Each year, World Population Day focuses attention on the urgency and importance of population and reproductive health, particularly in the context of overall development, and the need to address these issues. In the wake of the interest generated by the Day of 5 Billion, celebrated on 11 July 1987 (25 years ago), the General Assembly recommended that 11 July be observed annually as World Population Day. With world population surpassing 7 billion, there is an opportunity to accelerate progress towards one fundamental goal: Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services, which is the theme of World Population Day 2012.