A Very Focused US Perspective on World Population Day

I noted earlier that the "official" UN focus for World Population Day this year was adolescent pregnancy. It has been pointed out to me that the US State Department actually has a related, but much broader and politically more important message about World Population Day on its website, under the signature of Secretary of State Kerry.

As the international community commemorates World Population Day, the current world population of 7.2 billion is projected to increase another 1 billion by 2025 and reach 9.6 billion by 2050.

Continued population growth in many countries, as well as population aging, urbanization, and migration will have a profound impact on social and economic development and the environment in the years to come.

Increasingly complex and interconnected population and demographic dynamics impact access to health, education, housing, sanitation, water, food, and energy, and influence the livelihoods of people and stability of nations around the world.

Today's generation of 1.8 billion young people between the ages of 10 and 24 is the largest the world has ever seen, and will shape the future of the world we live in.

They will drive the economic, political, social, and cultural development of their countries and will need greater and more equitable access to education, employment, and health information and services, including sexual and reproductive health services.

Whether it’s across the Greater Middle East or Africa, the sheer number of young people is striking, and demands leadership capable of meeting their demands for dignity and opportunity in addition to basic necessities.

This is obviously related to adolescent pregnancy, because in fact the world needs fewer adolescent pregnancies, but the bigger issue is indeed this unprecedentedly large cohort of young people--a youth bulge of historic importance.