World Population Day, observed annually on July 11, raises awareness about global population issues. The 2025 theme, “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world,” highlights the vital role of youth in shaping the future of families and societies.
As young people navigate complex social, economic, and cultural challenges, empowering them with the right tools and opportunities is essential to ensure they can make informed, equitable choices about family life.
In this Article
Understanding the Needs and Aspirations of Young People
There are 1.2 billion young people aged between 15-24 around the world today, which accounts for up to 16% of the global population, especially in developing regions where the youth demographic is rapidly growing. Their aspirations around family life are diverse and shaped by cultural, social, and economic contexts.
However, many face barriers such as limited access to education, economic instability, and restrictive social norms that hinder their ability to decide freely when and how to start a family. Recognising these challenges is crucial to supporting youth in defining and creating the families they want. Whether that means delaying parenthood, choosing smaller families, or embracing non-traditional family structures.
Empowerment starts with understanding and respecting these varied aspirations and the obstacles young people must overcome.
The Role of Education and Reproductive Health Services
Education and access to reproductive health services are foundational to empowering young people in their family planning choices. Comprehensive sexuality education equips youth with accurate information about their bodies, relationships, contraception, and consent, enabling them to make informed, responsible decisions. In many regions, however, such education is limited or absent, leaving young people vulnerable to unintended pregnancies and poor health outcomes.
In addition, access to affordable and youth-friendly reproductive health services is equally important. This includes contraception, maternal care, and counselling. When young people can access these resources without stigma or financial barriers, they are more likely to delay parenthood, pursue education or career goals, and build healthier families when they are ready.
Investing in these services is not just a health priority, it’s a step toward a more just and hopeful future for all.
Gender Equality and Economic Empowerment
Empowering young people to shape their own family futures is impossible without addressing gender inequality and economic disparity. In many parts of the world, young girls face disproportionate pressure to marry early, bear children, or abandon education due to gender norms and lack of opportunities. True empowerment means ensuring that both young women and men have equal rights, responsibilities, and choices when it comes to starting a family.
Economic empowerment is equally critical. Youth who lack access to decent jobs, fair wages, or financial independence often find their family planning decisions constrained by poverty and instability. Creating pathways to education, vocational training, and employment gives young people the freedom and confidence to build the lives and families that they envision.
By promoting gender equality and economic inclusion, societies not only support individual autonomy but also foster stronger, more resilient communities.
Inclusive Policies and Social Support Systems
For young people to create the families they want, governments and institutions must adopt inclusive policies that prioritise their rights, needs, and potential. This includes laws that protect access to reproductive healthcare, ensure equal opportunities in education and employment, and prevent child marriage and gender-based violence.
Policies alone, however, are not enough. Young people also need supportive environments. Social programs that provide childcare, parental leave, housing assistance, and mental health support can make a crucial difference, especially for young parents. When communities, schools, and workplaces are designed to accommodate the realities of young people’s lives, their choices become more meaningful and sustainable.
Inclusive, youth-centred policies backed by real support systems empower the next generation to plan their futures with hope, fairness, and confidence.
Global Challenges and Innovative Solutions
Despite progress, young people around the world continue to face significant obstacles in shaping their family futures. Barriers such as poverty, limited healthcare infrastructure, gender discrimination, and restrictive cultural norms often leave youth without the resources or freedom to make informed decisions.
However, innovative solutions are emerging. Digital platforms are expanding access to sexual and reproductive health information, especially in underserved areas. Youth-led organisations are advocating for policy change, challenging harmful norms, and creating peer-support networks. Governments and NGOs are piloting community-based programs that integrate education, economic support, and healthcare to meet the specific needs of young people.
By embracing these creative approaches and listening directly to youth voices, societies can break down barriers and pave the way toward more inclusive, hopeful futures. Where every young person has the power to decide when and how to start a family.
Conclusion
World Population Day 2025 shines a spotlight on a powerful truth: when young people are empowered, they can shape their own destinies and contribute to a more just, equitable world. Supporting youth in creating the families they want means more than providing healthcare or education. It requires dismantling systemic barriers, challenging harmful norms, and building societies rooted in fairness and hope.
By investing in gender equality, inclusive policies, and economic opportunities, we not only honour young people’s rights but also lay the foundation for healthier, more resilient communities. As we move forward, the voices, needs, and leadership of young people must remain at the heart of population and development efforts, because their choices today will define the future of our world.
Planet Pulse 
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