Human overpopulation occurs if the number of people in a
group exceeds the carrying capacity of the region occupied
by that group. Overpopulation can further be viewed, in a
long term perspective, as existing when a population cannot
be maintained given the rapid depletion of non-renewable
resources or given the degradation of the capacity of the
environment to give support to the population.[1]
The term human overpopulation often refers to the
relationship between the entire human population and its
environment: the Earth,[2] or to smaller geographical areas
such as countries. Overpopulation can result from an
increase in births, a decline in mortality rates, an increase in
immigration, or an unsustainable biome and depletion of
resources. It is possible for very sparsely populated areas to
be overpopulated if the area has a meager or non-existent
capability to sustain life (e.g. a desert). Advocates of
population moderation cite issues like quality of life,
carrying capacity and risk of starvation as a basis to argue
against continuing high human population growth and for
population decline.
Overview
Human population has been growing continuously since the
end of the Black Death, around the year 1350,[3] although
the most significant increase has been in the last 50 years,
mainly due to medical advancements and increases in
agricultural productivity. The rate of population growth has
been declining since the 1980s. The United Nations has
expressed concern on continued excessive population
growth in sub-Saharan Africa.[4] Recent research has
demonstrated that those concerns are well grounded.[5] As
of May 25, 2016 the world's human population is estimated
to be 7.324 billion by the United States Census Bureau,[6]
and over 8 billion by the United Nations.[7][8][9] Most
contemporary estimates for the carrying capacity of the
Earth under existing conditions are between 4 billion and 16
billion. Depending on which estimate is used, human
overpopulation may or may not have already occurred.
Nevertheless, the rapid recent increase in human
population is causing some concern. The population is
expected to reach between 8 and 10.5 billion between the
year 2040[10][11] and 2050.[12] In May 2011, the United
Nations increased the medium variant projections to 9.3
billion for 2050 and 10.1 billion for 2100.[13]
The recent rapid increase in human population over the past
three centuries has raised concerns that the planet may not
be able to sustain present or future numbers of inhabitants.
The InterAcademy Panel Statement on Population Growth,
circa 1994, stated that many environmental problems, such
as rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, global
warming, and pollution, are aggravated by the population
expansion.[14] Other problems associated with
overpopulation include the increased demand for resources
such as fresh water and food, starvation and malnutrition,
consumption of natural resources (such as fossil fuels) faster
than the rate of regeneration, and a deterioration in living
conditions. Wealthy but highly populated territories like
Britain rely on food imports from overseas.[15] This was
severely felt during the World Wars when, despite food
efficiency initiatives like "dig for victory" and food rationing,
Britain needed to fight to secure import routes. However,
many believe that waste and over-consumption, especially
by wealthy nations, is putting more strain on the
environment than overpopulation.[16]
Most countries have no direct policy of limiting their birth
rates, but the rates have still fallen due to education about
family planning and increasing access to birth control and
contraception. Only China has imposed legal restrictions on
having more than one child. Extraterrestrial settlement and
other technical solutions have been proposed as ways to
mitigate overpopulation in the future.
group exceeds the carrying capacity of the region occupied
by that group. Overpopulation can further be viewed, in a
long term perspective, as existing when a population cannot
be maintained given the rapid depletion of non-renewable
resources or given the degradation of the capacity of the
environment to give support to the population.[1]
The term human overpopulation often refers to the
relationship between the entire human population and its
environment: the Earth,[2] or to smaller geographical areas
such as countries. Overpopulation can result from an
increase in births, a decline in mortality rates, an increase in
immigration, or an unsustainable biome and depletion of
resources. It is possible for very sparsely populated areas to
be overpopulated if the area has a meager or non-existent
capability to sustain life (e.g. a desert). Advocates of
population moderation cite issues like quality of life,
carrying capacity and risk of starvation as a basis to argue
against continuing high human population growth and for
population decline.
Overview
Human population has been growing continuously since the
end of the Black Death, around the year 1350,[3] although
the most significant increase has been in the last 50 years,
mainly due to medical advancements and increases in
agricultural productivity. The rate of population growth has
been declining since the 1980s. The United Nations has
expressed concern on continued excessive population
growth in sub-Saharan Africa.[4] Recent research has
demonstrated that those concerns are well grounded.[5] As
of May 25, 2016 the world's human population is estimated
to be 7.324 billion by the United States Census Bureau,[6]
and over 8 billion by the United Nations.[7][8][9] Most
contemporary estimates for the carrying capacity of the
Earth under existing conditions are between 4 billion and 16
billion. Depending on which estimate is used, human
overpopulation may or may not have already occurred.
Nevertheless, the rapid recent increase in human
population is causing some concern. The population is
expected to reach between 8 and 10.5 billion between the
year 2040[10][11] and 2050.[12] In May 2011, the United
Nations increased the medium variant projections to 9.3
billion for 2050 and 10.1 billion for 2100.[13]
The recent rapid increase in human population over the past
three centuries has raised concerns that the planet may not
be able to sustain present or future numbers of inhabitants.
The InterAcademy Panel Statement on Population Growth,
circa 1994, stated that many environmental problems, such
as rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, global
warming, and pollution, are aggravated by the population
expansion.[14] Other problems associated with
overpopulation include the increased demand for resources
such as fresh water and food, starvation and malnutrition,
consumption of natural resources (such as fossil fuels) faster
than the rate of regeneration, and a deterioration in living
conditions. Wealthy but highly populated territories like
Britain rely on food imports from overseas.[15] This was
severely felt during the World Wars when, despite food
efficiency initiatives like "dig for victory" and food rationing,
Britain needed to fight to secure import routes. However,
many believe that waste and over-consumption, especially
by wealthy nations, is putting more strain on the
environment than overpopulation.[16]
Most countries have no direct policy of limiting their birth
rates, but the rates have still fallen due to education about
family planning and increasing access to birth control and
contraception. Only China has imposed legal restrictions on
having more than one child. Extraterrestrial settlement and
other technical solutions have been proposed as ways to
mitigate overpopulation in the future.
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