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World Population Day 2025 will be observed on July 11 to raise awareness about global population issues. It will highlight youth empowerment, top 10 populous countries, and regions with the highest population density.
PWOnlyIAS
July 04, 2025
World Population Day is observed every year on July 11 to raise awareness about population-related challenges and their implications on development, the environment, and human rights. It was established in 1989 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) following the global attention generated by Five Billion Day on July 11, 1987 — the day when the world population crossed the five billion mark.
This observance is a call to action for governments, institutions, and individuals to understand the impact of a growing population and the importance of ensuring equitable access to reproductive health services, education, and resources for sustainable development.
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World Population Day is a globally recognised event established in 1989 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The day was inspired by the public interest surrounding “Five Billion Day”, celebrated on July 11, 1987, when the world’s population reached five billion.
Since then, World Population Day has evolved into a platform for advocacy on vital population-related issues such as family planning, gender equality, maternal health, and sustainable development.
| World Population Day 2025 Overview | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Name of the Observance | World Population Day 2025 |
| Date | 11th July 2025 |
| Established By | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) |
| First Observed | 11th July 1989 |
| Inspired By | Five Billion Day (11th July 1987) |
| World Population Day 2025 Theme | “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world.” |
| Purpose | Raise awareness about population issues, reproductive health, and gender equality |
| Associated Goals | SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 5: Gender Equality |
| Focus Area in 2025 | Youth empowerment, reproductive agency, access to healthcare and family planning |
| Global Population (Estimated) | Over 8.1 Billion |
| India’s Population Rank | 1st (Most Populous Country in 2025) |
| Celebrated By | United Nations, governments, NGOs, academic institutions, and individuals |
World Population Day 2025 focuses on empowering young people to shape their futures by ensuring access to reproductive rights, healthcare, and equal opportunities. As global population trends shift, this year’s observance urges stakeholders to prioritise youth-centric policies that reflect fairness, inclusivity, and sustainability.
The main goals of World Population Day 2025 include:
The World Population Day 2025 theme is “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world.” This year’s theme highlights the largest-ever generation of youth and their right to make informed choices about their future families.
Many young individuals globally face challenges such as economic instability, limited access to education, and healthcare barriers that affect their reproductive autonomy. The 2025 campaign urges policymakers to prioritise the aspirations and rights of young people.
The world has witnessed explosive population growth in recent decades. From 1 billion people in the 1800s, we reached:
Since 2007, more people have lived in urban areas than in rural ones. By 2050, about 66% of the global population will reside in cities.
As of 2025, the global population has surpassed 8.1 billion people. Some countries continue to contribute significantly to this growth, both in sheer numbers and annual change. Understanding which nations have the largest populations helps policymakers, economists, and development planners to design effective public policies, infrastructure, and resource management systems.
Here are the top 10 countries by population in 2025, according to the latest UN estimates:
| World’s Largest Populations in 2025 | ||
| Rank | Country | Population (2025) |
| 1 | India | 1,463,865,525 |
| 2 | China | 1,416,096,094 |
| 3 | United States | 347,275,807 |
| 4 | Indonesia | 285,721,236 |
| 5 | Pakistan | 255,219,554 |
| 6 | Nigeria | 237,527,782 |
| 7 | Brazil | 212,812,405 |
| 8 | Bangladesh | 175,686,899 |
| 9 | Russia | 143,997,393 |
| 10 | Ethiopia | 135,472,051 |
India now tops the list, having surpassed China as the most populous country. This demographic milestone is at the heart of discussions on World Population Day 2025, especially when it comes to youth empowerment and resource sustainability.
Understanding population density is key to analysing how human settlement impacts resources and urban infrastructure. It tells us how crowded a country is, which directly affects healthcare, housing, transport, and environmental sustainability.
On World Population Day 2025, population density metrics are vital to understanding global demographic pressure. Here are the top 5 most densely populated countries/territories in 2025 (by people per square kilometer):
| World’s Largest Population Density Countries (2025) | ||
| Rank | Country/Territory | Density (people/km²) |
| 1 | Macau | 21,946 |
| 2 | Monaco | 19,171 |
| 3 | Singapore | 8,177 |
| 4 | Hong Kong | 7,044 |
| 5 | Gibraltar | 5,901 |
The world largest population density country in 2025 is Macau, with a staggering 21,946 people per square kilometer.
To understand the historical growth of India’s population, it’s essential to look back at official statistics. The 2011 Census, conducted by the Government of India, provides detailed data on state-wise population distribution, rural-urban divide, and gender composition. On World Population Day, this retrospective view helps policymakers and researchers evaluate demographic trends over time.
Below is a table listing the top 10 most populous states in India based on the Census 2011:
| Top 10 Most Populous States in India (Census 2011) | ||||||
| Rank | State | Population | Male Population | Female Population | Rural Population | Urban Population |
| 1 | Uttar Pradesh | 199,812,341 | 104,480,510 | 95,331,831 | 155,317,278 | 44,495,063 |
| 2 | Maharashtra | 112,374,333 | 58,243,056 | 54,131,277 | 61,556,074 | 50,818,259 |
| 3 | Bihar | 104,099,452 | 54,278,157 | 49,821,295 | 92,341,436 | 11,758,016 |
| 4 | West Bengal | 91,276,115 | 46,809,027 | 44,467,088 | 62,183,113 | 29,093,002 |
| 5 | Madhya Pradesh | 72,626,809 | 37,612,306 | 35,014,503 | 52,557,404 | 20,069,405 |
| 6 | Tamil Nadu | 72,147,030 | 36,137,975 | 36,009,055 | 37,229,590 | 34,917,440 |
| 7 | Rajasthan | 68,548,437 | 35,550,997 | 32,997,440 | 51,500,352 | 17,048,085 |
| 8 | Karnataka | 61,095,297 | 30,966,657 | 30,128,640 | 37,469,335 | 23,625,962 |
| 9 | Gujarat | 60,439,692 | 31,491,260 | 28,948,432 | 34,694,609 | 25,745,083 |
| 10 | Andhra Pradesh | 84,580,777* | 42,442,146 | 42,138,631 | 56,361,702 | 28,219,075 |
*Note: Andhra Pradesh’s population in 2011 includes the undivided state (prior to the formation of Telangana in 2014).
On World Population Day, looking at extremes within a country like India helps contextualise inequality in resource distribution and policy reach. While some regions are highly dense, others remain sparsely populated.
This disparity signifies the need for decentralised planning and localised development, which remains a key message of World Population Day 2025.
This year, World Population Day 2025 emphasises empowering young people to build the families they want amid growing challenges such as climate anxiety, economic stress, and gender inequality. Despite declining fertility rates globally, millions still lack reproductive autonomy, especially women and adolescents in developing nations.
According to the UNFPA, many young people desire more children than they are able to have due to:
These issues can only be addressed by prioritising reproductive rights, improving health systems, and ensuring inclusive education, cornerstones of this year’s World Population Day 2025 theme.
World Population Day is not just about numbers—it’s about people. As we mark World Population Day 2025, the focus must remain on empowering the current generation, especially youth, to create a future that reflects their hopes and choices. By acknowledging both the opportunities and challenges of demographic shifts, the global community can move toward a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable world.
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