World Population Day

 Findings from the Demographic Futures Survey 2026 . Around the world, demographic change is prompting urgent debate about fertility, family life and the future. Lives, Choices and Futures, UNFPA’s report on the findings of the 2025-2026 Demographic Futures Survey brings together one of the most geographically diverse bodies of evidence on how young adults’ hopes and decisions about relationships, parenthood and the future take place in an uncertain world. Through the voices of over 108,000 Internet-connected people aged 18 to 39 across 73 countries, this report shows that many young people continue to value partnership and parenthood, but the conditions to realize these aspirations often feel out of reach. The findings reveal:  More than two thirds of respondents want to marry or live with a partner. Two children is the most commonly reported ideal family size in five out of seven regional groupings. Economic and housing constraints constitute the most common obstacles t...

The theme for World Population Day 2026 this year is “ Realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people – today and for the future .” The theme reflects a new report on the findings of the UNFPA Demographic Futures Survey , which asked more than 100,000 Internet-connected people aged 18 to 39 in 73 countries about their partnership, reproductive and life aspirations. The report  entitled " Lives, Choices and Futures. " will be published on 7 July, just ahead of World Population Day – a timely opportunity to place evidence at the centre of global discussions on demographic change, reproductive rights and sustainable development.

  Looking at fertility and mortality trends is essential to understanding global demographic change . In the absence of migration (when the whole world is considered, net migration is zero), population growth refers to the difference between the number of births and the number of deaths . The births and deaths that took place over the past century determine the Current population size and composition . Population growth happens when there are more births than deaths. Over the past decades, there have been profound changes in birth rates, death rates, and population size globally. The number of births has been higher than the number of deaths. For example, in 1965, the crude birth rate (number of births per 1,000 population) was around 35, while the crude death rate (number of deaths per 1,000 population) was about 13. The difference was more than 20 per 1,000 population, and the rate of natural increase was 2 per 100 population (2%). The difference between crude birth rate and cr...