The United Nations’ World Population Day July 11th!

The UN observed July 11^th as World Population Day every year. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) began observing this day in 1987. In July 11, 1987 there were five billion populations over this planet. The United Nations declared July 11 of that year “Five Billion Day” to mark the estimated date on which we reached that milestone. The day is recognized to create awareness on the importance of family planning, maternal health, gender equality, poverty, and human rights.

The UNFPA is estimating that around Oct. 31 2011 global population will hit seven billion. That’s a growth of 40 per cent in just over 20 years. The planet’s population has doubled since 1968.

“Whether we can live together on a healthy planet will depend on the decisions we make now,” Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, executive director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), said in a news release.

China leads as the most populated country with 1.3 billion people, India comes next with 1.2 billion, the United States follows with a population of 310.2 million, followed by Indonesia with a population of 242.9 million and Brazil with 201.1 million.
On World Population Day, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, will be raising the curtains on a new campaign called “7 Billion Actions”. The theme of World Population Day 2011, “Calling Attention to Urgent Global Issues” is a clarion call to governments, organizations, communities and individuals to understand population issues worldwide and spearhead action.

Explaining the main goal of this campaign, Dr. Babatunde told the media, “it will engage people on what it means to live in a world with seven billion people and encourage action on issues that affect all of us. We can forge the future with young people, advance rights for girls and women, and safeguard the natural resources on which we all depend.”

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