overpopulation meaning essay

Overpopulation Essay

500 words essay on overpopulation.

Overpopulation refers to an undesirable condition in which the number of existing human being exceeds the actual carrying capacity of the earth. It has many causes which range from a decline in the death rate to early marriages and more. The overpopulation essay will throw light on this issue.

Ill-Effects of Overpopulation

The ill-effects of overpopulation are quite severe. The first one is that natural resources deplete at a faster level. Our planet can produce only a limited amount of water and food . Thus, overpopulation causes environmental damage including deforestation, pollution, etc.

Similarly, there is the degradation of the environment which happens because of the overuse of resources like coal, oil, natural gases and more. As a result, the quality of air also gets affected in this manner.

In developing countries, overpopulation puts a strain on resources. Thus, it gives rise to conflicts and tension. It also causes more diseases that become harder to control. Next up, we have the issue of unemployment.

Moreover, it rises due to overpopulation. There is more number of people than job opportunities. As a result, unemployment gives rise to crimes like theft and more. We also have pandemics and epidemics which happen due to overpopulation.

It is because overcrowded and unhygienic living gives rise to infectious diseases . Another ill-effect is malnutrition and starvation. When there are scarce resources, these diseases will likely to be on the rise.

Most importantly, we have a shortage of water which makes it tougher for people to get access to clean water. Similarly, lower life expectancy also happens because of the boom in population, especially in less-developed nations.

We also witness faster climate change as nations continue to develop their industrial capacities. Thus, they emit industrial waste which gives rise to global temperatures . It will keep getting worse if things are not checked immediately.

Solutions of Overpopulation

There are many solutions which we may take up to prevent overpopulation. The best measure is family planning to keep the overpopulation check. In order to do that, one can ensure proper spacing between the births of the children.

Further, limiting the number of children as per income and resources must also be important. Similarly, it is essential to increase resources. The government must make the horrors of overpopulation reach the public through the use of media.

Moreover, better education can help implement social change which can curb overpopulation. Next up, knowledge of sex education must be made mandatory in schools so students learn young about everything they need to know.

Most importantly, it is essential to empower women so they can break out of poverty. This way, they can learn about reproductive health and make better decisions. Another solution can be government incentives.

Many governments of countries already have various policies which relate to tax exemptions for curbing overpopulation. For instance, some waive a certain part of income tax for married couples with one or two children.

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Conclusion of Overpopulation Essay

All in all, overpopulation is no less than a curse that poses a permanent threat to the development of any country. It is essential to stop the flood of population. In order to do that, one must indulge in proper family planning and creating balance in society for a better world.

FAQ of Overpopulation Essay

Question 1: What is the main cause of overpopulation?

Answer 1: It is believed that the main cause of overpopulation is poverty. When there is a lack of education resource which coupled with high death rates, it results in impoverished areas witnessing large booms in population.

Question 2: How is overpopulation affecting the world?

Answer 2: Overpopulation is affecting the world as it is outpacing the ability of the planet earth to support it. It also has environmental and economic outcomes which range from the impacts of over-farming on global warming.

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Overpopulation: Cause and Effect

Conversations about overpopulation can quickly become controversial because they beg the question: Who exactly is the cause of the problem and what, if anything, should be done about it? Many population experts worry discussions around overpopulation will be abused by small-minded people to suggest some are the “right people” to be on the planet (like themselves), and some people are “the wrong people” (usually people in poverty, people of color, foreigners, and so on—you get the drift). But there are no “right” or “wrong” people on the planet, and discussing the problems of global overpopulation can never be an excuse, or in any way provide a platform, for having that type of conversation.

Each human being has a legitimate claim on a sufficient and fair amount of Earth’s resources. But with a population approaching 8 billion, even if everyone adopted a relatively low material standard of living like the one currently found in Papua New Guinea , it would still push Earth to its ecological breaking point. Unfortunately, the “average person” on Earth consumes at a rate over 50% above a sustainable level. Incredibly, the average person in the United States uses almost five times more than the sustainable yield of the planet.

When we use the term “overpopulation,” we specifically mean a situation in which the Earth cannot regenerate the resources used by the world’s population each year. Experts say this has been the case every year since 1970, with each successive year becoming more and more damaging. To help temper this wildly unsustainable situation, we need to understand what’s contributing to overpopulation and overconsumption and how these trends are affecting everything from climate change to sociopolitical unrest.

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The causes of overpopulation.

Today the Earth is home to over 8 billion people. By 2100 the population is on track to hit 10.8 billion , according to the United Nations — and that’s assuming steady fertility declines in many countries. Interestingly, if extra progress is made in women’s reproductive self-determination, and fertility falls more than the United Nations assumes is likely, the population in 2100 might be a relatively smaller 7.3 billion.

For now, the world’s population is still increasing in huge annual increments (about 80 million per year), and our supply of vital non-renewable resources are being exhausted. Many factors contribute to these unsustainable trends , including falling mortality rates, underutilized contraception, and a lack of education for girls.

Falling Mortality Rate

The primary (and perhaps most obvious) cause of population growth is an imbalance between births and deaths. The infant mortality rate has decreased globally, with 4.1 million infant deaths in 2017 compared to 8.8 million in 1990, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This is welcome public health news, of course.

At the same time, lifespans are increasing around the world. Those of us who are alive today will likely live much longer than most of our ancestors. Global average life expectancy has more than doubled since 1900 , thanks to advancements in medicine, technology, and general hygiene. Falling mortality rates are certainly nothing to complain about either, but widespread longevity does contribute to the mathematics of increasing population numbers.

Underutilized Contraception 

The global fertility rate has fallen steadily over the years, down from an average of 5 children per woman in 1950 to 2.4 children per woman today, according to the UN Population Division . Along with that promising trend, contraceptive use has slowly but steadily increased globally, rising from 54% in 1990 to 57.4% in 2015. Yet, on the whole, contraceptive use is still underutilized. For example, according to the WHO, an estimated 214 million women in developing countries who want to avoid pregnancy are not using modern contraceptives.

These women aren’t using contraceptives for a variety of reasons, including social norms or religious beliefs that discourage birth control, misconceptions about adverse side effects, and a lack of agency for women to make decisions around sex and family planning. An estimated 44% of pregnancies were unintended worldwide between 2010-2014. Getting more women the access and agency to utilize family planning methods could go a long way in flattening the population curve.

Lack of Female Education    

Although female access to education has increased over the years, the gender gap remains. Roughly 130 million girls worldwide are out of school currently, and an estimated 15 million girls of primary school age will never   learn to read and write, compared with 10 million boys.

Increasing and encouraging education among women and girls can have a number of positive ripple effects, including delayed childbearing , healthier children, and an increase in workforce participation. Plenty of evidence suggests a negative correlation between female education and fertility rates.

If increased female education can delay or decrease fertility and provide girls with opportunities beyond an early marriage, it could also help to mitigate current population trends. 

The Effects of Overpopulation

It is only logical that an increase in the world’s population will cause additional strains on resources. More people means an increased demand for food, water, housing, energy, healthcare, transportation, and more. And all that consumption contributes to ecological degradation, increased conflicts, and a higher risk of large-scale disasters like pandemics.  

Ecological Degradation 

An increase in population will inevitably create pressures leading to more deforestation, decreased biodiversity, and spikes in pollution and emissions, which will exacerbate climate change . Ultimately, unless we take action to help minimize further population growth heading into the remainder of this century, many scientists believe the additional stress on the planet will lead to ecological disruption and collapse so severe it threatens the viability of life on Earth as we know it. 

Each spike in the global population has a measurable impact on the planet’s health. According to estimates in a study by Wynes and Nicholas (2017) , a family having one fewer child could reduce emissions by 58.6 tonnes CO2-equivalent per year in developed countries.

Increased Conflicts 

The scarcity brought about by environmental disruption and overpopulation has the potential to trigger an increase in violence and political unrest. We’re already seeing wars fought over water, land, and energy resources in the Middle East and other regions, and the turmoil is likely to increase as the global population grows even larger.

Higher Risk of Disasters and Pandemics 

Many of the recent novel pathogens that have devastated humans around the world, including COVID-19, Zika virus, Ebola, and West Nile virus, originated in animals or insects before passing to humans. Part of the reason the world is entering “ a period of increased outbreak activity ” is because humans are destroying wildlife habitats and coming into contact with wild animals on a more regular basis. Now that we’re in the midst of a pandemic, it has become clear how difficult it is to social distance in a world occupied by nearly 8 billion people.   

Discover the real causes and effects of overpopulation

What can be done about overpopulation.

When addressing overpopulation, it’s crucial to take an approach of providing empowerment while mobilizing against anybody advocating for the use of coercion or violence to solve our problems. The combined efforts of spreading knowledge about family planning, increasing agency among women , and debunking widely held myths about contraception will measurably change the trajectory of the world’s population.

As we carry out our work at Population Media Center (PMC), we see first-hand that spreading awareness about family planning methods and the ecological and economic benefits of having smaller families can change reproductive behavior. For example, listeners of our Burundian radio show Agashi (“Hey! Look Again!”) were 1.7 times more likely than non-listeners to confirm that they were willing to negotiate condom use with a sexual partner and 1.8 times more likely than non-listeners to say that they generally approve of family planning for limiting the number of children.

CELEBRATING EARTH DAY WITH CONVERSATIONS ON OVERPOPULATION

In the spirit of Earth Day, it’s crucial to approach discussions about overpopulation with sensitivity and inclusivity. Overpopulation conversations should focus on the collective responsibility to steward Earth’s resources sustainably, rather than assigning blame or dividing communities. By fostering understanding and promoting access to education and reproductive health services, we can work towards a more equitable and sustainable future for all.

At PMC we harness the power of storytelling to empower listeners to live healthier and more prosperous lives, which in turn contributes to stabilizing the global population so that people can live sustainably with the world’s renewable resources. Discover how PMC is taking action against overpopulation today!

We’re Focused on Making an Impact. Learn More About Our Work.

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A Brief on Overpopulation – Why it Matters and What You Can Do About It

Erin Brown | April 4, 2023 | Leave a Comment

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As humanity has surpassed the 8 billion people milestone, it is more important now than ever to talk about population. What will we do if we continue to grow at exponential rates? What are ethical, viable strategies to decrease population?

“First off, let me get this straight, discussing addressing overpopulation does not mean discussing killing people. The goal is actually to prevent it.” – Dr. Jane O’Sullivan

Current world population in January 2023: 8 billion

The current rate of population growth is around 80 million people per year. There are over 8 billion people on the planet, the last billion added in less than the last 12 years. 

The Earth’s first billion people milestone took from the beginning of human history until the 1800s to be achieved. Then, due to the industrial revolution, humanity reached the second billion mark by 1930 (taking only 130 years), reached the third billion in 1960 (only took 30 years), then reached the fourth billion by 1974 (only took 14 years), and the fifth billion by 1987 (only took 13 years). We hit 6 billion in 1999 (which took 12 years) and hit 7 billion in 2011 (which took about 12 years). At the current growth rate, the world population will reach 9 billion by 2037 and 10 billion by 2057.

The growth rate is declining, but not at a fast enough rate to combat the exponential compound growth. The growth rate was 2% in the 1970s. Now it is 1.05%. Any growth rate above 1% means we are still adding more people to the planet every year. 

What is overpopulation? 

Overpopulation is a human population in numbers high enough to cause environmental deterioration, impaired quality of life, or population crash. 

Why is overpopulation an issue? 

Overrun natural resources can only lead to death by starvation, conflict, and disease, and the only viable alternative is voluntary restraint on human births.

What is carrying capacity?

Carrying capacity is defined as the maximum population of a species that an area will support without undergoing deterioration. 

Paul R. Ehrlich and other scientists estimate the world’s optimum population for carrying capacity (at a comfortable standard of living – editor’s note) to be less than two billion people – 6 billion fewer than on the planet today. “But the longer humanity pursues business as usual, the smaller the sustainable society is likely to prove to be. We’re continuously harvesting the low-hanging fruit, for example by driving fisheries stocks to extinction” – Paul Ehrlich says.

How do we revert population overshoot to a sustainable population level? 

Geologist Art Berman explains population overshoot this way: “Overshoot means that humans are using natural resources and polluting at rates beyond the planet’s capacity to recover. The main cause of overshoot is the extraordinary growth of the human population made possible by fossil energy. Concerns about overshoot and population raised more than 40 years ago were dismissed. Climate change has captured public awareness more recently although many doubt that it is an emergency. Overshoot is more difficult to dispute; it destroys rainforests, leads to the extinction of other species, the pollution of land, rivers, and seas, the acidification of the oceans, and the loss of fisheries and coral reefs. People understandably want to know the solutions. Overshoot is the problem we must address. Any plan that includes continued growth is doomed to fail.”

What can we do?  Jane O’Sullivan outlines the two options for addressing population overshoot – i ncrease the Earth’s carrying capacity or decrease population.

Increasing Earth’s carrying capacity

We are already doing this by (a) using fewer natural resources per person, or (b) increasing productivity by finding more ways to use resources. This only defers the problem and creates collateral damage. 

Decreasing population numbers

If we talk about this now, the hope is to increase our options for solutions. One of the biggest challenges to facing overpopulation head-on and discussing a decreasing population are the stigmas and myths associated with reducing human population numbers. An elaborate set of myths has emerged in opposition to reducing population levels. These myths may prevent even environmentalists from viewing overpopulation as an issue.  Jane O’Sullivan elucidates on the following six myths that make inaction a virtue.

Myth 1 – The human population is stabilizing, and birth rates are decreasing

Truth – Birth rates started declining in the 1970s-90s due to family planning, but not low enough. The number of mothers is still increasing faster than family planning is decreasing the birth rate .  We are still having more births per year than ever before. The total fertility rate has decreased, but as fertility decline has slowed to a trickle, the number of total births has continued to increase. 

Myth 2  – China is the only one with the problem and they used cruel methods (one-child policy)

Truth – Family planning programs have helped many countries successfully reduce births through voluntary means, including China, before the one-child policy.

Myth 3 – Poverty causes population growth, therefore development is the best contraceptive

I.e., family planning is unnecessary and inefficient as long as there is development.

Truth – If this was true, we would see the population decline as development increases. However, it is the decrease in fertility rates that drove economic development, not the other way around. This myth is therefore “correlation implying causation” in the wrong direction. The poorest countries could lower their population by family planning just as quickly as rich countries if they choose to prioritize it.

Countries of families with four or more children, on average, have the lowest level of development; in families with 3 children or fewer the level goes up by some degree, and with two or fewer children development soars. The current focus should be on expanding provisions for teachers, doctors, equality, etc. instead of just giving people what they need. 

Myth 4 – Educating girls is the key to ending population growth

Truth – Another indirect approach that excludes a discussion on the benefit of small families and ending population growth. Educating girls helps but not much unless it is also flanked by family planning efforts. Family planning has a stronger effect on women regulating their fertility, decreasing the fertility gap between the educated and uneducated, and with family planning, girls are more likely to stay in school.

Myth 5 – Population growth is good for the economy

Truth – This makes people poorer as shown under Myth #3. 

Myth 6 – Population growth in poor nations does not matter because of their “tiny carbon footprint”

Truth –  Population growth is a greater threat than climate change. The best way for anyone to decrease their carbon footprint is to have one less kid.

Therefore, family planning is the most economical way to a sustainable future.

What action can each of us take?

1. Discuss smaller family sizes with your partner, family, and friends – how do we aim for birth rates lower than two children per couple?

2. Share information about the environmental impacts of population growth with friends and family. Advocate for action to reduce and reverse population growth.

3. Reassess concerns about aging   – how can we shift away from worshipping eternal youth, to accepting and valuing the entire life cycle? 

4. Celebrate population decline – what are possible depopulation dividends? 

5. Support organizations and efforts that support family planning and women’s education.

Damien Carrington, an environmental editor at The Guardian, interviewed Prof. Paul Ehrlich about the solutions:

“The solutions are tough,” Ehrlich says. “To start, make modern contraception and backup abortion available to all and give women full equal rights, pay, and opportunities with men. Focus on overconsumption and equity issues. Specifically women’s rights and the explicit countering of racism.”

Ehrlich also says that an unprecedented redistribution of wealth is needed to end the over-consumption of resources, but “the rich who now run the global system – that hold the annual ‘world destroyer’ meetings in Davos – are unlikely to let it happen…Too many rich people in the world is a major threat to the human future, and cultural and genetic diversity are great human resources… It is a near certainty in the next few decades, and the risk is increasing continually as long as the perpetual growth of the human enterprise remains the goal of economic and political systems. As I’ve said many times, ‘perpetual growth is the creed of the cancer cell’.”

If cultural and genetic diversity are great human resources, how can the rich and the poor come together across the world to solve this issue?

Anne and Paul Ehrlich expand on their “vision for a cure” :

“Rich white people love to hold meetings to discuss the ‘population problem’ which always ends up focusing on the very real demographic difficulties of those with darker skin tones, especially people who live in Africa and Latin America. But isn’t it really time for the poor people of the world, especially those not in need of tanning beds, to extend a helping hand to the major villains of the destruction of humanity’s life-support systems? Could they not hold an educational conference in Washington, D.C. to explain why civilization is going down the drain, to the per-capita most environmentally destructive giant nation on the planet? Leaders from the “South” could both organize the event and supply experts to educate the wealthy and middle class on their ethical responsibilities and ways to meet them. We envision learning sessions on topics such as:

• Avoiding the second child.
• The population problem beyond numbers: inequality and waste of talent. 
• Are borders ethical?
• Population shrinkage for politicians.
• GDP shrinkage for economists.
• Do Trump and his colleagues prove that the lighter your skin, the lighter your brain?
• Citizens United: It’s time for euthanasia for corporations.
• Redistribution and survival.
• Disbanding “Murder Incorporated”: gun manufacturers and big pharma.
• How to end plastic production.
• The historical contributions of the global South to the food enjoyed by the North.
• How biodiversity loss is accompanied by the loss of human cultural diversity.
• We know our populations are growing too fast; how to help us help ourselves?
• Why anti-abortion laws kill poor women.

You can doubtless think of others. The possibilities are endless”.

References: 

Berman, Art. The Climate-Change Trip to Abilene. July 13, 2022.  https://mahb.stanford.edu/library-item/the-climate-change-trip-to-abilene/

Carrington, Damien. Interview with Paul Ehrlich: Collapse of civilization is a near certainty within decades. July 9, 2020.  https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/mar/22/collapse-civilisation-near-certain-decades-population-bomb-paul-ehrlich

Ehrlich, Anne H.; Ehrlich, Paul R. Overpopulation In America -And Its Cures. November 14, 2019.  https://mahb.stanford.edu/blog/overpopulation-america-cures/

O’Sullivan, Jane. The tenth presentation at the Delivering the Human Future Conference. Titled: The Future of the Human Population. March 21, 2021.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shUNJPLpXpQ

Population Statistics.  https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/

The MAHB Blog is a venture of the Millennium Alliance for Humanity and the Biosphere. Questions should be directed to [email protected]

The Problem of Overpopulation Essay

Overpopulation has become one of the main challenging trends over the past centuries. Governments accept the fact that they are no longer capable of managing this problem. According to Rieder, the significant aftermath of this event is that “the Earth will, at some point, be unable to provide for our population, even without more growth” (2). Commonly proposed ways of solving the problem and treating its current consequences are widely discussed in the literature. The purpose of this paper is to examine the causes and effects of overpopulation, potential threats to society, and the ecosystem, as well as the ways to overcome the problem.

The United Nations (UN) forecasts that the world’s population is expected to increase by 2 billion in 30 years. Despite the aging population and downtrend of fertility in European countries, the amount of people is growing because of developing states. For example, the people in Africa is expected to double by 2050 (Uniyal et al. 21). Scientists provide numerous reasons for overpopulation, which include historical, sociological, psychological, and other factors (Uniyal et al. 21). It is commonly believed that overpopulation is caused by the growth of natality, the decrease of mortality, and migration flows. Other causes are attributed to cultural and religious beliefs as well as lack of education (Farraji et al. 16). Overall, there is a complex set of multiple interrelated reasons that should be examined altogether.

Overpopulation carries many environmental and social risks. Approximately 40% of the land is used for agriculture, and this figure has to grow to keep up with the growth of the population (Uniyal et al. 22). To cover up the scarcity of food, companies, and farmers are required to increase production. Therefore, a fragile balance of the global ecosystem is directly and indirectly threatened by harmful human activities. Uniyal et al. state that “deforestation, the effect on welfare, climate change, the decline in biocapacity, urban sprawl, food security, increase in energy demand and effect on the marine ecosystem are amongst most severe impacts of overpopulation” (20). Overpopulation affects the overall well-being of the society: thus, overcrowded urban cities demonstrate high rates of unemployment and unhappiness.

There are several ways of reducing the rate of overpopulation, and the main actors responsible for implementing proper policies are the national governments. Chen suggests that governments should provide citizens with affordable healthcare and social security (57). Actions such as the promotion of smaller families, gender equality, and education are considered to be effective by the UN (Farraji et al. 16). Additionally, young people should have easy access to birth control. Developing countries must create partnerships with major non-governmental organizations to fight the threat. Including these measures on the agenda may help to reduce poverty and depletion of resources.

Sustaining a population remains a great struggle, and it is going to impact the development of society. Overpopulation is caused by a set of various anthropological and natural reasons. It imposes a massive risk for life on Earth due to the exploitation of natural resources and makes the lifestyle of future generations more challenging. If the issue is not treated, the surplus population will highly likely face the scarcity of food, accommodation, and fresh air and water. However, the situation may change with the help of a global community and national governance. Many types of research and enthusiasts have proposed a system of actions, such as the adoption of “small family” policies and welfare.

Works Cited

Chen, Ying. Trade, Food Security, and Human Rights. Ashgate, 2014.

Farraji, Hossein, et al. “Overpopulation and Sustainable Waste Management.” International Journal of Sustainable Economies Management, vol. 5, no. 3, 2016, pp. 13-36.

Rieder, Travis N. Toward a Small Family Ethic: How Overpopulation and Climate Change are Affecting the Morality of Procreation. Springer Nature, 2016.

Uniyal, Shivani, et al. “Human Overpopulation: Impact on Environment.” Megacities and Rapid Urbanization: Breakthroughs in Research and Practice , edited by Information Resources Management Association, IGI Global, 2019, pp. 20-30.

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Essay on Overpopulation in 500 Words

• Updated on  
• Dec 28, 2023

Essay on Overpopulation: Today, there are a total of 8.1 billion people in the world. This is a result of overpopulation and studies suggest that in the next 25 years, this number will reach 10 billion. This is overpopulation or overabundance, where our environment cannot offer resources to such large amounts of people. Overpopulation is not limited to humans only. It can be of any species living in a particular habitat. 

India, China, and the USA are the three most populated countries in the world, which account for a total of 40% of the global population. Population plays a major role in a country’s development. However, if there is overpopulation, it will hamper developmental activities and there will be fewer resources available. This will eventually lead to higher food prices, making survival difficult for everyone.

Also Read: World Population Day 2023

Also Read: Essay on India of My Dreams

Causes of Overpopulation

There are various causes of overpopulation, such as lack of education, high birth rates, primitive medical facilities, illiteracy, lack of employment opportunities, etc. Most of these factors are prevalent in developing and underdeveloped countries. 

High birth rates contribute significantly to overpopulation. Factors such as lack of access to family planning, cultural norms, and a high infant mortality rate can encourage families to have more children.

Lack of education and poverty lead to higher population growth. People belonging to communities where education is limited, are not aware of or have access to family planning methods.

In many places, cultural and religious beliefs influence reproductive choices. Some families have several children, which is part of their social norm or is encouraged by religious teachings.

Another major cause of overpopulation is migration. People move to areas with better economic prospects, leading to population density issues in those regions.

Also Read: Essay on Education

Also Read: Essay on New Education in 500 Words

Consequences of Overpopulation

In one way or another, all the problems the world is facing today are related to overpopulation. Say it war, overuse of resources, slow developmental activities, carbon emission, global warming, etc. 

Natural resources are depleting at a faster rate than ever. As the population increases, the demand for food and energy resources also increases. Overpopulation contributes to climate change, loss of biodiversity, and other environmental issues. 

As humans, we need houses, which are established by cutting down forests and other natural resources. This results in a loss of biodiversity. Rapid urbanization causes problems such as inadequate housing, insufficient infrastructure, traffic congestion, and increased pollution in urban areas. 

A rapidly growing population can outstrip job opportunities, resulting in high levels of unemployment. This can lead to social unrest and economic instability.

The overpopulation myth ~ Make babies, not war 🙏 pic.twitter.com/3JaLbDbHd2 — Oddvin (@enterfx) December 16, 2023

How to Deal With Overpopulation

Educating people about the causes and effects of overpopulation is one of the best ways to deal with overpopulation. Studies show that people who have access to proper medical and healthcare facilities have better family planning measures. 

Promoting and educating women and girls about reproduction is very important. Educated women tend to have fewer children and this will make them socially and economically more empowered. Encouraging women to participate in the workforce and decision-making processes can be another way to deal with overpopulation. 

Offering job opportunities and promoting green sustainable development will allow people to understand the effects of overpopulation on the environment. 

The world is our home and we are its protector. Overpopulation is putting a lot of strain on the natural environment, and it needs to be addressed in a civilised way. We need to make sure there is enough for everyone and that we are fulfilling our duty to Mother Nature.

Ans: The major causes of overpopulation are high birth rate, lack of education and illiteracy, poverty, cultural and religious beliefs, etc.

Ans: Some of the least populated countries are Iceland, Suriname, Mongolia, San Marino, Liechtenstein, and Palau.

Ans: Overpopulation is a phenomenon where a particular species exceeds the carrying capacity of the environment. The global population has increased by 1.2 billion in the last 20 years. This was the biggest population boom, putting a heavy strain on the natural environment. Overpopulation is majorly caused in developing countries, because of factors like lack of education and illiteracy, higher birth rates, poverty, etc. Proper government actions are required to address overpopulation, such as educational and family planning programs, women empowerment, job opportunities, etc.

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With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

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overpopulation

Definition of overpopulation

Examples of overpopulation in a sentence.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overpopulation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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1802, in the meaning defined above

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overpopulate

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“Overpopulation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overpopulation. Accessed 8 May. 2024.

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Related overviews.

population explosion

carrying capacity

Thomas Robert Malthus (1766—1834) political economist

population growth

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overpopulation

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The situation that arises when rapid growth of a population, usually a human population, results in numbers that cannot be supported by the available resources, such as space and food. This occurs when the birth rate exceeds the death rate, or when immigration exceeds emigration, or when a combination of these factors exists. See population growth.

From:   overpopulation   in  A Dictionary of Biology »

Subjects: Science and technology — Earth Sciences and Geography

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Meaning of overpopulation in English

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• Global overpopulation must be the top priority of any administration .
• Contraception has helped prevent overpopulation.
• What are the government doing to tackle the overpopulation problem ?
• agroecology
• air pollution
• anti-conservation
• carbon capture
• dumping ground
• eco-footprint
• environmental justice
• environmentalism
• environmentally
• feed-in tariff
• particulate
• reclamation
• sequestration
• skip diving

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a device that measures air pressure and shows when the weather is likely to change

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Home Essay Examples Sociology Overpopulation

Overpopulation And Its Effects

• Category Sociology
• Subcategory Human Populations
• Topic Overpopulation

POPULATION: Population means the number of people living in a particular place. It can be defined as the total number of people who live together in a specific area to fulfill their goals. Basically all the residents of a place living together is termed as population. Every country, city, town or village has its own population according to the resources that they have. Therefore the act of populating is called as population and a group of people who’s rights are legally recognized are called population.

OVER POPULATION: Over population is a condition where the normal number of people increase to an extinct where it becomes very difficult to facilitate them. Over population is the exceeding limit of people. In population size matters a lot. There is a French philosopher named Rousseau who said that the size of the population matters a lot and said that population should always be according to the economic resources. However when the group of people exceed the limit then over population occurs. Therefore when too many people are living in an area where there is less space, economic and natural resources then over population occurs. Overpopulation is a significant reason for a large portion of the world’s issues. Regardless of whether it is an issue of nourishment deficiency, absence of drinking water or vitality deficiencies, each nation on the planet is influenced by it.

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POPULATION EXPLOSION: The word population explosion also relates to the overpopulation or the rapid growth of people with in an area. The word population explosion is also called population blast which additionally identifies with the overpopulation or the fast development of individuals with in a region.

PAKISTAN’S REGION AND ECONOMY WITH RESPECT TO POPULATION: Pakistan is the county that comes on numr 5 in terms of population. Basically the problem is that Pakistan is that Pakistan is a small country and it has a very huge number of population. According to the new researches that are done it has been observed that the population will not decrease but keep on increasing in the coming years in Pakistan. The researches show that by almost 2050 the population will rise to 400 million.

PAKISTAN’S AREA, DENSITY, URBAN AND RURAL AREA: Area of Pakistan is 881,913 km square. Around 39% is urban population in Pakistan and rural is around 60 %. Population density is around 281 km square.

DEMOGRAPHY: Demography comes from two Greek words, Demos which means people and Graphy which means writing about something. Therefore demography means writing about people. The composition of a particular human nature is called demography. To explain demography we can give easy examples like births, deaths, marriages, number of males and females etc. Demography is the science of populations. People who work for demography try to understand population by investigating processes starting from birth till death.

DEMOGRAPHICS OF PAKISTAN: There have been many social changes in Pakistan. These changes have caused to form a new era of urbanization within the country. According to a research of 2003 Pakistan became one of the most urbanized cities in South Asia because 36% of the citizens were included. We can say almost around 50 per cent of Pakistani citizens live in a place where at least 5000 other citizens live as well.

TOTAL POPULATION OF PAKISTAN: Every year in Pakistan many people are born and many die. The population of Pakistan in 2018 was around 212 million. In 2019 the total population of Pakistan is 217,680,808. The following graph shows the total population increase from 2010 to 2018. If we talk about our country’s population with respect to genders then males are around 50% while females are 48.76% estimated and the transgender population is around 0.24 % as they are in minorities. Also 8% of the minorities are found in Pakistan which includes a small population of Christians, Sikhs and Ahmadis.

OVER POPULATION AS A SOCIAL ISSUE: Social issue is something that creates a problem in the society and disturbs the people. Something that influences the people in a negative way can be called as social issues. For example in Pakistan the biggest social issue is over population. The question is how can overpopulation be defined as a social issue? The answer to that is that overpopulation is nowadays a very common thing that we are seeing in our society. We don’t have enough resources to provide to people but still we are bringing up a new child to the world every day. In Pakistan 22.8 million kids have no access to education and they are just 5 to 6 years of ages.

CENSUS IN PAKISTAN: In simple words census means to count the number of people. It’s an official count in which the total population is counted. Census is basically done to check how many people are living in a certain area so that they can be provided with their facilities. It is done in order to help citizens and provide them with proper resources along with education, health, school, infrastructure etc. In Pakistan 6 census have taken place and the most recent census was done in 2017 according to which the population was 207,774,520. Before this the census were done in 1961 then 1972, 1981 and 1998. In my opinion census should be done every year so that we keep a record of people and provide facilities equally. This way we can also control the rate of overpopulation.

REASONS AND CAUSES OF OVERPOPULATION IN PAKISTAN: There are many reasons why overpopulation has become such a great issue in Pakistan yet no proper stand is being taken and the matter is not being taken into consideration. Following are the reasons why overpopulation has become such a crises in Pakistan.

• Lack of education: The first and the most important point that is to be discussed is the lack of education in Pakistan. Education is very important for every human being. It makes one able to understand what is happening around us logically. An educated person has the ability to take practical decisions and make sensible decisions. Education enables individuals to become productive. So if there is no education obviously people will lack behind and will have zero awareness thus resulting in many other issues like child marriages which further leads to overpopulation.
• Illiteracy rate: Illiteracy means totally uneducated who cannot even read or write. In Pakistan there are many people who cannot even write down their own name. Almost 40 % of the population is uneducated. In Pakistan adult literacy rate is at 65% which means the other 35% illiterate.
• Lack of women empowerment: According to a definition by Google, empowerment is the process of increasing the capacity of individuals or groups to make choices and to transform those choices into desired actions and outcomes. Women empowerment means when all the women elaborate and recreate what it is that they can be or do and accomplish in a circumstance that they previously were denied. In other words we can say that we are living in a male dominant society where the males dominate over the females. Women are subject to accepting anything that is thrown their way thus, if the man wants more kids the wife has to obey accordingly. This is especially more common in villages and rural areas where people are generally not very educated. Hence it results in overpopulation.
• Child marriage: Child or early marriage is another cause of over population. According to a research twenty four per cent of women in the country were married before the age of 18 years in the country between 2000 and 2010 with seven per cent married before they reached the age of 15 years. Especially in the rural areas and villages girls are forced to get married even before their 18th birthday. This is another issue that results in overpopulation.
• Lack of family planning: Currently Pakistan has the highest total fertility rate in South Asia. Lack of family planning also exists in our society. People being uneducated are totally unaware and do not plan family according to the resources. They do not consider the fact that how will they feed their kids and how will they provide them even with the basic necessities of life. Resources are less in Pakistan where as people are more and as a result overpopulation occurs.

China’s one child policy: With reference to over population we can take an example of China’s one child rule. One child policy program was started in 80s by the government of China. The purpose of it was to limit the family to one child each. They basically had an awareness of overpopulation and to limit that they used the method of having one child per family. That is show they controlled over population and birth rate.

• Traditional norms: Traditional and cultural things also play a part in overpopulation. Let’s take a look at these examples.
• Desire for male child: Our society is basically male dominant and man has superiority in every matter. If daughters remain to be born then reproduction action lasts till the birth of male child. Thus unwanted children of this type increases population.
• Polygamy: Polygamy means marrying two or more women. Islam allows polygamy because of wealth. Many men do marry with more than one woman taking benefit of religious sanction and this augments the increase in population.

EFFECTS OF OVERPOPULATION:

• Unemployment: The following graph shows the rate of unemployment. When a country becomes overpopulated then this causes a rise in unemployment as there fewer jobs to support large number of people. Rise in unemployment gives rise to crime as people will steal various items to feed their family and provide them basic amenities of life. It is difficult to provide jobs to such a large number of people. Right now the rate of unemployment is 5.6 % in Pakistan.
• Increased crime rate: When there are less resources and a larger number of people to consume them then inequality occurs in society. Due to overpopulation when people are more unemployed are unable to earn for themselves then it leads them towards things like theft, robbery etc which then increases the crime rate. More than that drug addiction becomes very common as we see many homeless people sitting on the footpaths being drunk.
• Poverty: Poverty is the major issue that Pakistan is facing. So many people are literally unable to get food for 2 times properly. They are unable to educate their kids, they are even not having a proper place to live. This is how overpopulation leads to poverty.
• Pollution and environmental problems: As a result of population increase a lot of things like noise pollution, land pollution and destruction of environment occurs. In order to create more buildings we are cutting down trees which is then causing global warming. It further is increasing the temperature of the Earth. Due to increase in temperature a lot of destruction is occurring. Other than that as the human population continues to increase then the natural resources, such as fossil fuels, fresh water, arable land forests, continue to be destructed which is causing lots of environmental problems. Similarly noise pollution has become very serious problem due to overpopulation. With more population more number of vehicles are used and they excrete carbon mono oxide which is poisonous for health. This gas further increases pollution in the environment. Climate change is the major reason for overpopulation. You must have seen that the temperature of the Earth is rising day by day. We used to have summers from June to September but now the duration of summers has increased because the temperature has risen more. We barely experience little winters in December only.
• High cost of living: With less water and resources the packing of many people into confined spaces and a lack of money are causing an increase in the cost of living where as only a percentage of the population will be able to cover all their needs. As difference between demand and supply continues to expand due to overpopulation and then it raises the prices of things like food, shelter and health. This means that people have to pay more to survive and feed their families.

THREATNING SITUATIONS IN PAKISTAN DUE TO OVERPOPULATION: Now obviously when we have an increasing number of population it can cause some threats to the society especially if the problems are not sorted out. Let’s take a look at a few examples.

• Gap between birth and death rate: So basically we see that everyday rather every hour many children are being born in Pakistan. The families are increasing day by day. There is a huge difference between the birth and death rate. Less people are dying and more are being born. So like obviously this increases the rate of population.
• More children than adults: As more children are being born every day we can clearly see that there are more kids than adults. This is dangerous because we have very less resources and we need food, education, health and other necessities for the nourishing of kids.
• Refugees: Okay this is another issue that is causing overpopulation. Pakistan’s Indian refugees is around 2 million.
• Water supply: This is a very serious issue that we have already started facing. We have very less dams too. If the population keeps on increasing this way then by 2025 we will have to face shortage of water. This is the most threatening situation.

SOLUTION: The problem of overpopulation is very severe in Pakistan and needs to be sorted out. Following are the things that we need to keep in mind and work on them in order to overcome this issue.

• Education: Education is the most important element that plays a key role in the development of our society and help us deal with issues like overpopulation. Once we spread more education more people will get to know about the hazards of overpopulation. We need to focus more on women education too because we usually have a trend of educating the males and leave behind the girls. So education is very important as an educated person will easily be able to understand the benefits of a small family.
• Awareness: Spreading awareness is the most important thing after education. We need to spread awareness that how overpopulation is a dangerous thing so that people limit the number of family members according to the resources.
•  Proper family planning: Government should introduce the family planning organizations to the population to control the high growth rate of population.
• Delay marriages: Marriages should take place in late age to control the rapidly rising population. It will be helpful to control the over population.

CONCLUSION: Overpopulation can be a huge problem and can cause a lot of issues in our society if not handled properly. It is our government’s duty to enforce laws related to population control. 

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