DHAKA, Jan 2, 2021 (BSS) – An estimated 9,236 babies were expected
to be born in Bangladesh while 371,504 were estimated worldwide on the
first day of 2021.
“An estimated 371,504 babies will be born around the world on New
Year’s Day,” said a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) press
release issued on Thursday.
Fiji in the Pacific will welcome 2021’s first baby while the United
States will welcome its last, the release added.
According to the release, globally, over half of these births are
estimated to take place in 10 countries: India (59,995), China
(35,615), Nigeria (21,439), Pakistan (14,161), Indonesia (12,336),
Ethiopia (12,006), the United States (10,312), Egypt (9,455),
Bangladesh (9,236) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (8,640).
“As the calendar turns to 2021, UNICEF is again celebrating the new
lives being brought into the world on January 1,” the release said.
In total, an estimated 140 million children will be born in 2021, it
said, adding that their average life expectancy is expected to be 84
years.
“The children born today enter a world far different than even a
year ago, and a New Year brings a new opportunity to reimagine it,”
said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore.
Fore added: “Children born today will inherit the world we begin to
build for them-today. Let us make 2021 the year we start to build a
fairer, safer, healthier world for children”.
2021 will also mark the 75th anniversary of UNICEF, the release
said, adding that over the course of the year, UNICEF and its partners
will be commemorating the anniversary with events and announcements
celebrating three-quarters of a century of protecting children from
conflict, disease and exclusion and championing their right to
survival, health and education.