2024 World Population Day, Theme and its Background

Every year since 1990, 11 July has been observed as World Population Day around the world. The day seeks to focus the attention of global stakeholders on the issues of population growth, their relations to the environment and development and related issues.

Background to the World Population Day 

• World Population Day was established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1989.
• The date 11 July was chosen as on this date in 1987; the global population was officially declared to have crossed the five billion mark.
• The first Population Day was observed on 11 July 1990.
• Later, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in December 1990 to declare 11 July as World Population Day.

Theme of the 2024 World Population Day 

The 2024 World Population Day theme is “To Leave No One Behind, Count Everyone”.

This year's theme highlights the importance of collecting, analysing, and using population data to deliver health care globally. 

The proper documentation of population data has led to substantial improvements in sexual and reproductive health and the community's ability to exercise rights and choices.

However, according to the United Nations, there are many marginalised communities in the world whose population data are yet not captured, adversely affecting their lives and well-being.

Global Population and Its Growth

According to the United Nations, the global human population crossed the billion milestone in 1804, and it took another 126 years to reach the 2 billion population mark in 1930.

• It crossed the 3 billion mark in the next 30 years, 4th billion in the next 14 years and the 5th billion in the next 13 years.
• In 2011, the world's human population crossed 7 billion. 
• On 15 November 2022, the global human population crossed 8 billion.
• The United Nations expect the human population to reach around 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050, and 10.9 billion in 2100.

Most and least Populous Country in the World 

Following are the world’s most populous countries of now in descending order.

1. According to the United Nations, India became the most populous country in the world in April 2023, overtaking China. 
2. Mainland China 
3. United States 
4. Indonesia  

Least Populated Country 

Vatican City is the least populated country in the world, with an estimated population of 526, according to the World Population Review.

After Vatican City, the tiny Pacific country of Tuvalu is the second least populated country in the world, and then another Pacific Ocean island country, Nauru, is in third place.