World Population Day - July 11
The National UN Volunteers-India
WORLD POPULATION DAY - July 11
HISTORY: On 11th July 1987, the world population touched 5 billion, which sparked an interest among people about the fast-growing population. In 1989, the governing body of United Nations Development Programme decided to observe World Population Day every year on 11th July. The main aim to establish this day was to understand how urgent it is to pay attention to the issues associated with world population, and enhance awareness about health, finances, reproduction, and many more such topics.
In December 1990, the resolution 45/216 made it final that every year people will celebrate 11th July World Population Day. With this day being established, The United Nations General Assembly aims to pay attention to and increase awareness about the issues faced by population, including environment and development.
On 11th July 1990, more than 90 countries marked this day as World Population Day. Ever since then, many other countries, organizations and institutions have recognized this day, and celebrate it along with civil society and government.
FACTS ABOUT WORLD POPULATION:
▪️The current population of the world is around 8.1 billion.
▪️To reach 8 billion population from 7 billion, it took the world 12 years.
▪️In European Union, the population of women is 5% more than men.
▪️Covid-19 took about 2 million people in Europe.
▪️World’s two most populous countries are China and India.
▪️The world reached 3 billion population in 1960.
▪️The top five populous countries are India, China, USA, Indonesia and Pakistan.
▪️World Population Day is celebrated on 11th July, every year.
OVERPOPULATION: CONSEQUENCES
▪️Deforestation
▪️Unemployment
▪️Immigration
▪️Resource Depletion
▪️Poverty
▪️Pandemics & Epidemics
▪️Climate Change
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE WORLD POPULATION DAY?
As discussed earlier, the aim of celebrating World Population Day is to increase awareness about the rising population of the world, and the problems associated with it. However, to go in depth of this aim, let’s understand the objectives for celebrating this day.
▪️To empower and protect youth, including both girls and boys.
▪️To provide detailed and right information about sexuality, reproduction and responsibilities.
▪️Spread awareness about unwanted pregnancies, early childbirth and pregnancy related diseases and dangers.
▪️To avoid early-age marriages and wait until both partners know their separate responsibilities.
▪️To remove stereotypes and discrimination based on sex, caste, race, gender, and more.
▪️Raise awareness about Sexually Transmitted Disease (STDs), its consequences and other such infections.
▪️Ensure access to basic and primary education for all girls and boys.
▪️Provide friendly, non-judgmental and enough reproductive health services specialists to guide men, women, and couples.
HOW CAN WE CELEBRATE 11TH JULY 2024?
Every year on World Population Day, policy makers, advocates, grassroot organizers, government, leaders and others come together and discuss the steps they should take in respect to that year’s theme. There are many ways in which people celebrate this day every year. Let’s see some:
▪️Schools: In schools, children are taught about the significance of this day, followed by World Population Day activities. Students are asked to creatively think and make slogans on World Population Day, draw paintings and more.
▪️College/University Level: Many students take part in debates and conversations regarding how they can, as individuals help save the environment from being overly populated.
▪️Organizations: Many non-profit organizations and other institutions do volunteer work by reaching out to the people that lack primary education, to educate them. This sometimes also includes physically visiting sites, talking to people, educating them about over-population, spreading sexual awareness, and more.
▪️Social media: In a world where millions of people have access to social media, people use the power and spread awareness. This is often done by posting quotes on World Population Day and sharing creative slogans for World Population Day.
Following are some more activities that can be done to observe world population day.
▪️Firstly it is important to educate yourself with the rising population statistics across the world.
▪️Understand the problems associated with the increasing population.
▪️Check for the solutions for the increasing population.
▪️Educate others by conducting awareness campaigns in your locality.
▪️Emphasize family planning.
▪️The rights for family planning has to be understood and should be shared to others too.
▪️Educate the less privileged sector of people around you, because awareness is one important factor that will help to maintain the population growth.
▪️Educate the students at school regarding the demographics.
▪️Donate to organizations that focus on dealing with the population issues
▪️Public contests can be conducted addressing the major issues associated with population rise in your locality
▪️TV channels and news channels broadcast various programs related to the importance of family planning. That can be watched and you can also help others to get access to these free programs.
▪️Donate and work for the education of children specially girl child
▪️Work towards gender equality
▪️Importance of maternal health also can be specified through seminars and presentation
▪️Quiz (Sample)
1. What percentage of the world’s population lives in India?
16.5%
17.7%✔️
20.2%
15.6%
2. During which decade did India see a negative population growth?
1901-11
1931-41
1911-21✔️
1951-61
3. For every additional year of education a woman has, child mortality decreases by what percentage?
7.5%
6.5%
9.5%✔️
2.5%
4. What percentage of the world’s people today live in urban areas?
43%
75%
38%
55%✔️
5. Which state in India has the lowest number of females in comparison to males?
Bihar
Rajasthan
Punjab
Haryana✔️
6. In what year was the birth control pill approved by the U.S. food and drug administration?
1960✔️
1940
1980
1972
7. What is the definition of the term “carrying capacity”?
A maximum number of children a woman can bear in her lifetime
A Maximum level of care one person can give to another
A Maximum number of a species an environment can support✔️
A Maximum weight an individual can carry
8. At the present rates of population growth of India and China, by which year is India likely to overtake China as the world’s most populous country?
2025
2040
2030✔️
2050
9. Which state in India has the highest number of females in comparison to males?
Kerala✔️
Karnataka
Tamil Nadu
Andhra Pradesh
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