Influencing Future Human Well-being
World Population Day is held annually on July 11. It is an international day to raise global awareness about current population trends affecting the world. It focuses attention on global demographic issues including: poverty, gender equality, maternal health, hunger, disease, warfare and human rights.
World Population Day was first observed in 1990. It was established in 1989 by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme, in response to interest generated by the Day of Five Billion (July 11, 1987).
The Day of Five Billion was the approximate date the world population reached five billion people. Matej Gašpar from Zagreb, Croatia was the symbolic 5-billionth person.
A Growing World Population
Over 200 years ago, in 1804, the world population first reached 1 billion people. It took 123 years to double to 2 billion (1927) and a quarter of that time (33 years) to reach 3 billion (1960). Fifteen years later (1975), the world population climbed to 4 billion, and another 12 years (1987) brought the number of people in the world to 5 billion. Six billion came just before the new millennium (1999), and the 7 billion milestone was passed in 2012.
The world population currently stands at 7.6 billion people (mid-2017) and is projected to reach 8.6 billion in 2030. It is increasing by approximately 83 million people each year (1.1 percent), and current estimates expect the world to contain more than 11 billion people by the turn of the century.
The Pivotal Role of Families in Population Growth
Families play a pivotal role in society. Family behavior affects population growth. Fertility, mortality and child survival rates all directly contribute to the number of people on our planet.
Within the context of poverty, and the disadvantage it works to keep alive for generations, we specifically offer assistance to parents and caregivers to help them protect and lead their families well. We offer parenting skills programs that provide the foundation for making good decisions.
How We Help Parents Succeed
The Parenting Skills fund allows Compassion programs to invest in the lives of local parents, teaching them how to raise healthy and responsible children.
Many parents of Compassion-assisted children struggle to raise their children in the harsh circumstances where they live. Donate today, and help parents become confident family leaders!