World Population Day 2026
Published in Healthcare & Nursing, Social Sciences, and Earth & Environment
World Population Day, observed annually on 11 July, highlights the demographic trends shaping societies worldwide. The 2026 United Nations theme, "Realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people – today and for the future," focuses on understanding the choices, opportunities, and challenges that influence the lives of young adults and future generations. The theme is informed by UNFPA's global Demographic Futures Survey, one of the largest surveys of young adults ever conducted across 73 countries. 
To support research for World Population Day 2026, we have curated a selection of open access Springer Nature research published in late 2025 and 2026, alongside recently published articles, OA and Non-OA books, and blogs exploring population health, fertility, family planning, demographic change, migration, sustainability, and youth futures.
Population & Demography
Alongside the featured Population Health Metrics editorial "What we count, and who gets counted?”, recent research highlights fertility intentions among medical students in Ukraine, registration of family vital events in displacement settings, and fertility knowledge among tertiary-educated youths in Singapore. Additional perspectives are provided by the book Population and Human Development in Districts of India and Low Fertility and Population Development in China.
Population Health
Featured studies examine inequalities in life expectancy, healthy life expectancy, premature mortality, child mortality in Bangladesh, health promotion interventions in primary care, and long-term care needs in ageing populations. Selected research articles relevant to this theme include articles from Population Health Metrics: insights on consequences of Sex-selective abortions over the past four decades in China, as well as a telling study on population level attitudes to covid vaccination: Beyond binary: machine-learning classification of childhood COVID-19 vaccination intentions
Accounting for uncertainty in conflict mortality estimation: an application to the Gaza War in 2023–2024 as well as A demographic assessment of the impact of the war in the Gaza Strip on the mortality of children and their parents in 2023 . Research on conflict mortality and attacks on healthcare in conflict settings underlines the importance of robust population health measurement as highlighed in Attacks on healthcare in conflict-affected countries.
BMC Primary Care features papers on Population-oriented health promotion and disease prevention interventions in primary healthcare: a scoping review of reviews. The Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition (JHPN) features Determinants of multiple modes of failure in child mortality in Bangladesh , the Body Mass Index indicator of Poverty and women’s health in Somaliland, as well as an Assessment of fertility knowledge among youths in Singapore.
Youth Futures and Human Capital
Evidence on young people’s aspirations is complemented by studies on fertility knowledge, parenthood attitudes, adolescent reproductive health services, menstrual health and education, and interventions designed to improve access to contraception and reproductive decision-making. Selected research articles relevant to this theme include: Assessment of fertility knowledge and attitudes towards parenthood and fertility preservation among tertiary-educated youths in Singapore from JHPN, articles from ISRCTN registry on the Impact of menstrual cups on adolescent girls reproductive health and education, and testing behavioral interventions to increase use of modern contraception in women with one child. Further research from BMC Primary Care includes a scoping review of reviews on Population-oriented Primary healthcare as well as a paper Evaluating the technical efficiency of primary health facilities in delivering adolescent mental, sexual and reproductive health services in Burkina Faso.
Sexual and Reproductive Health
Recent research explores contraceptive education in Ethiopia, SRHR programmes for migrants, behavioural interventions to increase contraceptive uptake, and women-centred health hub models. While JHPN relates on Experiences and self-reported outcomes of abortion care in Sub-Saharan countries , and as maternal health is a core population indicator, this paper explores the effectiveness of the continuous midwifery care model. A BMC Primary Care article explores Community Women Health Hub models in England while a study covering ~130 primary care centres in Burkina Faso evaluates the efficiency of these primary health facilities in delivering adolescent mental, sexual and reproductive health services. Readers may also explore the books Ethical, Efficacy and Safety Issues in Contraception, The Handbook of Contraception, and Women’s Reproductive Mental Health in South Asia.
Migration and Mobility
Migration remains central to demographic change. Relevant resources include research on displaced populations and the collection Reproductive Health Equity for Migrants, Refugees, and Internally Displaced Populations. An ISRCTN registry study is evaluating a sexual and reproductive health & rights program for migrants in Sweden. Further reading includes non-OA books as History of Migration in China, Intersections of Sexual Health, Migration and Sexualised Violence, and Climate Change, Labour and Migration in Indonesia. These works have a special rate (see related section here below).
Climate Change and Sustainability
Population resilience is increasingly shaped by climate pressures. Recent work on JHPN examines Climate, conflict, and food security, research on women-led sustainable irrigation and child wellbeing, urban characteristics linked to health, and demographic adaptation. Related non-OA books include Climate Crisis and Changing Population Dynamics and Sustainable Women's Health: Perspectives from South Asia.
Data Science for Population Research
Methodological advances include demographic forecasting, machine-learning approaches to population health, conflict mortality estimation, cause-of-death diversity analysis, and forecasting aged-care expenditure using simulation and machine learning. Selected research articles relevant to this theme include articles from Population Health Metrics as Beyond binary: a machine-learning classification of childhood COVID-19 vaccination intentions using behavioural data and Cause of death diversity in multi-group settings: an application to Latin America and the Caribbean whereas the Journal of Population Economics features a paper on Fighting abuse with prescription tracking and how the US opioid crisis generates broader societal harms.
The Population health metrics Journal features an impactful article Estimating long-term care needs in data-scarce settings addressing lack of data to inform long-term health care policies. In his related Behind the Paper Interview, Dr. Mohamed Ismail, Director of Analytical Research Ltd, and an Affiliate Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, expands on this topic as his current research explores how mathematical and dynamical systems can inform our understanding of population ageing, particularly in relation to health and social care.
Featured Journal Collections
Some Journal Collections as the Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health, Microbiome, Trials and the Harm Reduction Journal, are calling for papers! Check the collections here: Microbiome and Reproductive Health; Women’s Health and Sex- and Gender-Responsive Trial Methodology; Old Threats Anew: Impact of International Disruption on Infectious Disease and Sexual Health in Africa and the Global South, and Sexually Transmitted Infections in a Changing Global Landscape. Readers may also explore curated closed collections including topics as Male Reproductive Health; Sexual and Domestic Violence; Abortions; and exploring the Role of Menstruation in School Girls’ Sexual and Reproductive Health in Low-Resource Settings
Recently Published Books
The Behind the Paper Interview with Dr. Daniela Kietzmann MD, PhD, DESAIC, Consultant anaesthesiologist from Uppsala University Hospital, and author of the latest work in the Sustainable Development Goals Book Series ,titled Anaesthesia in Remote Hospitals: A Guide for Anaesthesia Providers, expands on the challenges of providing safe training and anaesthesia in low-resource settings, especially for maternal care.
Highlighted Non-OA books include Climate Crisis and Changing Population Dynamics and Sustainable Women's Health: Perspectives from South Asia. Low Fertility and Population Development in China develops new models in fertility analysis; History of Migration in China; Population and Human Development in Districts of India, a first-of-its-kind district-level insights into population dynamics; Ethical, Efficacy and Safety Issues in Contraception by Genazzani et Al., explores ethical, medical, and practical dimensions of contraception in modern healthcare The Handbook of Contraception offers evidence-based clinical recommendations and rationales on contraceptive use; Women’s Reproductive Mental Health in South Asia; Intersections of Sexual Health, Migration and Sexualised Violence by Valeska and Rossoni provides a unique, interdisciplinary perspective on sexual health and SGBV; and Climate Change, Labour and Migration in Indonesia.
These works all have a special 20% off rate on SpringerLink until Oct.12th, 2026 on checking out with Coupon WorldPopDay2026.
We hope you will find these articles, collections and books informative and a good support to your research interests: they show population research connects health, fertility, migration, sustainability, equity and young people’s futures, providing sound evidence to inform policy and practice, as societies respond to changing demographic realities.
Follow the Topic
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BMC Primary Care
Previously known as BMC Family Practice, this is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers articles on all aspects of primary health care research.
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ISRCTN: The UK’s Clinical Study Registry
A primary clinical trial registry recognised by WHO and ICMJE that accepts studies involving human subjects or populations with outcome measures assessing effects on human health and well-being, including studies in healthcare, social care, education, workplace safety and economic development.
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Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
The journal aims to impact global epidemiology and international health with articles focused on innovative scholarship and strategies to advance global health policy.
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BMC Public Health
An open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers articles on the epidemiology of disease and the understanding of all aspects of public health.
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Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition
This journal brings together research on all aspects of issues related to population, nutrition, and health. The journal publishes articles across a broad range of topics including global health, maternal and child health, nutrition, common illnesses, and determinants of population health.
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Population Health Metrics
Population Health Metrics aims to advance the science of population health assessment, and welcomes papers relating to concepts, methods, ethics, applications, and summary measures of population health.
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Harm Reduction Journal
This journal publishes research and commentary on approaches diminishing the harm of stigmatization, marginalization and criminalization of public health, human rights and social justice issues, as well as rebuking the de facto criminalization of marginalized and stigmatized communities.
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Journal of Population Economics
This is a highly cited international quarterly that publishes original theoretical and applied research with significant policy relevance.
Related Collections
With Collections, you can get published faster and increase your visibility.
Ethics and regulation of AI in primary care
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into primary care is rapidly transforming healthcare delivery, enabling more personalized, efficient, and effective patient care. However, the ethical and regulatory challenges associated with the deployment of AI technologies in this context are multifaceted and require thorough examination. Issues such as patient privacy, data protection, informed consent, and the potential for algorithmic bias are at the forefront of discussions surrounding AI's role in healthcare. As AI systems increasingly influence clinical decision-making, understanding the ethical frameworks and regulatory requirements governing their use is essential for safeguarding patient rights and ensuring equitable access to healthcare services.
The significance of addressing the ethical and regulatory dimensions of AI in primary care lies in its potential to enhance patient trust and ensure that AI applications are developed and implemented responsibly. Recent advancements in AI have demonstrated its capabilities in improving diagnostic accuracy and streamlining administrative tasks; however, these benefits must be balanced with robust protections for patient data and ethical considerations regarding decision-making. Furthermore, the lack of comprehensive regulations can lead to inconsistencies in AI application and misuse, which could undermine public confidence in these technologies.
In this Collection, we welcome submissions that span a wide array of topics, including but not limited to:
- Ethical considerations in AI applications
- Data protection and patient privacy in AI
- Informed consent processes for AI use
- Regulatory frameworks for AI in primary care
All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Jan 28, 2027
Identifying and responding to domestic violence and abuse in primary care
Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) remains a pervasive issue affecting individuals across various demographics, often leading to significant physical and mental health consequences. Primary care settings are uniquely positioned to identify and respond to instances of DVA, yet many healthcare providers feel ill-equipped to address this sensitive issue. This Collection aims to explore the role of primary care in recognizing the signs of domestic abuse and developing effective response strategies, enhancing the capacity of healthcare professionals to support affected individuals.
As this research area continues to evolve, we may see significant advancements in the implementation of standardized protocols for identifying and responding to domestic violence in primary care. Future studies could lead to the development of comprehensive training programs for healthcare providers, enhancing their confidence and competence in addressing this issue. Ongoing research could facilitate the creation of collaborative networks between primary care providers, social services, and community organizations, ultimately leading to more effective support for survivors of domestic violence. Additionally, integrating mental health support and community resources into primary care settings has shown promise in creating safer environments for patients, and fostering early detection and intervention.
In this Collection, we welcome submissions that span a wide array of topics, including but not limited to:
- Identification tools for domestic violence in primary care
- Training programs for healthcare providers on DVA
- Integrating primary care, social services, and mental health support
- Community and peer support resources for domestic abuse survivors attending primary care
This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.
All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Nov 11, 2026
