Yu Yu UNFPA Representative in South Africa speaks to Ubuntu Radio about World Population Day 2025
11 July 2025
Empowering Young People: A Call for Reproductive Agency and Economic Justice on World Population Day
Pretoria, South Africa – As the world marks World Population Day 2025, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is calling for renewed global attention to the barriers that prevent young people from achieving their reproductive goals. This year’s theme, “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world,” challenges narratives that blame youth for global declines in fertility and instead highlights the structural obstacles standing in their way.
Contrary to the common perception that young people are choosing careers or independence over family life, many express a strong desire to form lasting partnerships and raise children. Yet they are deterred by economic uncertainty, climate anxiety, health challenges, rising inequality, and lack of adequate support systems.
“The real fertility crisis isn’t about numbers – it’s about agency,” said Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA. “When people are unable to realize their reproductive intentions because of social or economic constraints, it’s a failure of systems, not of individuals.” Many young people report that they simply can’t afford to start families. Lack of affordable housing, job insecurity, gender inequality, and online backlash against women’s rights are contributing to a global climate of hesitation and anxiety. These pressures are even more acute for youth from marginalized groups, including those from lower-income backgrounds, migrant communities, and LGBTQIA+ populations.
To address this, UNFPA calls for:
- Comprehensive sexuality education that equips youth to make informed life decisions,
- Economic policies that ensure decent work and a living wage,
- Family-friendly support systems like accessible childcare and paid parental leave,
- Inclusive decision-making processes that bring young people to the policy table.
World Population Day is a reminder that creating a sustainable future starts with listening to young people – and ensuring they have the resources, rights, and respect needed to build the lives they envision. “Starting on this World Population Day, let’s listen to what young people want and need and create conditions that enable them to exercise their rights, make their own choices and enjoy a hopeful future,” urged Dr. Kanem.
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