World Population Day – No One Gets Left Behind For Every Person Counts

As we evolve as humans, and as the world we live in shifts into technological advancement, does this make us stop and think of all the remarkable aspects our world has gone through? With all these technological advancements achieved by humans, we ought to think of how all of these human achievements and milestones came to be. Over the years and over a handful of centuries past did societies around the world have made remarkable progress in improving population data gathering, analysis and use. New population figures, disaggregated by age, ethnicity, gender and other factors, now reflect the diversity of our societies more accurately. 

These advancements have made a significant enhancement of health care delivery globally, leading to substantial improvements in sexual and reproductive health and the ability to exercise rights and choices. Increasingly, new technologies are enabling more detailed and timely measurement of people’s experiences than ever before. However, the most marginalized communities remain underrepresented in data, profoundly affecting their lives and well-being.

The role of World Population Day is to speak out about who is still going uncounted and why – and what this costs individuals, societies, and our global efforts to leave no one behind. It is also a moment for all of us to commit to doing more to ensure that our data systems capture the full range of human diversity so that everyone is seen, can exercise their human rights and can reach their full potential. 

To realize the rights and choices of those on the margins of our societies, we must count them-because everyone counts.