Calling Attention to Urgent Global Issues
World Population Day was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989 as a way to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues. It was an outgrowth of the interest generated by the Day of Five Billion, which was observed on 11 July 1987.
Each year UNFPA selects a different theme to rally around. World Population Day 2010, Everyone Counts, will underscore the importance of data for development. It will foster an understanding of why reliable, disaggregated data is so crucial to progress and encourage people to participate in the census and other data collection efforts.
People around the world observe World Population Day in different ways. Many UNFPA Country Offices and other institutions mark the day with celebrations, poster or essay contests, sports events concerts or other activities to bring attention to population issues.
Here are some examples of past observances. Follow the links to find out more about how they were commemorated.
 2010 |
 2009 |
 2008 |
 2007 |
 2006 |
 2005 |
 2004 ICPD at 10 |
 2003 |
