On July 11, 1987, the world population hit five billion. To mark
this milestone and raise awareness of global population issues,
such as the human right to plan a family, and their impact on
development and the environment, the United Nations Population
Fund (UNFPA) designated July 11 as World Population Day in 1989.
Each year, World Population Day is centered around a specific
theme and issue. World Population Day 2012 focuses on “Universal
Access to Reproductive Health Services”: Reproductive health is
at the very heart of development and crucial to delivering the
UNFPA vision – a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every
childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is
fulfilled.” Global reproductive health and issues by the
numbers: 1.8 billion: Number of adolescents reaching their
reproductive years – many without the knowledge, skills, and
services needed to protect themselves. 4: Number of people who
contract HIV every minute and the number of people who die of
AIDS every minute. $9: Amount