By Kayode Adebiyi
Since 1989, World Population Day has been observed on July 11 to highlight the role that population-related challenges play in issues surrounding national and international development.
The commemoration was established by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), drawing inspiration from the 5 Billion Day marked on July 11, 1987, the day when the world’s population reached and crossed the 5 billion mark.
Between 1987 and 2011, the world’s population grew from 5 billion to 7 billion, with the UNDP estimating the world’s population to be more than 8.1 billion in 2025.
The observance of the day has become an exhortation for communities, institutions, governments, and the international community to understand the impact of a growing population on the well-being of the people.
The theme of this year’s commemoration, “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world,” underscores the need for policymakers to prioritize the aspirations and rights of young people.
Although there is no universally agreed-upon international definition of the youth age group, reports from the UNDP and other multilateral organisations indicate that the world presently has the largest-ever generation of youth.
Therefore, the main objectives of the 2025 commemoration are to raise awareness about the growing global population and its impact; promote reproductive health and rights, especially for women and youth.
Others are to advocate gender equality and empower women to make informed family choices, and align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3) and Gender Equality (SDG 5).
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, said on the occasion of the 2025 commemoration that the potential and promise of the largest youth generation ever should be celebrated.
He said, apart from shaping the future, the world’s youth population was demanding a future that was just, inclusive, and sustainable.“This year’s theme reaffirms the promise of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development: that every person has the right to make informed choices about their lives and futures.“
Many young people today face economic uncertainty, gender inequality, health challenges, the climate crisis and conflict.“Still, they are leading with courage, conscience and clarity; and they are calling for systems that uphold their rights and support their choices.“
I urge countries to invest in policies that ensure education, healthcare, decent work, and the full protection of their reproductive rights.“Let us stand with young people and build a future where every person can shape their destiny in a world that is fair, peaceful, and full of hope,” he said.
However, the question on the lips of many Nigerians is, how do policymakers empower young Nigerians when there is no accurate population data?Experts say accurate population data not only serves as the basis for a nation’s sound economic planning, but its social fabric is also deeply intertwined with its demographic realities.
They say the success of social development and welfare programmes, such as health provision, housing and urban development and social protection, heavily depends on population data.
For instance, data on school-age children, literacy rates, out-of-school children, and educational attainment levels are vital for planning the construction of new schools, allocating teachers, developing curricula, and ensuring equitable access to quality education.
Mr Imoemiye Powei, a child education expert, said that without credible and up-to-date population data, Nigeria could reliably dispute unfavourable development statistics from foreign institutions.
He was referring to the 2024 global data on out-of-school children, where UNESCO put Nigeria’s out-of-school children figure at an estimated 20 million.
The report was disputed by the Federal Government, which stressed that it did not reflect the true state of affairs in the country.
The government said it used data from the population commission.“Mind you, how many Nigerians register the birth of their children, especially those in rural areas?“
Meanwhile, how dependable is data, any data, from the population commission, which has not conducted a census since 2006?“We should see the report as a wake-up call, not an indictment,” Imoemiye said.
Worthy of note, Nigeria has not conducted a population census since 2006 due to a complex interplay of factors, primarily rooted in politicisation, funding challenges, and logistical hurdles.
Yet, some stakeholders insist that conducting regular and reliable censuses is not merely a statistical exercise; it is the bedrock upon which effective national planning and sustainable development must be built.In January, the Senate directed the National Population Commission (NPC) to conduct a census in 2025.
The NPC indicated its readiness and plans for a biometric-based exercise to enhance accuracy and credibility.
However, the exact date still needs to be proclaimed by the President, and a separate budget for the exercise will need to be approved.
During the budget defence of the NPC, Sen. Diket Plang (APC-Plateau Central) said that he felt bad to discover that the country did not have credible data on the population of its citizenry.“I feel very bad that we are still living on estimated population figures.“
I also feel bad that we are still postulating and relying on data supplied by foreign bodies, which is more or less demeaning to us among the committee of nations.“We want to know our population. Nigeria should be counted this year,” he said.
Sen. Olalere Oyewumi (PDP-Osun West) shared Plang’s sentiment.“The 2025 budget of NPC should revolve around the population census, which must be done this year because the demographic characteristics of the population figures being bandied about the country now are not known.“
The NPC should get its act together for the President to proclaim the population census, which in itself will facilitate provisions for the desired money,” he said.
As Nigeria joins other countries to celebrate the 2025 World Population Day, the importance of population data is once again emphasised because it provides the essential demographic intelligence required for evidence-based decision-making.
Experts say population data also ensures equitable resource distribution and the formulation of policies that genuinely address the needs and aspirations of the nation’s diverse population.
