As the population rises, how can we ensure progress towards the SDGs?
This World Population Day we aim to increase awareness around population issues – from newborn and maternal healthcare to urban climate resilience
Despite recent decreases in global fertility rates, the world population is predicted to grow to an average of 10 billion people by 2050, with countries in Africa and Asia currently seeing the highest rate of population change. World Population Day aims to increase awareness of population-related issues, such as newborn and maternal healthcare, climate and conflict-related shocks, and social protection.
It’s important to consider development areas affected by population change to ensure progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. This year marks 25 years since the International Conference on Population and Development adopted a programme of action to advance women’s health and rights. Leading up to the International Conference on Population and Development, which will take place in November 2019 in Kenya, this presents a unique opportunity to evaluate progress so far, and agree next steps to drive further action.
Discover some of our work supporting progress in the area:
- Addressing urbanisation: turning challenges into opportunities? Kiran Rajashekariah asks how urban planners address the continuing rural to urban migration and increasing city populations, particularly in lower-income countries.
- Would you rather give birth in 1900 or 2018? Alex Jones discusses maternal healthcare and mortality rates, comparing historic development in Sweden to current progress being made in Sierra Leone.
- Shock-responsive social protection systems: discover more about our work on the DFID-funded study into scaling up social protection systems to respond to shocks in low-income and fragile countries.
- It’s time to talk about improving energy access for displaced people: Energy and Economic Growth (EEG) programme director, Simon Trace, explores the challenges faced by an increasing population of displaced people.
- COP and the SDGs: Why climate change is a development issue: In the run up to COP24, we discussed how climate change affects progress towards achieving the SDGs, from eliminating poverty and achieving zero hunger, to economic growth and global partnerships. Read the full series here: