World Population Day

“Reaching a global population of eight billion is a numerical landmark, but our focus must always be on people. In the world we strive to build, 8 billion people means 8 billion opportunities to live dignified and fulfilled lives.”- UN Secretary-General António Guterres. It was only eleven (11) years ago in 2011 that the world reached a population of 7 billion. In 2022 the world’s population will reach 8 billion. Our planet has not gotten any larger yet the global population, national populations continue to increase. It is an understatement to say that resources are stretched and are being stretched in order to cope with the increase in population. Developing societies are perhaps more impacted regarding the fight for scarce resources. Resources such as affordable housing, food, access to education and health care facilities continue to be pressured as the world’s population increases. According to the United Nations (UN) advancements in health that have extended life expectancy, reduced maternal mortality and child mortality has given rise to vaccine development in record time. To what do we owe this development, there are those who will praise technological innovations which have eased our lives and connected us more than ever. The UN adds that while the global community has made some gains regarding gender equality much more work is required in this area. The dramatic growth of the world’s population has been driven largely by increasing numbers of people surviving to reproductive age, and has been accompanied by major changes in fertility rates, increasing urbanization and accelerating migration. These trends will have far-reaching implications for generations to come. The UN states in an ideal world, 8 billion people mean 8 billion opportunities for healthier societies empowered by rights and choices. However, the playing field is not and has never been even. We therefore must consider indicators such as gender, ethnicity, class, religion, sexual orientation, disability and origin, among other factors; too many people are still exposed to discrimination, harassment and violence. We do ourselves no favors when neglecting those marginalized and under-served communities. The work ahead is great concerning the provision for all the inhabitants of this planet. Unquestionably, the international community must consider factors such as investments in human and physical capital for inclusive, productive societies that uphold human and reproductive rights. The recent United States of America Supreme Court overturn of Roe versus Wade is fundamental for many women as the judgment has much broader consequences beyond abortion rights but also women’s reproductive rights and access to contraception services. It is only then we can collectively address the mammoth challenges facing our planet and build a more just world where health, dignity and education coexist. We should not be daunted by a world of 8 billion people; there must always be room for opportunity. World Population Day is observed every year on July 11 to raise awareness about global population issues. Overpopulation is a grave concern as the world’s resources are being used up at an unsustainable rate. Moreover, the need to guarantee that women have access to family planning, gender equality, and maternal health care is more important than ever because of the expanding population’s impact on maternal health, mental health and family planning issues. World Population Day 2022: Theme The theme for this year is “A world of 8 billion: Towards a resilient future for all – Harnessing opportunities and ensuring rights and choices for all”. As the theme suggests, there are 8 billion people living today but not all of them have equal rights and opportunities and this should be a cause for concern. Unfortunately, too many individuals continue to experience discrimination, harassment, and violence based on their gender, ethnicity, class, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and country of origin. Due to the problem of overpopulation, gender inequality and human rights violations are more common than ever in developing nations. Governments must also revisit the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially goal # 2 which speaks to ending hunger, the achievement of food security, improved nutrition and the promotion of sustainable agriculture. The ongoing Russian Ukraine war and the global pandemic are exacerbating world hunger and governments must be mindful of this as the plan for the future. Jamaica’s Population Growth According to data from WorldOMeters, Jamaica’s current population is estimated at 2,987,211. Interestingly, Jamaica is currently conducting its national population census which was due from 2021 but was put on hold due to the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. This data will not only indicate the current population but will also guide sex disaggregated statistics. Additionally, this data from the population census will provide the government with the necessary data to make strategic plans for food security, healthcare, housing and educational opportunities among other critical services. Jamaica's population growth has been fairly unstable over the last 50 years including a very steep drop from 1980 to 1990. This steep drop in population could be attributed to Jamaica’s effective national family planning campaign. Over the past 15 years, Jamaica's population growth has slowed dramatically and was down to 0.26% as of 2019. Jamaica is currently seeing a decline in the 0-14 age group with an increase in the working age and retired population, the fastest growing segment, which is typical for developing countries. In the 1970’s the National Family Planning Board (NFPB) launched its very powerful and successful family planning public education campaign ‘Two is Better Than Too Many’ which assisted in stabilizing the population. Many of us still remember this widely popular and effective national family planning campaign. The 1980’s was that period in which Jamaica recorded its first AIDS case in 1982. Many sexually active individuals were scared of not only contracting HIV/AIDS but also STI’s and as a result they were more likely to heed to use contraceptives to avoid unwanted pregnancies. However, given the patriarchal nature of most societies including the Jamaican society, targeted messages for our males in national family planning campaigns must be at the fore in order to build on the gains made. The National Family Planning Board (NFPB) is the government’s agency responsible for sexual and reproductive health information and services. The NFPB conducts research, develop campaigns and disseminate information, deliver and monitor sexual and reproductive health services, distribute contraceptives and contribute to the development of an enabling environment for all. World Population Trends Currently, about 61 per cent of the global population lives in Asia (4.7 billion), 17 per cent in Africa (1.3 billion), 10 per cent in Europe (750 million), 8 per cent in Latin America and the Caribbean (650 million), and the remaining 5 per cent in Northern America (370 million) and Oceania (43 million). The current numbers stand at 1.44 billion people in China and 1.39 billion in India. However, the numbers are expected to change as India races ahead of China. The US ranks third with over 335 million people. The UN posits that recent past has seen enormous changes in fertility rates and life expectancy. In the early 1970s, women had on average 4.5 children each; by 2015, total fertility for the world had fallen to below 2.5 children per woman. Oftentimes, we do not speak about the ageing population and the consequences of this phenomenon on the society. This conversation is critical and requires a consultative approach to address the needs of this segment of the population. In the interim, average global lifespans have risen, from 64.6 years in the early 1990s to 72.6 years in 2019. In addition, the world is seeing high levels of urbanization and accelerating migration. The UN states, 2007 was the first year in which more people lived in urban areas than in rural areas and by 2050 about 66 per cent of the world’s population will be living in cities. Governments must be mindful of the challenges of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #11, which addresses safe, resilient and inclusive human settlements. The UN adds that these megatrends have far-reaching implications. They affect economic development, employment, income distribution, poverty and social protections. They also affect efforts to ensure universal access to health care, education, housing, sanitation, water, food and energy. In order to address the needs of individuals, policymakers must understand how many people are living on the planet, where they are, how old they are, and how many people will come after them. On this World Population Day let us join the collective effort in celebrating the progress which has been made over the years in terms of life expectancy and the improvement in the quality of life for a significant number of the world’s population. We are much more than a number, our lives matter. In the words of Edward O. Wilson, scientist, Pulitzer prize-winning author, the key problem facing humanity in the coming century is how to bring a better quality of life for 8 billion or more people without wrecking the environment entirely in the attempt. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #WorldPopulationDay