations with below-replacement fertility of 2.1 children per woman, some nations have sizable young populations and continue to see rapid population growth. But individuals, not population, should be the main concern. The humanity of people is lost when they are reduced to statistics. By increasing people’s health and wellbeing, you can make systems function for the numbers rather than the other way around. “Even though the rate of global population increase will continue to slow in the next decades, the world population is anticipated to be between 20 and 30% higher in 2050 than in 2020,” according to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. For the purpose of formulating and implementing policies as well as serving as a roadmap for nations moving towards sustainable development, it is essential to have accurate estimates of population trends and trustworthy forecasts of future changes, including for the size of populations and their distributions by age, sex, and geographic location. If fertility is down, for instance, is it as a result of expectant parents worrying about how they will support a family, where they will live affordably, or how taking maternity leave would affect a mother’s career trajectory? If fertility rates are increasing, is it due to women’s decision-making or a lack of access to or awareness of contemporary contraception? Governments can more accurately assess the requirements of a changing population and map a safer course for meeting those needs for demographic resilience by making sure everyone is counted. As of the latest estimates, the world population stands at approximately 8.1 billion people. This staggering number is a testament to the rapid growth experienced over the past century, driven by advances in healthcare, technology, and improved living standards. Key statistics reveal a diverse demographic landscape, with varying birth rates, life expectancies, and migration patterns influencing population dynamics across different regions. Demographic trends show significant disparities between continents. Asia, home to over 60% of the global population, continues to lead in sheer numbers, while Africa boasts the fastest growth rate. Meanwhile, Europe and North America experience slower growth, with aging populations becoming a prominent concern. Understanding these patterns is essential for policymakers and global organizations aiming to address the challenges and opportunities presented by population changes. In a perfect society, there would be 8 billion people, which would offer 8 billion chances for more enlightened communities with rights and freedoms. However, the playing field has never been even. Too many people continue to experience discrimination, harassment, and violence based on their gender, race, class, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and country of origin, among other things. By disregarding those who are left behind, we do ourselves no favours.
“Over the years, World Population Day has been crucial in raising awareness, advocating for reproductive rights, and promoting policies and programs that support sustainable development and the well-being of all individuals. It is important to mention that major religions of the world talk about population control. Bible teaches about life and marriage encourages to multiply but nowhere forbids birth control. Quran does not prohibit birth control, nor does it forbid a husband or wife to space pregnancies or limit their number. In Hinduism also there is no ban on birth control. The significance of this day lies in its ability to spark discussions about how population dynamics impact socioeconomic development, environmental sustainability, and individual well-being. It reminds us that our growing population presents both challenges and opportunities that require our proactive measures.”
Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India, with an estimated population of 23.89 crore in 2024. Uttar Pradesh accounts for almost 17 percent of the total country population. Bihar has overtaken Maharashtra as the second-largest state by population, with close to 129 million people living here. Three states have a population of more than 10 crore. 19 states and two union territories have a population of over 10 million. Delhi (2.19 crore) is the largest union territory in India in terms of population. In India almost half of the country’s population lives in the five most populous states, namely, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh. The ten most populated states in India contribute 74% of India’s population. 12 least populous states or UTs contribute only 1% of India’s population, and 21 least populous states or UTs constitute only 10% of the total. We observe the population of the biggest state, Uttar Pradesh, is close to the population of Pakistan, the fifth-most populous country in the world. The populations of 2nd-ranked Bihar and 3rd-ranked Maharashtra are equivalent to those of Mexico. Seven states have a population more than 20th-ranked in the world. 15 states come under the top 50 countries. Sikkim (697,000) is the smallest state, and Lakshadweep (69,000) is the smallest union territory in India based on population. Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu have the highest population growth rate in 2024 of 7.27%, followed by Puducherry and Delhi. Among states, Bihar has the highest population growth rate in 2024, at 1.44%, followed by Jharkhand and Gujarat. Tamil Nadu has the lowest growth rate among the states. Ever world population day has a Theme and in 2023 Theme was: Unleashing the power of gender equality: Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite possibilities. Women and girls make up around 49.7% of the global population, yet women and girls are often ignored in discussions on demographics, with their rights violated in population policies. This pervasive injustice keeps women and girls out of school, the workforce and leadership positions; limits their agency and ability to make decisions about their health and sexual and reproductive lives; and heightens their vulnerability to violence, harmful practices and preventable maternal death, with a woman dying every two minutes due to pregnancy or childbirth. We must advance gender equality to create a more just, resilient and sustainable world. UNFPA brings its data, experience and stories to support women and girls around the world, and World Population Day gives us an opportunity to highlight the need to advance gender equality to help realize the dreams of all 8 billion of us on our planet. The World Population Dashboard showcases global population data, including fertility rate, gender parity in school enrolment, information on sexual and reproductive health, and much more. Together, these data shine a light on the health and rights of people around the world, especially women and young people. It took hundreds of thousands of years for the world population to grow to 1 billion – then in just another 200 years or so, it grew sevenfold. In 2011, the global population reached the 7 billion mark, it stands at almost 7.9 billion in 2021, and it’s expected to grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050, and 10.9 billion in 2100. This dramatic growth has been driven largely by increasing numbers of people surviving to reproductive age, and has been accompanied by major changes in fertility rates, increasing urbanization and accelerating migration. These trends will have far-reaching implications for generations to come. The recent past has seen enormous changes in fertility rates and life expectancy. In addition, the world is seeing high levels of urbanization and accelerating migration. 2007 was the first year in which more people lived in urban areas than in rural areas, and by 2050 about 66 per cent of the world population will be living in cities. These mega trends have far-reaching implications. They affect economic development, employment, income distribution, poverty and social protections. They also affect efforts to ensure universal access to health care, education, housing, sanitation, water, food and energy. To more sustainably address the needs of individuals, policymakers must understand how many people are living on the planet, where they are, how old they are, and how many people will come after them. This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action. It must also be the year we resolve to accelerate efforts and investments to turn its promises into a reality. Central to the ICPD Programme of Action is the recognition that women’s sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights are cornerstones of sustainable development. In the decades since it was adopted, we have made progress. More women than ever have access to modern contraception. Maternal deaths have fallen thirty-four per cent since the year 2000. The women’s movements and civil society have been critical to driving change. But progress has been unequal and unsteady. It is outrageous that well into the 21st century, around 800 women die needlessly every day in pregnancy and childbirth – the vast majority in developing countries. And in some places, legislative advances in tackling vital issues such as female genital mutilation risk going into reverse. As the theme of this year’s World Population Day reminds us, investing in data collection is important to understanding problems, tailoring solutions, and driving progress. So is finance. I urge countries to make the most of the Summit of the Future this year to unleash affordable capital for sustainable development. Let’s deliver on the ICPD Programme of Action for everyone, everywhere. Over the years, World Population Day has been crucial in raising awareness, advocating for reproductive rights, and promoting policies and programs that support sustainable development and the well-being of all individuals. It is important to mention that major religions of the world talk about population control. Bible teaches about life and marriage encourages to multiply but nowhere forbids birth control. Quran does not prohibit birth control, nor does it forbid a husband or wife to space pregnancies or limit their number. In Hinduism also there is no ban on birth control. The significance of this day lies in its ability to spark discussions about how population dynamics impact socioeconomic development, environmental sustainability, and individual well-being. It reminds us that our growing population presents both challenges and opportunities that require our proactive measures.
(The authors write regularly for the opinion pages of “Kashmir Horizon”. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the authors and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
