World Population Day - A Day to raise awareness about the growing global population and its impact on the planet

orld Population Day is observed annually on July 11th, the day was created to make everyone aware that the population is burgeoning and having a great impact on our planet. It is the time to have control of the population, so measures need to be taken. Every country requires some appropriate measures to be taken in consideration, in order to control its population. Every country has very different demographics and unique challenges. Talking about Canada, its recent population demographics is estimated at 39,858,480 as of April 1, 2023. That number represents a surge of 292,232 people (+0.7%) from January 1, 2023. 

According to Statistics Canada, 145,417 immigrants were welcomed into Canada in the first quarter. That jump was the highest number recorded in a single quarter in Canadian history. It was also a first quarter record for each individual province. Read more about Canada's population clock reaching 40 million on June 16.  This indicates that Canada continues to be an attractive destination for individuals seeking new opportunities and a better quality of life in a place where diversity is given importance. 

History

The World Population Day aims to raise awareness about the importance of various population issues and to highlight the urgency of addressing them. This day was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Program in 1989, an outgrowth of the interest generated by the Day of Five Billion, which was observed on July 11, 1987.  

It's pertinent to know that the United Nations General Assembly, through resolution 45/216 in December 1990, decided to continue observing this day to raise awareness about population issues and their connections to the environment and development. 

The inaugural World Population Day was celebrated on July 11, 1990, in over 90 countries. Since then, the observance of this day has gained momentum, with numerous UNFPA country offices, organizations, and institutions collaborating with governments and civil society to commemorate World Population Day. 

Theme for 2023

For this year, the United Nations has chosen the theme of "Unleashing the power of gender equality: raising the voices of women and girls."

In 68 reporting countries, 44 percent of partnered women and girls are denied the right to make informed choices regarding their bodies when it comes to sexual behavior, contraception, and health care; 257 million women worldwide need safe, reliable contraception but are not provided with it. 

According to  Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director, “Women’s bodies should not be held captive to population targets.” “To build thriving and inclusive societies, regardless of population size, we must radically rethink how we talk about and plan for population change.” 

Final Thoughts

It’s high time to raise awareness about the growing global population and its impact on our planet. It serves as a reminder that population growth can have profound social, economic, and environmental consequences if not managed effectively. Furthermore, the population growth rate varies across different countries due to various factors such as birth rates, death rates, migration patterns, and government policies. 

To manage population growth effectively, every country needs to consider appropriate measures. In Canada, these measures may include implementing comprehensive immigration policies, investing in sustainable infrastructure, ensuring access to quality health care and education, promoting family planning and reproductive health services, and fostering inclusive communities that support the well-being of all residents.