WPD 2025: UNFPA and Togo Call for Empowering Young People to Make Their Own Family Choices

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Extract from the article: Under the theme “Empowering young people to build the families they wish for in a just and hopeful world,” Togo celebrated, in October 2025, the World Population Day (WPD) together with the official launch of the 2025 State of the World Population..

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Under the theme “Empowering young people to build the families they wish for in a just and hopeful world,” Togo celebrated, in October 2025, the World Population Day (WPD) together with the official launch of the 2025 State of the World Population Report (SWOP), themed “The Real Fertility Crisis: The Quest for Reproductive Autonomy in a Changing World,” on October 14, 2025, in Lomé. This double celebration brought together government officials, representatives of international institutions, community leaders, youth organizations, and development actors around a central issue: the freedom and responsibility of young people in their life and reproductive choices.

Established by the United Nations in 1989, the World Population Day aims to draw the attention of the global community to issues related to population and development.

In her address, Ms. Élise Kakam, UNFPA Resident Representative in Togo, noted that the 2025 themes are closely interconnected and highlight the importance of guaranteeing every individual the right to freely decide when, how many, and under what conditions to have children. “These two interconnected themes challenge us, both individually and collectively, to take into account the deep aspirations of individuals and couples regarding reproduction,” she said.

For his part, Mr. Edjeou Essohanam, Chief of Staff representing the Minister of Development Planning and Cooperation, emphasized that we are living in a time of profound transformation—technological progress, social change, and environmental challenges are redefining our ways of life. “Thus, the issue of fertility now goes beyond simple statistics or pronatalist policies to touch the very core of our humanity: the fundamental right of every individual to freely decide their life path and to shape their destiny according to their own will,” he added.

A World Population in Transformation

According to the UNFPA 2025 report, the world population grew from 5 billion people in 1987 to 8.232 billion in 2025, an increase of over 3 billion in less than forty years.

Yet, fertility rates are declining across the globe. Individuals and couples—especially younger generations—are having fewer children.

Togo is a clear illustration of this trend. In 1988, a Togolese woman had an average of 6.4 children. This figure dropped to 4.8 in 2013 and is estimated at 4.3 in 2022.

This decline, according to the report, is due to economic constraints, health problems, job insecurity, the rollback of women’s rights, and uncertainties linked to conflicts and climate change.

 

The “Fertility Crisis”: Between Perceptions and Realities

Ms. Kakam stressed the need to shift the paradigm: the decline in fertility should not be seen as a threat but as an opportunity to rethink public policies and to value human potential.

She also cited UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem, who warned against “false assumptions” accusing young people of rejecting parenthood out of selfishness.

“In reality, many young people would like to start families but are discouraged by economic and social barriers,” Ms. Kakam underlined.

For UNFPA, creating conditions for decent employment, stable income, access to reproductive health services, and education is the key to enabling young people to make informed and autonomous choices about parenthood.

Togo: A Model of Commitment to Youth and Families

Togo’s progress in population, youth, and gender policies is remarkable.
According to Mr. Edjeou Essohanam, the country has successfully integrated demographic dynamics into its sustainable development policies—particularly through programs that promote youth employability, social inclusion of vulnerable populations, and its participation in the regional SWEDD+ initiative (Sahel Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Dividend in Sub-Saharan Africa).

These efforts demonstrate a strong political will to invest in human capital and ensure that every citizen has the opportunity to contribute to national development.

All stakeholders are called upon to listen to young people, understand their aspirations, and provide them with the means to realize their dreams in a more equitable and inclusive world.

The demographic dynamic must be reconsidered as an opportunity rather than a threat, placing human rights, freedom of choice, and youth empowerment at the center of sustainable development efforts.

By Raymond DZAKPATA