Trends in US Population Assistance

Since 1965, Congress has appropriated money in the foreign assistance bill for population assistance to developing countries to advance the U.S. foreign policy goals of promoting sustainable development and health in these countries. These monies support family planning and related reproductive health services through programs administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and, in some years, through direct contributions to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Such programs directly benefit tens of millions of couples each year, improving both maternal and child health and contributing to slower population growth rates.

The level of funding has varied over the years. But when measured in constant 1974 dollars, funding levels have remained largely stagnant since the 1970s. ( see below for table)

 U.S. Population Assistance, 1965-present (in millions of dollars)