Yemen, 11 July 2026— Today, on World Population Day, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, calls for urgent investments in young people in Yemen and around the world. A new report by UNFPA, Lives, Choices and Futures, launched on 7 July, draws on the 2025-2026 Demographic Futures Survey—one of the most geographically diverse bodies of evidence on how young adults navigate relationships, parenthood, and the future in an uncertain world.
Through the voices of over 108,000 internet-connected people aged 18 to 39 across 73 countries, the report shows that many young people continue to value partnership and parenthood, but the conditions to realize these aspirations often feel out of reach.
Key findings include:
-
Around 90 per cent of young adults surveyed rated economic security and being fit and healthy as important life goals.
-
Financial security is the highest-rated consideration for partnership formation.
-
Economic and housing constraints are the most commonly reported barriers to partnership.
-
Two-thirds of respondents reported feeling somewhat or very positive about the future.
-
Eight in ten respondents rated the joy and happiness that children bring as an important reason for having children—the highest-rated motivation for parenthood.
The report's findings resonate powerfully in Yemen, where nearly 70 per cent of the population is under 30 years. Yet more than a decade of conflict has left young people with severely limited access to education, employment, and the basic conditions to contribute to their communities.
"Yemen's youth represent immense potential for innovation and growth, but potential alone is not enough. When we invest in young people's choices, we invest in Yemen's future," said Francesco Galtieri, UNFPA Representative in Yemen.
In Yemen, UNFPA is helping to harness the potential of young people by supporting youth-friendly health centers, ensuring access to reproductive health services, and promoting young people's leadership and participation in community resilience and social cohesion efforts.
As echoed by the UN Secretary-General in his World Population Day message, young people's determination must be matched with greater investment in education, healthcare, and decent work. All young people deserve the freedom, opportunity, and support to shape their own lives and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
###
Resources:
-
UN Secretary-General on the occasion of World Population Day: Statement
-
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs: World Population Highlights 2026: Youth
-
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs: World Fertility Report 2024.
For more information, please contact:
Taha Yaseen
Communication Specialist
Phone: +967 712 224090;
About UNFPA:
UNFPA is the United Nations Population Fund, working to uphold the rights and choices of women, girls and young people across more than 150 countries and territories. It reaches millions of women, girls and young people with essential health services and protection from violence. It also helps governments plan for changing population needs so people can thrive today and in the future.
