World Population Day - July 11, 2025
Why Population Trends Matter in International Affairs
In 2022, the world’s population reached 8 billion - a major milestone in human development. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted, “The milestone is an occasion to celebrate diversity and advancements while considering humanity's shared responsibility for the planet.”
World Population Day, recognized each year on July 11, offers a chance to step back and consider not just how much the world has grown, but how population trends shape the future we’re building together. While we often talk about population in numbers, these issues are fundamentally about people - the ways we move, live, learn, and respond to global challenges like climate change, public health, and inequality.
In CU Boulder’s International Affairs Program (IAFS), population dynamics are a key part of understanding the forces driving today’s most pressing global issues. From urban growth and aging populations to reproductive rights and migration patterns, students explore how demographic trends intersect with questions of peace, security, and justice around the world.
Population Studies Across CU Boulder
CU Boulder is home to several programs and research centers focused on population issues, including:
- Population Program at the Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS)
This interdisciplinary program supports research and training in population-related topics such as migration, aging, fertility, and health - often with a strong international focus. - CU Population Center (CUPC) at the Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS)
CUPC is a leading hub for population research that promotes collaboration between CU faculty, students, and global partners. The center supports undergraduate and graduate research and offers fellowships, internships, and events related to demography, policy, and development.
Related IAFS Courses
Many courses in the IAFS major/minor explore population issues from multiple disciplinary angles. A few examples include:
- IAFS 3000 – Special Topics in International Affairs: Humanitarianism
- IAFS 4500 – Global Issues in International Affairs: Migration & Refugees
- SOCY 3002 – Population and Society
- PSCI 4283 – International Migration and Policy
- ECON/GEOG 4292 – Migration, Immigrant Adaptation and Development
Students are encouraged to speak with IAFS advisors to learn which population-related courses best fit their focus region or thematic interest area.
Why Population Matters in Global Affairs
Population trends are not only academic - they have immediate policy implications. As students in IAFS examine…
- Climate change and environmental displacement…
- Global migration and refugee flows…
- Health equity and reproductive rights…
- Education, employment, and urbanization…
- Aging societies and intergenerational challenges…
…it becomes clear that demography is a powerful lens through which to understand global change.
As we recognize World Population Day, it’s a good reminder of how interdisciplinary education plays a key role in preparing the next generation of leaders, researchers, and advocates to take on complex global challenges.