Doha, July 10 (QNA) - Under the theme 'Realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people – today and for the future', the State of Qatar joins the rest of the world tomorrow in marking World Population Day, observed annually on July 11.

The day aims to raise awareness of population issues and highlights topics related to family planning, gender equality, poverty reduction, maternal health, and human rights.

This year's theme is based on a recent UN report, one of the largest global surveys, which gathered data from over 108,000 young people aged 18 to 39 in 73 countries with internet access.

Titled Lives, Choices and Futures: What young people want and what shapes their decisions about relationships and parenthood, the report provides a comprehensive overview of young people's aspirations and the challenges they face in achieving their personal and family goals.

The objectives of World Population Day align with the State of Qatar's focus on population issues, within the framework of its approach to building an advanced society based on respect for human rights and improving the quality of life for citizens and residents. This is embodied in Qatar National Vision 2030, which places population development and empowerment at the forefront of its priorities.

The vision provides the general framework for developing successive national development strategies and forms the basis for subsequent population policies that aim to bring about quantitative and qualitative change in population variables and related issues through a set of executive plans and programs.

The State of Qatar's population policy is one of the most prominent achievements of the Permanent Population Committee since its establishment in 2004. It was developed based on specialized studies conducted by experts and ministerial committees on various population issues, under the supervision of experts from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). It is subject to continuous review to keep pace with population shifts and national development plans.

In January 2024, the State of Qatar launched its third National Development Strategy (2024-2030), the final phase in achieving the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030. This strategy aims to maintain readiness to meet challenges and guide Qatar towards becoming a developed nation by 2030, achieving sustainable development and providing a high quality of life for all its citizens and future generations. The strategy prioritizes competitiveness, fosters innovation, and supports institutional excellence, while balancing sustainable growth with social cohesion, in line with national outcomes.

Among other objectives, the third National Development Strategy aims to strengthen the family unit, recognizing it as the cornerstone of a strong and stable society. It emphasizes the importance of the social and economic inclusion of vulnerable groups, ensuring that no segment of society is left behind.

The State of Qatar is working to build a cohesive society that preserves its authentic values and strong family bonds, promotes responsible citizenship, and establishes a harmonious and prosperous local community. This is achieved by building strong families as the cornerstone of society, expanding family policies that support fertility, supporting the institution of marriage, promoting positive parenting, and increasing women's flexibility in the workplace. Qatar also aims to raise the fertility rate to an average of three children per woman.

The State of Qatar's commitment to the family is further demonstrated by the celebration of Family Day in Qatar on April 15 each year. This national occasion aims to highlight the role of the family in social and economic development, strengthen family ties, and preserve cultural identity.

Through the Ministry of Social Development and Family, the country offers training and awareness programs to enhance family stability, including the values promotion initiative and projects supporting young people preparing for marriage. 

The State of Qatar seeks to achieve global prominence by providing the highest quality of life, particularly for families, through a focus on key areas including education, healthcare, recreation, culture, the environment, and public safety.

Qatar has ranked first in the Arab world, the Middle East, and North Africa, and 18th globally in the mid-2025 Healthcare Index issued by the database encyclopedia Numbeo, reflecting the continuous development of the healthcare sector and its reliance on innovation and the latest global technologies, in line with the objectives of the Third National Development Strategy.

The State of Qatar ranked 40th globally according to the latest Human Development Reports issued by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for the year 2023-2024.

World Population Day was established by the UNDP in 1989 and was first celebrated on July 11, 1990, in more than 90 countries. It was inspired by "Five Billion Day," celebrated on July 11, 1987, the day the world's population reached five billion.

Current estimates indicate that approximately 83 million people are added to the world's population each year, and the global population is projected to reach 8.6 billion in 2030, 9.8 billion in 2050, and 11.2 billion in 2100.

This year's World Population Day theme focuses on engaging young people in decision-making processes, harnessing the demographic dividend, and building inclusive societies for future generations. It emphasizes that population issues are not merely about numbers, but extend to rights, opportunities, sustainable development, and the impact of demographic changes on health, education, housing, and employment.

In this context, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Diene Keita stated on World Population Day: "We are living through a time of profound demographic change. Some countries have historically large numbers of young people. Others are experiencing rapid population ageing. And many are navigating both. Societies and economies are being reshaped by intersecting crises, rising inequalities and disruptive technologies. At the same time, information and misinformation are redefining how we perceive the world around us."

How do young adults see their lives, ambitions and futures in a world of constant change? This is the question at the heart of UNFPA's recent Demographic Futures Survey, she added.

She noted that while most still hope for partnership and parenthood, yet many feel they may never see these dreams materialize.

The UN official stressed that young people need a sense of security to plan for their future, and the agency to carry that plan out. (QNA)