Namibia highlights youth aspirations, teenage pregnancy prevention on World Population Day

Staff Reporter

NAMIBIA has called for greater investment in young people’s health, opportunities and future prospects as the country commemorated World Population Day 2026 under the theme, “Realising the Hopes and Aspirations of Young People – Today and for the Future.”

The national event, led by the National Planning Commission (NPC) in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), World Health Organization (WHO), Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), Khomas Regional Council and other partners, focused on preventing teenage pregnancy and creating an environment where adolescents and young people can make informed choices and achieve their aspirations.

A key highlight of the commemoration was the launch of UNFPA’s report, Lives, Choices and Futures: What Young People Want and What Shapes Their Decisions About Relationships and Parenthood, which examines the aspirations of more than 108,000 young adults aged 18 to 39 across 73 countries and territories.

The report found that while many young people continue to aspire to marriage and having children, financial insecurity, rising living costs, housing challenges and other structural barriers are preventing many from achieving their desired futures.