The State of the World Population 2019 Report was recently published by UNFPA under the title “Unfinished Business - The Pursuit of Rights and Choices for All”

The report, published on UNFPA’s 50th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo in 1994 - two events which led to a radical change in the lives of women as well as the households and communities in which they live - highlighted the remarkable gains that have been realized by both of them in sexual and reproductive health and rights since 1969:

• The average global number of births per woman dropped from 4.9 children per woman in 1969 to 2.9 children per woman in 1994 and 2.5 children per woman in 2019.
• The fertility rates in the least developed countries declined from 6.7 children per woman in 1969 to 5.6 children in 1994 and 3.9 children in 2019.
• The global number of women who died from pregnancy-related causes decreased from 369 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1994 to 216 in 2015.
• The use of modern family planning methods increased from 24% in 1969 to 52% in 1994 and 58% in 2019. 

However, despite the progress and remarkable gains made in reproductive health and rights, the report indicated that reproductive rights remain, for many women, something elusive. There are more than 200 million women who wish to use contraceptive methods but are unable to obtain information or services related to the modern contraceptive methods. These women face economic, social and institutional obstacles that prevent them from making their own reproductive decisions. This is in addition to the increase in the unmet need for reproductive health services among marginalized populations including ethnic minorities, youth, people with disabilities and the poor. Furthermore, an estimated number of 800 million alive today were married when they were children, not to mention that more than 500 women in countries with emergency settings die during pregnancy and childbirth every day.

The report further indicated that UNFPA’s 50th anniversary and ICPD’s 25th anniversary present a unique opportunity for the global community to build on the ICPD framework and fully commit to realizing a visionary agenda for sexual and reproductive health and

rights, and to reaching those who have been left behind. This agenda

must pay attention to population dynamics, recognize the diverse challenges faced by different countries at various stages of development, and ground policies and programs in respect for, and fulfillment of, human rights and the dignity of the individual. There is enormous momentum around efforts to achieve the SDGs,

especially Goal 3 which states “to ensure healthy lives and

promote well-being for all at all ages” and Target 3.7 which aims for “universal access to sexual and reproductive health care and services, including family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs by 2030”.

 Source: UNFPA www.unfpa.org

To review the report: Click below:

https://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/UNFPA_PUB_2019_AR_State_of_World_Population.pdf