United Nations Population Fund
Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is UNFPA's goal?

The goal of UNFPA is to ensure every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, every young person's potential is fulfilled. To accomplish this, UNFPA works to guarantee that all people, especially women and young people, are able to access high-quality sexual and reproductive health services, including voluntary family planning, so that they can make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive lives.

What is the UNFPA mandate?

The mandate of UNFPA, as established by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1973 and reaffirmed in 1993, is to (1) build the knowledge and the capacity to respond to needs in population and family planning; (2) promote awareness in both developed and developing countries of issues related to population and possible strategies to deal with these; (3) provide assistance to address population-related issues in the forms and means best suited to the individual countries' needs; and (4) assume a leading role in the UN system in promoting programmes related to population, and to coordinate projects supported by the Fund.

At the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo in 1994, these broad ideas were elaborated to emphasize the gender and human rights dimensions of population matters. UNFPA was given the lead in helping countries to carry out the Programme of Action adopted by 179 governments at the Cairo conference. In 2010, the UN General Assembly extended the ICPD beyond 2014, which was the original end date for the 20-year Programme of Action.

What does UNFPA stand for?

The United Nations Fund for Population Activities was established as a trust fund in 1967 and began operations in 1969. In 1987, it was officially renamed the United Nations Population Fund, reflecting its lead role in the UN system on population matters. The original abbreviation, UNFPA, was retained.

UNFPA’s full name, the United Nations Population Fund, is used across all languages. To explain our work to a general audience, the organization describes itself as the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Official UN documents use its full, written-out name, the United Nations Population Fund.

Who funds and governs UNFPA?

UNFPA is entirely supported by voluntary contributions from donor governments, intergovernmental organizations, the private sector and foundations and individuals – not by the UN’s regular budget. Our latest annual report provides a complete list of our donors and contributions.

UNFPA is a subsidiary organ of the UN General Assembly. It reports to the UNDP/UNFPA Executive Board of 36 UN Member States on administrative, financial and programme matters and receives overall policy guidance from the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The Executive Board is composed of 36 members: eight from Africa, seven from Asia and the Pacific, four from Eastern Europe, five from Latin America and the Caribbean, and 12 from Western Europe and other developed countries.

What is World Population Day?

World Population Day, which seeks to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues, was established by the then-Governing Council of UNDP in 1989, as a reflection of the interest generated by the Day of Five Billion, which was observed on 11 July 1987. By resolution 45/216 of December 1990, the UN General Assembly decided to continue World Population Day to increase awareness of population issues, including how they impact the environment and development. The Day was first marked on 11 July 1990 in more than 90 countries. Since then, UNFPA and other organizations and institutions annually commemorate World Population Day, in partnership with governments and civil society.

What is reproductive health?

Reproductive health can be defined as a state of well-being related to one’s sexual and reproductive life. It implies, according to the ICPD Programme of Action, “that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so” (para. 7.2).

By this definition, reproductive health encompasses sexual health, which in medical terms often connotes the absence of sexually transmitted infections. But the term “sexual and reproductive health” is generally used by UNFPA and others as a way to emphasize that people have a right to a safe and satisfying sex life, and appropriate health services, independent of their reproductive status.

Although universal access to reproductive health is a widely endorsed international goal, we have a long way to go to achieve that aim. Reproductive health concerns – including HIV and AIDS – are a leading cause of death and illness in women worldwide. And because reproductive health problems are borne disproportionately by women, it is also an issue related to gender and inequality and is tied to human rights.

Reproductive health, in all of its dimensions, remains the cornerstone of UNFPA’s mandate and represents the area in which we invest the highest proportion of our resources.

How does UNFPA’s work on population issues relate to its focus on reproductive health and gender issues?

Population dynamics – encompassing growth rates, age structures, fertility and mortality rates, migration and more – influence every aspect of human, social and economic development. The other core areas of UNFPA’s work, including sexual and reproductive health, gender equality and the rights of young people, also powerfully influence population trends and dynamics.

Until 1994, population planning often took the form of attempting to reach specific demographic targets. The 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, however, underscored and reaffirmed the idea that the rights of individuals and couples, and especially their right to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children, are crucial to achieving sustainable development.

These decisions, multiplied across communities and countries, and coupled with mortality and migration rates, are what create population trends.

Does UNFPA perform or fund abortion?

UNFPA does not fund or perform abortions.

Abortion is never promoted as, or considered to be, a method of family planning. Instead, UNFPA accords the highest priority to voluntary family planning. Research clearly shows that family planning prevents unintended pregnancies, reduces abortions and prevents maternal death.

UNFPA’s guiding document, the ICPD Programme of Action (para 8.25), recognizes that the legal status of abortion is determined by each country’s national legislative process. UNFPA does not interfere in these sovereign country processes.

UNFPA states – also in alignment with the ICPD Programme of Action – that in countries where abortion is legal, national health systems must make safe abortion care accessible to the full extent of the law. In all cases, no matter the legality of abortion, women must have access to quality services to manage complications arising from abortion.

UNFPA stands opposed to all forms of reproductive violence, including coercive abortion, forced pregnancy and the discriminatory practice of gender-biased sex selection.

Does this mean UNFPA is opposed to abortion?

Just as UNFPA does not promote abortion, UNFPA also does not conceal information about abortion.

We are compelled by our human rights and public health mandate to provide factually accurate information about sexual and reproductive health, including abortion. The facts are:

  • Unsafe abortion is one of the top five contributors to maternal death globally, contributing up to 13 per cent of all maternal deaths.
  • Millions of women are hospitalized every year due to injuries from unsafe abortion, some with lasting health impacts and disabilities.
  • Women who are turned away from a desired abortion are more likely to experience long-term consequences like poverty and are less able to extricate from violent relationships – hardships that take a toll across generations.

All of these facts can and must be available to policymakers when governments make sovereign and independent decisions about policies surrounding abortion.

How does emergency contraception work?

The term “emergency contraception” refers to modern contraceptive methods that can be used to prevent pregnancy after sex. There are two recommended methods of emergency contraception: emergency contraceptive pills and copper-bearing intrauterine devices. Emergency contraceptive methods can be used to prevent pregnancy following unprotected intercourse, which can occur due to failure or misuse of a contraceptive (such as torn condoms), rape or coerced sex. Alternative names for emergency contraception include post-coital contraception and the morning-after pill. Emergency contraception inhibits or delays ovulation and does not harm a developing embryo or end a pregnancy.

Are condoms effective protection against HIV?

The male latex condom is a highly efficient technology available to reduce the sexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Condom use is a critical element in a comprehensive, effective and sustainable approach to HIV prevention and treatment, and condoms have played a decisive role in HIV prevention efforts in many countries. In some countries, female condoms are also beginning to play a larger role in HIV prevention.

What is fistula and what is UNFPA’s role in the Campaign to End Fistula?

Obstetric fistula is a devastating injury related to childbearing that affects the lives of millions of women – mostly those who are poor, young and living in remote areas. Addressing this injury relates to many aspects of UNFPA’s mission, including ensuring that every pregnancy is intended, every birth is safe and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect. For this reason, UNFPA spearheaded the global Campaign to End Fistula.

Is UNFPA involved in the issue of "female circumcision"?

The accepted term for this practice is female genital mutilation. UNFPA considers it to be a harmful practice that violates the rights of girls and women. UNFPA and UNICEF cosponsor the Joint Programme on Female Genital Mutilation.

Where can I get the latest statistics on world population trends?

UNFPA’s website has an easy-to-navigate dashboard on world population and related issues, including family planning, fertility, life expectancy and maternal and newborn health. It can be found here. Additional information on population trends can be found here.

The website of the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs also provides the latest world population data and projections used by the UN system, including UNFPA, in a variety of formats and analyses.

Where can I get more specific information about what UNFPA does in specific countries?

The data section of this website offers an overview of the work UNFPA does by country, including programme activities, the provision of reproductive health supplies, as well as human interest stories about our work.

What can I do to support the work of UNFPA?

Our donations page provides a number of ways to give, including across campaigns and in different currencies and ways of paying. It also gives you an idea of how far your money can go.

Simply staying informed about issues related to sexual and reproductive health and rights and population dynamics and sharing what you learn with others also makes a big difference. Increased public awareness of issues often leads to greater political support to address them. Visiting this website frequently is a good way to stay abreast of our work.

Where do I find information about doing business with UNFPA?

If you are a potential supplier or client, see our section on procurement. If you are a job seeker, check the employment section.

Updated 22 January 2025

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