causes and effects of overpopulation 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.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

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.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

Travelling Essay
Picnic Essay
Our Country Essay
My Parents Essay
Essay on Favourite Personality
Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
Essay on Knowledge is Power
Essay on Gurpurab
Essay on My Favourite Season
Essay on Types of Sports

Download the App

Overpopulation: Cause and Effect

A large group of people walking in a city

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.

Download our free whitepaper

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.

Global sustainability.

causes and effects of overpopulation essay

Women’s Rights

Girl child sits at a school desk with a pencil in her hand ready to continue her work.

How Is Population Growth Responsible for the Growing Problem of Water Scarcity

What lies ahead after the world’s population reaches 8 billion , how does overpopulation affect the economy, join us in promoting the equitable, sustainable world we’re all fighting for, one action at a time..

Essay Service Examples Sociology Overpopulation

Overpopulation Essay: Causes and Solutions

100 words essay on overpopulation, 250 words essay on overpopulation, 400 words essay on overpopulation, 500 words essay on overpopulation.

Proper editing and formatting
Free revision, title page, and bibliography
Flexible prices and money-back guarantee

Our writers will provide you with an essay sample written from scratch: any topic, any deadline, any instructions.

Cite this paper

Join our 150k of happy users

Get original paper written according to your instructions
Save time for what matters most

Fair Use Policy

EduBirdie considers academic integrity to be the essential part of the learning process and does not support any violation of the academic standards. Should you have any questions regarding our Fair Use Policy or become aware of any violations, please do not hesitate to contact us via [email protected].

We are here 24/7 to write your paper in as fast as 3 hours.

Provide your email, and we'll send you this sample!

By providing your email, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy .

Say goodbye to copy-pasting!

Get custom-crafted papers for you.

Enter your email, and we'll promptly send you the full essay. No need to copy piece by piece. It's in your inbox!

Essay on Overpopulation

Introduction to Overpopulation

Our planet has experienced an extraordinary population increase, highlighting the pervasive challenge of overpopulation. Earth is home to over 8 billion individuals, a staggering number that is continuously increasing. This surge, which reflects an exponential growth trajectory, is pushing us into an era where the implications of overpopulation are looming ominously over our collective future.

The relentless surge in global population poses a formidable challenge to the delicate balance of our planet’s ecosystems and the well-being of its inhabitants. Overpopulation, defined as the condition where the number of individuals in a given area surpasses the environment’s capacity to support them, has become a pressing concern on a global scale. As we navigate the 21st century, the world witnesses unprecedented demographic shifts and exponential population growth. This essay explores the complex issues of overpopulation, analyzing its root causes and significant effects on the environment and society and outlining workable strategies to lessen its effects. Recognizing and treating overpopulation is essential to building a sustainable future for future generations in a world where human footprints are considerably larger than the planet’s natural boundaries.

Watch our Demo Courses and Videos

Valuation, Hadoop, Excel, Mobile Apps, Web Development & many more.

Causes of Overpopulation

Here are some of the primary factors contributing to this global predicament:

High Birth Rates : In many regions, particularly developing countries, cultural and religious factors often encourage more prominent families. Limited access to family planning and education further maintains high birth rates.
Decreased Death Rates : Healthcare, sanitation, and medicine advances have significantly reduced mortality rates worldwide. This has increased life expectancy, contributing to a larger overall population.
Migration : Rural-to-urban migration within countries and international migration from less developed to more developed regions also contribute to population density. Urban centers often attract people for better opportunities and resources, leading to overcrowding.
Social Norms and Expectations : Societal norms that favor larger families or place value on male offspring can lead to larger populations. In some cultures, having more children is considered a form of security or status.
Improved Quality of Life : Economic growth and technological advancements have improved living standards, leading to better healthcare and increased food production. While positive, these advancements also contribute to sustaining larger populations.
Political and Economic Factors : Instability, conflict, and economic disparities can influence population growth. In some cases, political or economic conditions encourage higher birth rates.

Effects of Overpopulation

Overpopulation exerts profound and multifaceted effects on our planet, impacting the environment, society, and economies in ways that demand urgent attention and thoughtful intervention.

A. Environmental Impact

Resource Depletion:

The surge in population strains water resources, leading to over-extraction from rivers and aquifers, exacerbating water scarcity.
Expanding urbanization and agriculture encroach upon valuable ecosystems, depleting fertile land and threatening biodiversity.
Meeting the demands of a burgeoning population places immense pressure on agricultural systems, depleting soil fertility and stressing food production.

Pollution and Climate Change:

High population density areas often experience increased industrial activity and vehicle emissions, contributing to air pollution and respiratory diseases.
Rapid population growth results in heightened waste production, challenging waste management systems and contributing to pollution.
Overpopulation-related increases in carbon emissions speed up the effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels and harsher weather.

Loss of Biodiversity:

The expansion of human habitats leads to habitat destruction, threatening the existence of numerous plant and animal species.
Overpopulation contributes to the illegal wildlife trade, further endangering already vulnerable species.

B. Social and Economic Ramifications

Strain on Infrastructure and Public Services:

Basic infrastructure, including transportation, healthcare, and sanitation, struggles to keep pace with the growing demands of an expanding population.
Public services, such as education and healthcare, face challenges in delivering quality services to an increasing number of people.

Unemployment and Poverty:

High-population-density areas often experience elevated levels of unemployment as job opportunities fail to match the pace of population growth.
Overpopulation can contribute to a cycle of poverty, where limited resources are stretched thin, hindering social and economic mobility.

Social Unrest and Migration Issues:

As marginalized people compete for opportunities and resources, social unrest may result as they demand fair access to basic services.
Overpopulation can drive internal and international migration, strain host communities, and create geopolitical tensions.

C. Impact on Healthcare Systems

Spread of Diseases:

Living in close quarters with little access to medical facilities fosters an environment that is conducive to the quick spread of infectious diseases. Overpopulation makes it harder to regulate and stop the spread of diseases in both remote rural areas and heavily populated urban centers.
The repercussions of this extend far beyond the immediate health crisis, affecting societal well-being and economic stability.

Lack of Access to Healthcare:

In regions grappling with overpopulation, disparities in healthcare access become glaringly apparent. Limited resources and overstretched healthcare infrastructures make it difficult for individuals, particularly in marginalized communities, to access essential medical services.
This perpetuates health inequalities and poses a formidable barrier to overall societal development.

D. Educational Challenges

Overcrowded Schools:

The surge in school-aged children strains educational institutions, leading to overcrowded classrooms and overburdened educators. This not only hampers the quality of education but also diminishes the learning experience for students.
Overpopulation in schools is a barrier to achieving the essential goal of providing quality education for all, hindering intellectual growth and perpetuating cycles of poverty.

Limited Resources for Education:

Overpopulation places immense pressure on educational resources, ranging from textbooks and classroom space to qualified teachers.
These resources are necessary for delivering a robust education, hindering the development of critical skills for individuals to thrive in an ever-evolving global landscape. As a result, the cycle of poverty persists, further deepening social inequalities.

Regional Disparities

Regional disparities play a pivotal role in shaping the narrative of this global predicament, influencing and exacerbating the challenges faced by different parts of the world.

1. Population Density in Different Regions

The global population distribution is far from uniform, with some regions grappling with high population density while vast, uninhabited expanses mark others. For instance, mega-cities in Asia and Africa witness a concentration of people that strains urban infrastructure and resources. In contrast, sparsely populated areas in North America and Australia present a stark contrast, raising questions about the equitable utilization of the Earth’s finite resources.

2. Impacts on Developed and Developing Nations

Overpopulation affects developed and developing nations differently, amplifying existing disparities. Developed nations often grapple with aging populations, where declining birth rates and increasing elderly citizens pose economic and social challenges. On the other hand, developing nations face the brunt of rapid population growth, straining limited resources, and hindering efforts to achieve sustainable development goals. To close this gap, one must have a sophisticated awareness of the particular difficulties that every group of countries faces.

3. Migration Trends

Overpopulation prompts migration patterns that further contribute to regional imbalances. Individuals and families from densely populated regions often seek economic and social opportunities by migrating to less crowded areas. Whether internal or international, this movement can lead to challenges such as overcrowded urban centers, cultural clashes, and stress on public services. Examining these migration trends provides insights into the complex interplay between overpopulation and regional dynamics.

Here’s a structured overview of potential solutions:

1. Education and Family Planning

Importance of Education : When it comes to providing people, particularly women, with information about family planning, reproductive health, and the effects of overpopulation, education is essential. Investing in education, particularly for girls, has proven to correlate with lower fertility rates, contributing to a gradual decrease in population growth.
Access to Family Planning Services : Education is crucial for educating people, especially women, about family planning, reproductive health, and the repercussions of overpopulation.

2. Sustainable Development

Renewable Energy and Resource Management : Embracing renewable energy sources and implementing efficient resource management strategies can alleviate resource strain. This includes investing in renewable energy technologies, adopting sustainable agricultural practices, and managing water resources effectively.
Eco-friendly Technologies : Encouraging the adoption of eco-friendly technologies across industries can minimize environmental degradation. Innovations in waste management, cleaner production processes, and green infrastructure are critical in reducing the ecological footprint of human activities.

3. Government Policies

Population Control Measures : Governments can implement policies that promote responsible family planning, such as incentives for smaller families, awareness campaigns, and reproductive health services. Additionally, policies that support women’s rights, gender equality, and empowerment contribute to lower birth rates.
Economic Incentives for Sustainable Practices : Governments can introduce economic incentives for businesses and individuals adopting sustainable practices. Tax breaks, subsidies, and investment in green technologies encourage a shift toward environmentally friendly choices.

Case Study: China’s One-Child Policy

China’s population boom in the late 20th century sparked worries about resource shortages and long-term economic viability. In response to these problems, the Chinese government implemented the One-Child Policy in 1979.

Implementation

Under the One-Child Policy, most urban couples were restricted to having only one child. This policy was enforced through a combination of financial penalties, employment repercussions, and, in some cases, forced sterilizations. While the policy faced criticism for its strict measures and human rights concerns, it significantly impacted population growth.

The One-Child Policy successfully curbed China’s population growth. From 1980 to 2015, China’s population growth rate dropped from 1.2% to 0.5% . The policy prevented an estimated 400 million births. The aging population, gender inequality brought on by the cultural desire for male children, and societal problems brought on by the compulsory implementation were among the unanticipated results that drew criticism for the program.

Revisions and Abandonment

Recognizing the challenges and social implications, the Chinese government gradually relaxed the policy in the late 20th century. In 2015, the policy was officially replaced with a two-child policy, and in 2016, the government allowed all couples to have two children.

Lessons Learned

The One-Child Policy in China serves as a reminder of how crucial it is to weigh population control strategies’ long- and short-term effects. While the policy effectively addressed immediate concerns, its rigid implementation led to unintended social and demographic challenges. This case study emphasizes the need for a balanced and adaptable approach considering population management’s cultural, ethical, and social dimensions.

Current Status

Even after the abandonment of the One-Child Policy, China continues to grapple with demographic challenges, including an aging population and gender imbalances. The experience offers valuable insights into the complexities of implementing population control measures and underscores the importance of a comprehensive and flexible approach.

Future Outlook

Several key elements shape the future outlook:

Projected Population Growth: As we project into the future, population estimates vary, but most agree that the world’s population will continue to grow. By 2050, estimates suggest a global population nearing 10 billion people. This growth trajectory will significantly impact global resource demands, environmental stability, and socio-economic structures.
Resource Strain and Environmental Impact: The strain on resources will intensify with a burgeoning population. From food and water scarcity to increased energy demands and heightened pressure on ecosystems, overpopulation will exacerbate environmental degradation and climate change. Addressing these challenges requires immediate action and innovative solutions.
Technological Innovations and Sustainable Practices: The future outlook is not bleak. Advancements in technology offer promising solutions. From sustainable energy sources to innovations in agriculture and waste management, technological advances provide avenues for mitigating the impacts of overpopulation. Embracing eco-friendly practices and renewable technologies will be crucial for a sustainable future.
Socio-economic Transformations: Overpopulation will continue to influence socio-economic landscapes. It will shape job markets, healthcare systems, urban planning, and social services. Governments and societies must adapt policies and structures to accommodate the changing demographics and address inequalities exacerbated by population pressures.
Global Collaboration and Responsibility: The future hinges on global cooperation. Overcoming the challenges of overpopulation requires collaborative efforts among nations, organizations, and individuals. Initiatives focused on education, equitable resource distribution, and sustainable development must be globally embraced and supported.
Ethical Considerations and Human Rights: Balancing population control measures with ethical considerations and human rights remains paramount. Upholding individual autonomy while addressing the collective challenge of overpopulation necessitates respectful, inclusive, and rights-based approaches.
Urgency of Action: The urgency to act cannot be overstated. Delayed action will exacerbate the challenges posed by overpopulation, magnifying its impact on future generations. Immediate steps toward sustainable practices, population education, and policy adaptations are imperative.

Overpopulation is a formidable global challenge, intricately weaving its impact through health and education. Urgent action necessitates comprehensive strategies to address overcrowded living conditions, strained healthcare systems, and compromised educational opportunities. As we navigate these complexities, fostering sustainable development requires a shared commitment to equitable access, robust healthcare infrastructure, and educational reforms. Only through concerted efforts can we pave the way for a balanced future where individuals thrive, societies prosper, and the shadows of overpopulation recede.

*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .

Valuation, Hadoop, Excel, Web Development & many more.

Forgot Password?

This website or its third-party tools use cookies, which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy. By closing this banner, scrolling this page, clicking a link or continuing to browse otherwise, you agree to our Privacy Policy

Explore 1000+ varieties of Mock tests View more

Submit Next Question

🚀 Limited Time Offer! - 🎁 ENROLL NOW

Ideas for Action
Join the MAHB
Why Join the MAHB?
Current Associates
Current Nodes
What is the MAHB?
Who is the MAHB?
Acknowledgments

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

Erin Brown | April 4, 2023 | Leave a Comment

Photo by Candace McDaniel on StockSnap

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]

IELTS Scores
Life Skills Test
Find a Test Centre
Alternatives to IELTS
General Training
Academic Word List
Topic Vocabulary
Collocation
Phrasal Verbs
Writing eBooks
Reading eBook
All eBooks & Courses
Sample Essays
Overpopulation Essay

IELTS Overpopulation Essay

This model essay is about overpopulation in cities . You specifically have to talk about the problems of overpopulation, and suggest some solutions to this problem.

Note that this question specifically asks you what governments and individuals can do.

Here is the question:

Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems.

Identify one or two serious ones and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems.

Organising a Problems & Solutions Essay

Note that this overpopulation essay question specifically asks you what governments and individuals can do.

You MUST, therefore, write about what both of these can do in order to fully answer the question.

Note as well that you must talk about serious problems.

The easiest way to organize a problems and solutions essay is as follows:

Body 1: Problems

Body 2: Solutions

In this essay, a separate paragraph has been written about government and individual solutions, so it is organized as follows:

Body 2: Solutions - Government

Body 3: Solutions - Individuals

Model Essay

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.

Write at least 250 words.

IELTS Overpopulation Essay - Sample Answer

Many countries of the world are currently experiencing problems caused by rapidly growing populations in urban areas, and both governments and individuals have a duty to find ways to overcome these problems.

Overpopulation can lead to overcrowding and poor quality housing in many large cities. Poorly heated or damp housing could cause significant health problems, resulting in illness, such as bronchitis or pneumonia. Another serious consequence of overcrowding is a rising crime rate as poor living conditions may lead young people in particular to take desperate measures and turn to crime or drugs.

In terms of solutions, I believe the government should be largely responsible. Firstly, it is vital that the state provides essential housing and healthcare for all its citizens. Secondly, setting up community projects to help foster more community spirit and help keep young people off the street is a good idea. For example, youth clubs or evening classes for teenagers would keep them occupied. Finally, more effective policing of inner city areas would also be beneficial.

Naturally, individuals should also try to address these problems. One way is to put pressure on the government to ensure they tackle the problems by, for instance, forming action groups to lobby the government and request intervention and adequate funding. They could also form Neighbourhood Watch areas to try and help reduce the high levels of crime.

Therefore, it is clear that the problems caused by overpopulation in urban areas are very serious. Yet if governments and individuals share a collective responsibility, then it may well become possible to offer some solutions.

(260 words)

<<< Back

Next >>>

Competing for Jobs Essay

Competing for Jobs Essay: This is a model essay about the problems arising when older people have to compete with younger people for jobs. you need to write about the problems that arise if older people have to compete for jobs with younger people.

IELTS Problem Solution Essay Example: Why is immigration problematic?

This problem solution essay example is about the increasing number of professionals who are leaving their own poorer countries to work in developed countries

Any comments or questions about this page or about IELTS? Post them here. Your email will not be published or shared.

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

Click on the HTML link code below.
Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Band 7+ eBooks

"I think these eBooks are FANTASTIC!!! I know that's not academic language, but it's the truth!"

Linda, from Italy, Scored Band 7.5

Bargain eBook Deal! 30% Discount

All 4 Writing eBooks for just $25.86 Find out more >>

IELTS Modules:

Other resources:.

All Lessons
Band Score Calculator
Writing Feedback
Speaking Feedback
Teacher Resources
Free Downloads
Recent Essay Exam Questions
Books for IELTS Prep
Useful Links

Recent Articles

Skimming and Scanning Tips for IELTS Reading

Jun 21, 24 02:29 AM

5 Key Grammar Rules for IELTS

Jun 14, 24 10:05 AM

Referencing in IELTS Reading: Comprehending the Text

Jun 08, 24 05:30 AM

Important pages

IELTS Writing IELTS Speaking IELTS Listening IELTS Reading All Lessons Vocabulary Academic Task 1 Academic Task 2 Practice Tests

Connect with us

Before you go...

Check out the ielts buddy band 7+ ebooks & courses.

IELTS is a registered trademark of University of Cambridge, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia. This site and its owners are not affiliated, approved or endorsed by the University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia.

Overpopulation: Causes, Effects and Solutions That are Seriously Eye-opening

Overpopulation is an undesirable condition where the number of the existing human population exceeds the actual carrying capacity of Earth . Overpopulation is caused by a number of factors. Reduced mortality rate, better medical facilities, depletion of precious resources are few of the causes which result in overpopulation. It is possible for a sparsely populated area to become densely populated if it is not able to sustain life.

Growing advances in technology with each coming year has affected humanity in many ways. One of these has been the ability to save lives and create a better medical treatment for all. A direct result of this has been the increased lifespan and the growth of the population .

According to Wikipedia ,

“ Overpopulation occurs when a species’ population exceeds the carrying capacity of its ecological niche. It can result from an increase in births (fertility rate), a decline in the mortality rate, an increase in immigration, or an unsustainable biome and depletion of resources. ”

The human overpopulation issue is the topic I see as the most vital to solve if our children and grandchildren are to have a good quality of life. ~ Alexandra Paul

In the past fifty years or so, the growth of the population has boomed and has turned into overpopulation. In the history of our species, the birth and death rates have always been able to balance each other and maintain a population growth rate that is sustainable.

Since the time of the Bubonic Plague in the 1400s, the growth of the population has been on a constant increase. Between the time of the plague and the 21st century, there have been hundreds and thousands of wars, natural calamities , and man-made hazards.

However, none of these could make a dent on the population. Developing nations face the problem of overpopulation more than developed countries, but it affects most of the Earth as of now. When we are talking about overpopulation, we should first try to understand the underlying causes of it.

Various Causes of Overpopulation

1. the decline in the death rate.

At the root of overpopulation is the difference between the overall birth rate and death rate in populations. If the number of children born each year equals the number of adults that die, then the population will stabilize.

Talking about overpopulation shows that while there are many factors that can increase the death rate for short periods of time, the ones that increase the birth rate do so over a long period of time.

The discovery of agriculture by our ancestors was one factor that provided them with the ability to sustain their nutrition without hunting . This created the first imbalance between the two rates.

2. Agricultural Advancements

Technological revolutions and population explosions occur at the same time. There have been three major technological revolutions. They are the tool-making revolution, the agricultural revolution, and the industrial revolution.

Agricultural advancements in the 20th century have allowed humans to increase food production using fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides and yields further. This allowed humans with more access to food that leads to subsequent population explosions.

3. Better Medical Facilities

Following this the industrial revolution started. Technological advancement was perhaps the biggest reason why the balance has been permanently disturbed.

Science was able to produce better means of producing food, which allowed families to feed more mouths. Besides, medical science made many discoveries, thanks to which they were able to defeat a whole range of diseases.

Illnesses that had claimed thousands of lives until now were cured because of the invention of vaccines. Combining the increase in food supply with fewer means of mortality tipped the balance and became the starting point of overpopulation.

4. More Hands to Overcome Poverty

However, when talking about overpopulation, we should understand that there is a psychological component as well. Poverty is considered as the leading cause of overpopulation. In the absence of educational resources, coupled with high death rates, which resulted in higher birth rates, that is why impoverished areas are seeing large booms in population.

For thousands of years, a very small part of the population had enough money to live in comfort. The rest faced poverty and would give birth to large families to make up for the high infant mortality rate.

Families that have been through poverty, natural disasters, or are simply in need of more hands to work are a major factor for overpopulation.

As compared to earlier times, most of these extra children survive and consume resources that are not sufficient in nature.

According to the UN, the forty-eight poorest countries in the world are also likely to be the biggest contributors to population growth. Their estimates say that the combined population of these countries is likely to increase to 1.7 billion in 2050 , from 850 million in 2010.

5. Child Labor

It is no less than a tragedy that child labor is still in practice extensively in many parts of the world. As per the UNICEF, approximately 150 million children are currently working in countries having few child labor laws. The children being seen as a source of income by impoverished families begin work too young and also lose the educational opportunities reflected, particularly when it comes to birth control.

6. Technological Advancement in Fertility Treatment

With the latest technological advancement and more discoveries in medical science, it has become possible for couples who are unable to conceive to undergo fertility treatment methods and have their own babies.

Today there are effective medicines that can increase the chance of conception and lead to a rise in the birth rate. Moreover, due to modern techniques, pregnancies today are far safer.

7. Immigration

Many people prefer to move to developed countries like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, where the best facilities are available in terms of medical, education, security, and employment. The result is that those people settle over there, eventually making those places overcrowded.

If the number of people who are leaving the country is less than the number of people who enter, it usually leads to more demand for food, clothes, energy, and homes.

This gives rise to a shortage of resources. Though the overall population remains the same, it just affects the density of the population, making that place simply overcrowded.

8. Lack of Family Planning

Most developing nations have a large number of people who are illiterate, live below the poverty line, and have little or no knowledge about family planning. Besides, getting their children married at an early age increases the chances of producing more kids.

Those people are unable to understand the harmful effects of overpopulation, and lack of quality education prompts them to avoid family planning measures.

9. Poor Contraceptives Use

Poor family planning on the part of partners can lead to unexpected pregnancies though contraceptives are easily available in developed countries.

As per statistics, 76% of women aged between 16 and 49 in Great Britain used at least one form of contraceptive, leaving a quarter open to unexpected pregnancies. Whereas a study by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that this figure drops to 43% in underdeveloped countries, which leads to higher birth rates.

Fatal Effects of Overpopulation

1. depletion of natural resources.

The effects of overpopulation are quite severe. The first of these is the depletion of resources. The Earth can only produce a limited amount of water and food, which is falling short of the current needs.

Most of the environmental damage seen in the last fifty-odd years is because of the growing number of people on the planet. They include cutting down forests , hunting wildlife in a reckless manner, causing pollution , and creating a host of other problems.

Those engaged in talks about overpopulation have noticed that acts of violence and aggression outside of a war zone have increased tremendously while competing for resources.

2. Degradation of Environment

With the overuse of coal, oil, and natural gas, it has started producing some serious effects on our environment . Besides, the exponential rise in the number of vehicles and industries has badly affected the quality of air.

The rise in the amount of CO2 emissions leads to global warming . Melting of polar ice caps, changing climate patterns , rise in sea levels are a few of the consequences that we might have to face due to environmental pollution .

3. Conflicts and Wars

Overpopulation in developing countries puts a major strain on the resources it should be utilizing for development. Conflicts over water are becoming a source of tension between countries, which could result in wars. It causes more diseases to spread and makes them harder to control.

Starvation is a huge issue that the world is facing, and the mortality rate for children is being fuelled by it. Poverty is the biggest hallmark we see when talking about overpopulation.

All of this will only become worse if solutions are not sought out for the factors affecting our population. We can no longer prevent it, but there are ways to control it.

4. Rise in Unemployment

When a country becomes overpopulated, it gives rise to unemployment as there are fewer jobs to support a large number of people. The rise in unemployment gives rise to crime, such as theft, as people want to feed their families and provide them basic amenities of life.

5. High Cost of Living

As the difference between demand and supply continues to expand due to overpopulation, it raises the prices of various essential commodities, including food, shelter, and healthcare. This means that people have to pay more to survive and feed their families.

6. Pandemics and Epidemics

Poverty is linked to many environmental and social reasons, including overcrowded and unhygienic living conditions, malnutrition and inaccessible, inadequate, or non-existent health care, for which the poor are more likely to be exposed to infectious diseases. Further, high densities of population increase the chance of the emergence of new pandemics and epidemics.

7. Malnutrition, Starvation and Famine

When the availability of resources is scarce, starvation, malnutrition, along with ill health and diseases caused by diet-deficiency such as rickets become more likely.

Famine is typically associated with less-developed regions, and there is a high correlation with poverty levels.

8. Water Shortage

Roughly 1% of the world’s water is fresh and accessible. Overpopulation is a major issue that creates immense pressure on the world’s freshwater supplies.

As per the study, the human demand for freshwater would stand at approximately 70% of freshwater available on the planet by 2025. Therefore, people living in impoverished areas that already have limited access to such water will be at great risk.

9. Lower Life Expectancy

A large proportion of the world’s population growth occurs in less developed countries. Therefore, lower life expectancy caused by the booms in population is experienced by less-developed nations.

This causes a shortage of resources in these countries resulting in less access to medical care, freshwater, food and jobs, and ultimately in a sharp fall in life expectancy .

10. Extinction

The impact of overpopulation on the world’s wildlife is severe. As demand for land grows, the destruction of natural habitats, such as forests, becomes common.

Data has also been collected to show a direct link between increases in human population and decreases in the number of species on the planet. If present trends continue, as many as 50% of the world’s wildlife species will be at risk of extinction, some scientists warn.

11. Increased Intensive Farming

With the growth of population over the years, farming practices have evolved to produce enough food required to feed a larger number of people. However, this intensive farming methods cause damage to local ecosystems and the land that may pose problems in the future.

Furthermore, intensive farming is also contributed to climate change due to the machinery required. If the population continues to grow at its current rate, this effect will likely intensify.

12. Faster Climate Change

Overpopulation forces larger nations, like China and India, to continue to develop their industrial capacities. They now rank as two of the three largest contributors to emissions in the world, other than the United States.

According to 97% of the scientific community , human activities are changing global temperatures. If more is not done to reduce individual carbon footprints on a wide scale, larger populations may speed these changes up.

Incredible Solutions To Overpopulation

1. better education.

One of the first measures is to implement policies reflecting social change. Educating the masses helps them understand the need to have one or two children at the most.

Similarly, education plays a vital role in understanding the latest technologies that are making huge waves in the world of computing. Families that are facing a hard life and choose to have four or five children should be discouraged.

Family planning and efficient birth control can help in women making their own reproductive choices. Open dialogue on abortion and voluntary sterilization should be seen when talking about overpopulation.

2. Education for Girl Child

Currently, over 130 million young women and girls around the globe are not enrolled in school. The majority of these live in male-dominated societies, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South and West Asia, that does not give women equal right to education as men.

Entrenched gender norms and child marriage further disrupt their access to education. The girl who receives less education is more likely to have children early and vulnerable to exploitation. Moreover, impoverished families are less likely to enroll their female children in school.

3. Making People Aware of Family Planning

As the population of this world is growing at a rapid pace, raising awareness among people regarding family planning and letting them know about serious after-effects of overpopulation can help curb population growth.

One of the best ways is to let them know about various safe sex techniques and contraceptive methods available to avoid any unwanted pregnancy.

4. Tax Benefits or Concessions

The government of various countries might have to come up with various policies related to tax exemptions to curb overpopulation.

One of them might be to waive a certain part of income tax or lowering rates of income tax for those married couples who have single or two children. As we humans are more inclined towards money, this may produce some positive results.

5. Knowledge of Sex Education

Imparting sex education to young kids at the elementary level should be a must. Most parents feel shy in discussing such things with their kids that results in their children going out and look out for such information on the internet or discuss it with their peers.

Mostly, the information is incomplete, which results in sexually active teenagers unaware of contraceptives and embarrassed to seek information about the same. It is, therefore, important for parents and teachers to shed their old inhibitions and make their kids or students aware of solid sex education.

6. Social Marketing

Social marketing has already been started by some societies to educate the public on overpopulation effects. The intervention can be made widespread at a low cost. A variety of print materials (flyers, brochures, fact sheets, stickers) can be distributed in places such as at local places of worship, sporting events, local food markets, schools and at car parks.

Infographic on Overpopulation

References:

Overpopulation in India

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12281798

https://www.dw.com/en/lets-talk-about-overpopulation/a-37481009

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/gallery/2015/apr/01/over-population-over-consumption-in-pictures

About Rinkesh

A true environmentalist by heart ❤️. Founded Conserve Energy Future with the sole motto of providing helpful information related to our rapidly depleting environment. Unless you strongly believe in Elon Musk‘s idea of making Mars as another habitable planet, do remember that there really is no 'Planet B' in this whole universe.

Interesting Posts You May Like...

Are Zoos Really Ethical? Insights From The 2 Sides of The Debate!

How To Dispose of Broken TV Sustainably?

20+ Things That You Shouldn’t Buy as an Environmentalist

The 8 R’s of Sustainability: True Environmental Stewardship

Pros and Cons of a Heat Pump

Pros and Cons of Tiny House Living

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Meet top uk universities from the comfort of your home, here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

School Education /

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.

Shiva Tyagi

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.

Connect With Us

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. take the first step today..

Resend OTP in

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

January 2024

September 2024

What is your budget to study abroad?

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

Have something on your mind?

Make your study abroad dream a reality in January 2022 with

India's Biggest Virtual University Fair

Essex Direct Admission Day

Why attend .

Don't Miss Out

Overpopulation in World Essay in English for Children and Students

Table of Contents

Overpopulation refers to a situation where the number of humans in a particular place becomes more than the carrying capacity of that particular place. In a broader perspective the term overpopulation is also used for planet earth, because of the incessant rise in human population.

Fill Out the Form for Expert Academic Guidance!

Please indicate your interest Live Classes Books Test Series Self Learning

Verify OTP Code (required)

I agree to the terms and conditions and privacy policy .

Fill complete details

Target Exam ---

There are various factors responsible for overpopulation like – low mortality rate; better public amenities; availability of food and habitat etc. A few social factors like illiteracy, poverty and no family planning are also responsible for overpopulation in developing or underdeveloped nations.

Long and Short Essay on Overpopulation in World in English

Below we have provided long and short essay on overpopulation in world. These overpopulation in world essay have been written in simple language covering all the vital topics under the heading overpopulation.

After going through the following essays you will know the causes of overpopulation in world; causes of overpopulation in India and other developing countries; what are the social effects of overpopulation; effects of overpopulation on health; what are the solutions of overpopulation etc.

Short Essay on Overpopulation in World (200 words) – Essay 1

Overpopulation is the overcrowding of earth due to unregulated population growth of humans. There are many economical and social factors leading to overpopulation. It could result from low mortality rate, high birth rate, illiteracy, lack of family planning, large scale migration etc. Also, depletion of natural resources at one place results in overpopulation at some other place, where the resources are abundant.

An improvement in the past century in basic healthcare facilities and amenities has led to a decline in mortality rate, thus causing the population to grow consistently and is set to continue growing in to the next century.

Overpopulation, despite being a significant global issue, doesn’t get its due consideration. Still not much is being done by the world, to regulate population or to counter its effects. Overpopulation can serious hamper the growth of a nation, causing issues like – unemployment, scarcity of resources, habitat destruction and law and order problems among others.

Necessary steps must be taken to keep the world population under control, so that no place on earth gets overcrowded with humans and become scarce in vital resources, making survival difficult. Along with the mentioned effects, overpopulation also indirectly affects the environment up to large extent.

Essay on Causes of Overpopulation in World (300 words) – Essay 2

Introduction

Overpopulation is the growing cause of concern throughout the world. It refers to an increase in population over a specific area, so much so, that the particular area becomes overcrowded, beyond its natural capacity. There are many reasons for overpopulation will we will discuss further in the essay.

Causes of Overpopulation in World

There could be various factors causing overpopulation in the world. Large scale immigration of people from one place to another because of political, communal or other issues may cause overpopulation at a particular place. People migrate to neighboring country to escape political upheaval or military conflicts on their own soil.

There is also a trend of migration from underdeveloped or developing countries to the developed nations. Mostly, labour class undertakes such migration in search of better financial opportunities. This migration however causes the population of the host nation to swell up.

Another significant factor that has been contributing to the population growth in the world is high life expectancy due to better medical facilities and development in medical science. People, today are dying less due to diseases, those had been claimed millions of lives in the past century.

Causes of Overpopulation in India and other Developing Countries

The main causes for overpopulation in India and other similar developing countries differ slightly from that of the world. Overpopulation in India is caused by factors like poverty, ignorance, lack of family planning, child labour, and reduced mortality rate, interstate immigration etc.

Poverty in India is considered to be one of the prime causes of overpopulation. Poverty leads to illiteracy and lack of awareness on issues like – contraceptive use and family planning; this, leading to a uncontrolled population growth in deprived areas.

The cause of overpopulation in the world is many and they differ from place to place. At one place migration might causing it, at another place it might have been caused due to poverty. Whatever the cause may be, we must take necessary steps to reduce overpopulation.

Essay on Effects of Overpopulation in World (400 words) – Essay 3

There are many effects of overpopulation in the world. Overpopulation in a place causes scarcity of available resources leading to deprivation and poverty. Moreover, it also causes unemployment, as the number of persons in need of a particular job, large outgrows the total number of actual vacancies. Two of the most common effects of overpopulation- social and health are discussed below.

Effects of Overpopulation in World

Social Effects of Overpopulation

There are a variety of social effects of overpopulation, ranging from, poverty, unemployment, poor hygienic conditions and a scarcity of resources for a community. When the population of a particular area rises beyond the destined capacity of that place, then a number of changes in the society are witnessed.

For example, if a fresh water resource is used by more people than it can sustain; then such situation often results in conflicts. People tend to fight with each other over the use of resources.

Overpopulation also leads to scarcity of food and unemployment, causing large scale poverty, hunger and poor hygiene.

Effects of Overpopulation on Health

Overpopulation also has an adverse effect on health of an individual, due to scarcity of food and other resources. The food and other resources, those had been available in abundance, become scarce, when the population of a place grows beyond a specific limit. Moreover, overpopulation is directly related to unemployment and latter could be directly associated to malnutrition and depleting health conditions.

Many people living in a crowded area also results in habitat destruction, reducing the quality of air and other vital parameters, resulting in poor health condition. As more people start living in an area, it becomes imperative to cut down trees and clear vegetation to make houses for them. Thus, begins the vicious cycle of materialistic growth compromising the health and fitness of humans.

People residing in populated areas are often seen living in poor health and hygienic conditions with no access to basic health amenities, clean air and clean water.

Overpopulation in area causes evident social and health effects on the individuals and the society as a whole. From poor health and hygiene conditions to natural resource depletion, unemployment and increase in criminal activities – overpopulation has a hand in all these adversities. It therefore becomes important that we take necessary remedial measures before the populations goes beyond the specified limit.

Essay on Solutions of Overpopulation in World (500 words) – Essay 4

The problem of overpopulation is grave, but as every problem has a solution, so overpopulation too has solutions; though, it may take some time before the results are evident, but the effort would be worth it. Below, the solutions for overpopulation in the world, India and other developing countries along with the government’s efforts in reducing overpopulation are discussed below.

Solutions of Overpopulation in World

Solutions to eliminate overpopulation in the world are discussed below. For the convenience of understanding, in this heading we will discuss the matter of overpopulation only in developed countries.

The main reason behind the concentration of population over a particular area in developed countries is the availability of resources and better growth opportunities. People tend to concentrate over the place where irrigation, water, electricity and other amenities are available in abundance. Necessary efforts must be made by the respective government to make the basic public amenities to the people in their native place of residence.

Any political or military conflict must be resolved quickly by the intervention of world community to prevent cross border migration and population complications at other places.

Solution of Overpopulation in India and other Developing Countries

The main causes of overpopulation in India and other countries are poverty, illiteracy and lack of basic knowledge about family planning. Majority of population in India and other developing nations, still reside in villages, where they lack basic education and other facilities than the cities.

People residing in villages still shy from talking on issues like family planning and use of contraceptives is considered a taboo. Therefore, awareness through education seems to be the only appropriate solution for a developing country like India.

People must be told about the significance of family planning and that shying away from it will only aggravate their financial crisis and reduce their social status. It is indeed more economical and practical to feed a family of four than a family of six or ten members. Also, they must be insisted to use contraceptives and that it is necessary for their family’s welfare and overall health.

What is Government doing about Overpopulation?

The government’s agenda to eliminate overpopulation include acting up on the root causes – education and health care. Despite making a number of reforms in these two sectors, the government is also making efforts to make people aware of family planning. A well trained team of doctors and paramedical staff in the primary health centers across the country are educating people about the advantages of a small family and its overall effects on the nation’s growth.

They also teach people about the use of contraceptives to eliminate the possibility of conception. The government is also distributing free contraceptives to remote locations through the PHCs.

The most important solutions to overpopulation are education and awareness of people. The more educated and aware the people are, the more remote will be the possibility of overpopulation. The government has made considerable effort towards keeping the population under control but a lot more still needed to be done.

Long Essay on Overpopulation in World (600 words) – Essay 5

Overpopulation in the world is a global phenomenon and is more evident in developing and underdeveloped countries. Even the developed countries witness a large influx of migratory population from the developing and under developed countries. In the following essay we will discuss on the causes of overpopulation, the problems of overpopulation, state of overpopulation in India and other developing countries and the solution of overpopulation.

What Causes Overpopulation?

1) Illiteracy

Illiteracy is one of the main causes of overpopulation in any country over the world. The countries lacking on the front of education have more population growth than others.

2) Lack of Awareness

Lack of public awareness about family planning issues is one of the prime reasons for overpopulation. People are not aware of the effects of overpopulation and its effects on the society and nation. The act is in disregard to their own financial constraints.

3) Poor Health Facilities

Poor condition of basic health amenities is also a prime cause of overpopulation. Absence of a medical professional and non availability of contraceptives, leads to incessant growth in population.

Problems related to the Overpopulation

1) Resources Depletion

Overpopulation causes the depletion of resources over a particular area. As the number of people using a specific resource increases, its fast consumption results in rapid depletion. Vital resource like food and water become scarce in case of overpopulation. Even the basic health and transport facilities become rare.

2) Unemployment

Unemployment is one of the most severe consequences of overpopulation. If the number of people in an area increases beyond limit; however, the number of vacancies in different sectors, by and large remain the same, thereby increasing unemployment. Thus, unemployment becomes a significant ill effect of overpopulation.

Poverty is the next consequence of unemployment caused by overpopulation. However, poverty is also related to scarcity resources and basic amenities of health and education, caused by overpopulation. A crowded place will always have poor employment opportunities, leading to poverty. It is considered as one of the most prominent consequences of population explosion, by the economists of the world.

4) Poor Law and Order

Factors like poverty, unemployment, depletion of natural resources result in poor law and order condition. People fight with each other over vital resources like water and food. Unemployment leads to poverty forcing people to take up illegal professions of robbery and theft, to meet their requirements.

Overpopulation in India and other Developing Countries

Overpopulation in India and similar developing countries is a great cause of concern, as it has many adverse effects on the nation’s progress and growth. All the development loses its sheen due to overpopulation. The state of public transport system and other basic amenities degrades quickly due to large number of people using them.

Overpopulation Solutions

Making the people aware of the ill effects of overpopulation is the most significant method to eliminate the latter. This awareness must be brought by education and advertising through different modes of communication. When people understand that the quality of life depends on the total number of family members, and the lesser the members the more good the finances will be; the fight against overpopulation will become much easier.

Overpopulation leads to various social, economical and developmental issues. It is therefore imperative that the world comes together on the issue of overpopulation and take necessary steps towards eliminating it. Unless the population of the world is kept under control, it would not be possible to achieve the development that the world seeks.

More Information:

Essay on World Population Day
Essay on Population
Essay on Population Growth
Essay on Family Planning in India
Paragraph on Population

Please select class

The Problem of Overpopulation Essay

To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
As a template for you assignment

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.

Overpopulation and Limit on Number of Children
Impacts of Overpopulation on the Environment
The Impact of Overpopulation on the Global Environment
Cultural Identity: Problems, Coping, and Outcomes
Butterfly Effect with Premarital Sex
Workplace Dynamics in Dubai Trade: A Survey
Social Issues: Challenges Facing Young Immigrants
Social Issues: the Freak Shows Popularity
Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2019, December 3). The Problem of Overpopulation. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-problem-of-overpopulation/

"The Problem of Overpopulation." IvyPanda , 3 Dec. 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/the-problem-of-overpopulation/.

IvyPanda . (2019) 'The Problem of Overpopulation'. 3 December.

IvyPanda . 2019. "The Problem of Overpopulation." December 3, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-problem-of-overpopulation/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Problem of Overpopulation." December 3, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-problem-of-overpopulation/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Problem of Overpopulation." December 3, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-problem-of-overpopulation/.

Home — Essay Samples — Sociology — Population Growth — The Overpopulation As A Global Crisis

The Overpopulation as a Global Crisis

Categories: Population Growth

About this sample

Words: 1131 |

Published: Jan 28, 2021

Words: 1131 | Pages: 2 | 6 min read

Negative effects of overpopulation, controversial benefits, depletion of natural resources, the limited amount of food, increasing emergence of epidemics, references:.

United Nations. (2019). World Population Prospects 2019: Highlights (ST/ESA/SER.A/423). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. https://population.un.org/wpp/Publications/Files/WPP2019_Highlights.pdf
World Health Organization. (2015). World Health Statistics 2015. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/gho/publications/world_health_statistics/2015/en/
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2021). The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. http://www.fao.org/3/cb4473en/cb4473en.pdf
Population Reference Bureau. (2019). Combining Malnutrition with more than income growth. Population Reference Bureau. https://www.prb.org/malnutrition-and-hunger/
Kottasová, I. (2018, November 16). Water scarcity: The world’s invisible crisis. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/16/world/un-water-scarcity-intl/index.html

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Karlyna PhD

Verified writer

Expert in: Sociology

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

5 pages / 2441 words

3 pages / 1510 words

9 pages / 3972 words

3 pages / 1193 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Population Growth

Examine the links between population growth and increased greenhouse gas emissions, focusing on potential mitigative actions.The issue of overpopulation and its contributions to climate change is a complex and urgent matter that [...]

In conclusion, the evolution of human population growth has been a complex and multifaceted process influenced by a variety of historical events. The transition from a nomadic lifestyle to settled agriculture, the rise of cities [...]

China is the most populous country in the world, with a population of over 1.4 billion people. The population pyramid of China has undergone significant changes over the past few decades, reflecting the country's demographic [...]

Overpopulation is a phenomenon whereby the population of a certain region or area exceeds the carrying capacity of the environment. The term is often used in reference to human populations, and it can have far-reaching impacts [...]

Overpopulation is an undesirable condition where the number of existing human population exceeds the carrying capacity of Earth. This scenario can be illustrated in case such as, for example a square feet normally can placed [...]

Hans starts of talking about how astounded he was when his teacher in school told him that the world population had become three billion people; back in 1960. Rosling explains that instead of using digital technology; he is [...]

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

Instructions Followed To The Letter
Deadlines Met At Every Stage
Unique And Plagiarism Free

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

We're Hiring!
Help Center

Human Overpopulation: Causes and Effects in Developing Countries

This research paper outlines the causes and effects of human overpopulation, focusing in developing countries. The primary cause of this problems includes low mortality rates coupled with high birth rates. The exponential influx in human overpopulation has had negative effects on both the economic stability and environment of the affected countries. In addition to the causes and effects discussed, potential solutions are proposed to assist in the mitigation of the problem.

Related Papers

Ritu Mahendru

Egyptian STEM schools

Mina Eskandar

Over-population is a great Problem for many countries. This research looks into all possible solutions for this problem. World population has jumped from about 2.5 billion in 1951 to 7.8 billion in April 2020 , 212% increase. Over-population has been an issue for many countries especially in Africa, as Africa has the highest fertility rate ,children per woman, and Africans are low on resources especially for those who live in the middle of Africa ,in other words, near the equator, Because of its hot weather and being low on water, it is optimum environment for spreading diseases and droughts which its direct relation to overpopulation was later discovered resulting in lack of resources and slowness of economy development. Human Resources management has important terminology which need to be understood before getting into our main topic: fertility rate is the average children per woman, birth rate is the average number of children born per year and death rate is the number of deaths per year, natural change is the birth rate minus the death rate . Social Scientists have many theories on what causes over-population, Some suggest that poverty is the main cause of over-population as it is seen in most poor countries like in Africa unlike rich countries in Europe. They suggest that families try to overcome their poor condition by having more children. But other scientists argue that it can be correlation and something else is causing both of them. They suggest that it is a high death rates. Also, through comparing between poor Countries and rich Countries, it can be notice that in poor countries, death rates are high as of that most families give birth to many children. There are other suggested causes like lack of education and child labor. Over-population can cause many serious problems especially for poor countries. For example, It can cause lack of water in developing countries because as the population grow, water consumption increases. For countries that do not have a fresh stable water source, This can lead to droughts and lower life expectancy. Also, population growth could cause Extinction of wild life and pollution because forests and natural environments for various animals are cut down to free more space for buildings and cities. green house effect was learned in (CH.2.11) about and learned In (ES.2.10) about the role of plants in stabilizing the carbon dioxide percentage and the role of forest in keeping biodiversity in (BI.2.12). For These reasons, Countries tried to solve this issue, because of its significant impact on the economy and the productivity. Some of these solutions were the “one-child-policy” and “two-child-policy” tried by China to control population growth using the law. The Results of them were very fast. Other places tried to control over-population by focusing on education especially for girls like in Europe in the 19 th century. To conclude, This research will focus on these prior solutions and others and discuss why they work.

International Journal of Science, Technology and Society

Casmir Onyeneke

Overpopulation is an immensely dangerous problem that does not affect only individual countries but worldwide. It has many causes such as immigration; early marriages, poor medical access, and education are the main reasons to be indicated. While it has many reasons why the earth faces overcrowded, overpopulation's effects are considered a perilous crisis more than itself. In the past, researchers have explored how to stop this rising problem even though; they have tried several ways from mass sterilization to awarding families with no child. None of these approaches worked instead, people tend to have more children and take this dangerous risk. Therefore, depletion of natural resources, rise in pollution, epidemics, and other diseases are the main consequences of overpopulation which this literature review has discussed. Even though scientists and nature activists have argued about the effects of overcrowding on the earth, humankind, and health, there is no right solution taken by us: humans as a creator of this crisis. Furthermore, this research will concentrate on the possible effects of overpopulation on the earth, health, and human kind. Plus, it suggests some possible solutions. Significantly, it illustrates how overpopulation will impact natural resources and human health.

Sandu Szilveszter

The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the overpopulation issue of India and propose recommendations on how to overcome it. First, the paper summarizes the crucial demographic conditions and where India stands by numbers. Then the article presents the development of the state approach to the issue starting from the early years of independence up to the current policies. It does so by scrutinizing its cultural, economic and social factors and implications of overpopulation and identifies socioeconomic backwardness, early marriages and family norms, lack of adequate health care infrastructure and education as the correlated and interdependent features supporting the trend of overpopulation. The authors come up with three recommendations to tackle the issue – women empowerment, education and industrialization.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences

Wolfgang Lutz

The 20th century has seen unprecedented growth of the human population on this planet. While at the beginning of the century the Earth had an estimated 1.6 billion inhabitants, this number grew to 6.1 billion by the end of the century, and further significant growth is a near certainty. This paper tries to summarize what factors lie behind this extraordinary expansion of the human population and what population growth we can expect for the future. It discusses the concept of demographic transition and the preconditions for a lasting secular fertility decline. Recent fertility declines in all parts of the world now make it likely that human population growth will come to an end over the course of this century, but in parts of the developing world significant population growth is still to be expected over the coming decades. The slowing of population growth through declining birth rates, together with still increasing life expectancy, will result in a strong ageing of population age s...

Joseph A Heath

Analysis of how to tackle this issue. Written in spring 2016.

Environmental and Resource Economics

john Cleland

Thandolwenkosi Mthembu

Rapid population growth has been a topic of contestation on a socio-economic, statistical and environmental stance. It has proven to be a great cause for concern in much literature with regards to resource scarcity and the earth’s capacity to withstand the impact thereof, it’s hindrance to economic and social development and it’s threat to global political stability. It is important to note that 80 percent of the world’s population is found in low income countries (Hewitt) and in as much as it has been proven that population growth is exponential in these areas, it has not been resolved that one is poor because they have many children. Quite the opposite has been argued of which recent literature on the relationship between population and development has illustrated. When looking specifically at overpopulation in relation to development, there are two standpoints. The first one sees population growth being the barrier to sustainable development efforts as a whole, and much like the Malthusian Theory it urges control over population growth. The other standpoint denounces claims that overpopulation is the cause of social and economic development problems, but says it is a symptom of it. This essay will be looking at both standpoints so as to critically evaluate whether overpopulation really is the principle cause of development problems.

Manjula G. K

Arthur L. Griffith

Loading Preview

Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.

RELATED PAPERS

Ernestina Coast

Zohair Ahmed

Tanima Choudhuri

Blessing Mberu

Mankind Quarterly

Bernard Gilland

Martin Beddeleem

Biswajit Ghosh

Padarabinda Rath

Environment International

Lubina F Qureshy

Karen Hardee

Aalok Ranjan

Olorunfemi Y Alimi

IARS International Research Journal

Shubham Yadav

Kent Schwirian

partha Barua

Lambert Academic Publishing, Germany

Vibhuti Patel

IRJET Journal

Economic and Political Weekly, Vol - XXX No. 36 (Special Article)

Manashi Ray

ishika choudhary

… Transactions of the Royal Society B: …

adair Turner

Robert Engelman

hasan qadiri

Causes And Effects Of Global Overpopulation

Category: Social Issues
Topic: Population , Population Growth , World Population

Pages: 3 (1497 words)

Downloads: -->

Introduction

Causes of overpopulation, effects of overpopulation, 1. loss of freshwater, species extinction and habitat loss, lower life expectancy in the developing nations, depletion of natural resources, increased global warming and climate change.

--> ⚠️ Remember: This essay was written and uploaded by an--> click here.

Found a great essay sample but want a unique one?

are ready to help you with your essay

You won’t be charged yet!

Affirmative Action Essays

Malcolm X Essays

Privacy Essays

Censorship Essays

Daca Essays

Related Essays

We are glad that you like it, but you cannot copy from our website. Just insert your email and this sample will be sent to you.

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Your essay sample has been sent.

In fact, there is a way to get an original essay! Turn to our writers and order a plagiarism-free paper.

samplius.com uses cookies to offer you the best service possible.By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .--> -->

Please enter Email ID

Mobile Band 9 trainer -->

Please enter phone number

Application

Please select any one

Already Registered?

Select a date

Please select a date

Select a time (IST Time Zone)

Please select a time

Mark Your Calendar: Free Session with Expert on

Which exam are you preparing?

Great Going!

Current Students

The legacy of eugenics

Professor Osagie K. Obasogie launches landmark series with L.A. Review of Books

By Sheila Kaplan
11 min. read ▪ Published June 20
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Facebook
Share on X (Twitter)

These days, it’s a rare scientist who would admit to working in eugenics.

The word conjures historical horrors: mass sterilization of people judged unfit to reproduce, state anti-miscegenation laws, and Germany’s justification for the Holocaust.

Osagie Obasogie, Professor of Law and Professor of Bioethics at UC Berkeley

But to Osagie K. Obasogie , a professor of law and bioethics at UC Berkeley, the discredited theory that selective breeding can—and should—be used to improve the human race lives on in hidden but insidious ways. And he wants to bring those ideas in science and medicine out of hiding, in a national conversation that will prevent the repetition of the past.

“Few people today will call themselves eugenicists,” said Obasogie, Haas Distinguished Chair and professor of law; who also holds a joint appointment at the School of Public Health and the UC Berkeley/UCSF Joint Medical Program . “However, it’s not uncommon for mainstream scientists to embrace some of the ideas, ideologies and practices that would be imminently familiar to a eugenicist of the past.”

Reproductive technologies that purport to help parents select embryos with particular traits concerning, for example, hair or eye color, or create children who might excel at music or sports, might align with eugenic thinking in ways that people might not immediately realize, Obasogie says. He believes that such technology must be scrutinized from both a scientific and ethical perspective to avoid the terrible racism and classism that defined eugenics from its founding.

“This idea has been around for a very long time,” he said. “It’s been incredibly harmful and we have to maintain our historical commitment to resisting this way of thinking.”

Toward that end, Obasogie has teamed up with the Los Angeles Review of Books (LARB) to launch a two-year project called Legacies of Eugenics . It’s a national conversation on the history of eugenics and the ways it still shapes various aspects of science, medicine, and technology.

Experts from fields across the humanities, medicine, health and social sciences, and other disciplines will contribute a variety of eugenics-related essays to the series, which is supported by the Center for Genetics and Society , the Othering & Belonging Institute , and Nova Institute for Health , along with UC Berkeley School of Public Health . Articles in discussion will explore the entanglement of eugenics in statistics; the role of eugenics in the founding of Stanford University; and researchers’ quest for genes that are associated with high intelligence, among other topics.

Eugenics in California

In Obasogie’s introductory essay , published in April, he makes the case that eugenics thinking did not end in the last century, as many people believe.

“Eugenics stood for the idea that a person’s abilities and social position were innate traits determined by their biological and genetic makeup, and the same traits would be passed on to their children,” he wrote. “Everything from intelligence to poverty to criminality to general morality was thought to be inherited.

“In the late 19th century, when race science was all the rage, eugenics extended the conversation on scientific racism by providing not only a seemingly objective way to understand the achievements of wealthy whites across generations but also an explanation for why poor or disabled people and racial minorities seemed stuck, unable to break what appeared to be inescapable cycles of destitution. In short, biology was thought to be destiny.”

Social determinants like racism, classism, and environmental influences were not in the picture.

“State and institutional commitments to eugenics extended far beyond the end of World War II,” Obasogie wrote. “For example, California continued to sterilize some disabled and institutionalized people until 1979. And as recently as 2013, incarcerated women were routinely sterilized in California state prisons. Latin American women who gave birth at the Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center in the 1970s were coerced into sterilization , where victims recalled being ‘bullied by doctors and nurses who declared their children burdens on California taxpayers’

“There was even a so-called Nobel Prize sperm bank in Escondido, created by millionaire Robert Klark Graham in 1979. He hoped to create scores of purported superbabies. Graham convinced four Nobel laureates to contribute their sperm, including Stanford University professor William Shockley—inventor of the transistor—who was also an open racist and eugenicist in his own right. Shockley once said during a televised debate that his ‘research leads [him] inescapably to the opinion that the major cause of the American Negro’s intellectual and social deficits is hereditary and racially genetic in origin and thus not remediable to a major degree by practical improvements in the environment.’”

“From this vantage point,” Obasogie concluded, “eugenics is as Californian as palm trees, Hollywood, $2 million teardown houses , and $22 burritos .”

Startups and eugenics

Michele Pridmore-Brown, LARB’s science and technology editor, and a research scholar with UC Berkeley’s Center for Science, Technology, Medicine and Society , said she was immediately interested when Obasogie suggested they collaborate on the project.

“We hadn’t done this sort of thing before; it was totally new,” she said. “I had to do some convincing, but everybody was intrigued by the idea, especially since eugenics is still so relevant.”

Pridmore-Brown, who has herself written on eugenics, said she is wary of researchers seeking genes associated with high IQ, with an eye toward helping parents create smart babies.

“Startups are doing that sort of thing and it’s very dangerous,” she said. “It’s so short-sighted and blind. You might find particular genes associated with high IQ, and those same genes might also be associated with other traits— like, say, anxiety, allergies, and even lack of empathy—that may not be so good. Unfortunately the people in the business of doing this want to replicate themselves and their type of intelligence. It’s problematic.”

A eugenics fund at UC Berkeley

Obasogie’s focus on eugenics began in November, 2018, when an email that listed funding opportunities available at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health landed in his inbox. Among them was something Obasogie had never seen before: a call for research to be funded by the Genealogical Eugenics Institute Fund.

“I was stunned,” he recalled. “At first, this seemed like another benign funding email and then I read it and thought, ‘Wait a minute. Where did this fund come from? What is it?’ And no one really knew.”

Obasogie and other concerned faculty met with school administrators, who quickly suspended the fund. He learned that it came from a private trust which was developed “for the primary purpose of improvement of the human race through research and education in the field of eugenics.”

The fund had a circuitous path to the school. Established in 1960 as a private trust, it was later transferred to the UC Regents, then moved to UC Berkeley, where it ended up at the School of Public Health. The annual $70,000 payout had been used to fund student and faculty research unrelated to eugenics.

After a public apology , the school renamed the fund, and started using the money for projects to raise awareness about racism, disability discrimination and other forms of social bias in science and beyond—including Legacies of Eugenics .

Alexandra Minna Stern, UCLA’s dean of humanities, and a previous collaborator with Obasogie, has long studied sterilization and social justice. Stern, a professor with an appointment at UCLA’s Institute for Society and Genetics, also studies ecofascism: the distorted idea that environmental concerns such as climate change are caused by overpopulation, which far right advocates want to remedy by restricting immigration and limiting reproduction among minority groups.

The far right, she said, “is worried about the demographic composition of the country,” Stern said. “Who should have babies, and be let into the country with immigration policies.

“Ecofascism equates whiteness with purity and strength. I am working on an essay that addresses the new packaging of ecofascism in context of the emergency of the rise of the far right and how it perpetuates eugenic ideas.”

Another contributor, Jessica Riskin, the Frances and Charles Field Professor of History at Stanford, who studies evolutionary biology, is planning to write about the way in which eugenics is entwined in modern interpretation of Darwinism.

“Science is an element of culture, just like every other human endeavor,” Riskin said. “I think people think of it as if there is bad, corrupt, racist science and then there’s pure science. It just doesn’t work like that. You can’t separate science from culture; racism is built into the deep structure of biology.”

“The job of the series is to excavate the racism in the structure of science and reveal it, to think about it out in the open.”

Obasogie hopes this public conversation will spur more critical thinking about the increasingly popular mindset about engineering perfect babies.

“The idea that the traits society values or abhors are somehow all encoded at a genetic level that determines people’s behaviors and abilities is a bit of a stretch,” he said. “I think we need a deeper appreciation of the role that socialization and social groups play in helping people become the individuals that they are, and not necessarily reduce the attributes, good or bad, to some type of inherent genetic predisposition.”

“Eugenics transcends traditional left/right political divides. For example, just as some people on the far right embrace eugenics as a way to restrict immigration and reproduction among racial minorities, some on the progressive left find engineering perfect babies enticing. Others even go further in thinking that they—the smart and beautiful members of the elite—have a responsibility to have as many children as possible to repopulate the earth with their genes, or at least to not let those who are perceived as less capable out-reproduce those who are thought to be more talented. It’s a troubling mindset, and one that is not novel. We’ve seen this before, and this project is about making connections between certain ways of eugenic thinking when it’s largely believed that eugenics is a thing of the past.”

People of BPH found in this article include:

Osagie Obasogie Professor of Law and Professor of Bioethics, UCB-UCSF Joint Medical Program, Community Health Sciences

More in category “Research Highlights”:

Wildfires increasingly threaten oil and gas drill sites, compounding potential health risks, study says, study: sodium intake associated with severe eczema, study shows pfas threat to drinking water in rural, predominantly latinx communities, lisa barcellos works to uncover biological effects of exposure to wildfire smoke.

Election 2024
Entertainment
Newsletters
Photography
Personal Finance
AP Investigations
AP Buyline Personal Finance
AP Buyline Shopping
Press Releases
Israel-Hamas War
Russia-Ukraine War
Global elections
Asia Pacific
Latin America
Middle East
Election Results
Delegate Tracker
AP & Elections
Auto Racing
2024 Paris Olympic Games
Movie reviews
Book reviews
Financial Markets
Business Highlights
Financial wellness
Artificial Intelligence
Social Media

Orlando Cepeda dies

Judge in Trump classified docs case grants his request for hearing on key evidence in indictment

FILE - Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally, June 22, 2024, at Temple University in Philadelphia. The federal judge presiding over Trump’s classified documents prosecution is hearing arguments Monday, June 24, on whether to bar him from public comments that prosecutors say could endanger the lives of FBI agents working on the case. Special counsel Jack Smith’s team says the restrictions are necessary in light of Trump’s false comments that the FBI agents who searched his Mar-a-Lago estate for classified documents were out to kill him and his family. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File)

Copy Link copied

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal judge presiding over the classified documents case of former President Donald Trump granted his request Thursday for a hearing on whether prosecutors had been permitted to improperly breach attorney-client privilege when they obtained crucial evidence from one of his ex-lawyers.

The order from U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ensures further delays in a criminal case that has already been snarled by significant postponements, resulting in the indefinite cancelation of trial date that had been set for May 20 in Fort Pierce, Florida. It means that Cannon will revisit a different judge’s order from last year that permitted prosecutors to get testimony and other evidence from a Trump attorney that wound up being repeatedly cited in the indictment of the former president.

Trump faces dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate and obstructing the FBI’s efforts to recover them. He has pleaded not guilty.

Defense lawyers are ordinarily shielded from being forced to testify about their confidential conversations with their client but can be compelled to do so if prosecutors can show that their legal services were used in furtherance of a crime — a doctrine known as the crime-fraud exception.

The then-chief federal judge in the District of Columbia, Beryl Howell, agreed last year with special counsel Jack Smith’s team that the exception applied and ordered grand jury testimony from a Trump attorney, M. Evan Corcoran, who represented the former president when the FBI on Aug. 8, 2022, searched Mar-a-Lago for classified documents and seized boxes of classified records.

She also directed Corcoran to turn over audio recordings he made that documented his impressions of conversations he had had with Trump about returning the documents. Those conversations form the basis of key portions of the indictment, including one quote in which Trump proposed not cooperating with the FBI and Justice Department as they sought the return of classified documents that he took with him to Mar-a-Lago after he left the White House.

“Wouldn’t it be better if we just told them we don’t have anything here?” Corcoran quoted him as saying.

AP AUDIO: Judge in Trump classified docs case grants his request for hearing on key evidence in indictment

AP correspondent Jackie Quinn reports on a ruling that further delays Donald Trump’s classified documents case, and reaction from the attorney general.

In her order Thursday, Cannon said there was “nothing unduly prejudicial or legally erroneous about Defendant Trump’s fact-development request,” even as she sought to deflect the Smith team’s concerns that the hearing could be a “mini-trial.”

“There is a difference between a resource-wasting and delay-producing ‘mini-trial,’ on the one hand, and an evidentiary hearing geared to adjudicating the contested factual and legal issues on a given pre-trial motion to suppress, on the other,” she said.

Cannon said it was “the obligation of this Court to make factual findings afresh on the crime-fraud issue.”

The judge also denied a request for a hearing on a separate Trump team claim that the Justice Department had submitted false or misleading information in an application to search Mar-a-Lago. They argued, for instance, that the application should have noted that a senior FBI official proposed seeking the consent of Trump’s lawyers for a search rather than obtaining a court-authorized search warrant.

But Cannon sided with Smith team in finding that neither that nor any other of the alleged omissions raised by the defense had any bearing on whether or not prosecutors had sufficient probable cause to search the property. She had signaled that position during a hearing earlier this week.

“Even accepting those statements by the high-level FBI official, the Motion offers an insufficient basis to believe that inclusion in the affidavit of that official’s perspective (or of the dissenting views of other FBI agents as referenced generally in his testimony) would have altered the evidentiary calculus in support of probable cause for the alleged offenses,” Cannon wrote.

IMAGES

Overpopulation Essay In English || Effects and Causes of Overpopulation || Smart Syllabus Essay
Overpopulation: Causes, Effects, and Solutions
The Causes and Concerns of Overpopulation Free Essay Example
Overpopulation: Causes, Effects, Future & Solutions Essay
Overpopulation Essay Example
Essay Overpopulation Cause Effects

VIDEO

Teacher reading my essay on overpopulation 💀
Overpopulation Essay #roblox #memes #animation
Overpopulation is a myth
Effects Of population Growth Essay
Essay on Overpopulation
causes of overpopulation

COMMENTS

Overpopulation: Causes, Effects and Consequences Essay
Overpopulation is a highly unfavorable condition characterized by the total number of people on Earth exceeding its carrying capacity. Overpopulation is caused by positive changes in people's welfare: better health care, higher life expectancy, reduced rates of mortality, etc. Technological advances improving the quality of life and ...
Overpopulation Essay in English for Students
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
What is Overpopulation? Causes, Effects, and Solutions
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 ...
Overpopulation Essay: Causes and Solutions
This essay explores the multifaceted aspects of overpopulation, analyzing its causes, effects, and potential solutions through essays of varying lengths. The root of overpopulation can often be traced to factors such as improved healthcare leading to lower mortality rates, high birth rates in certain regions, and migration due to various socio ...
Overpopulation: Causes, Effects, and Solutions Essay
Causes of Overpopulation. Although different scholars point to different factors that influence population growth, the core ones remain the same. These factors include the following: Advances in food production and agriculture; Advances in industry and production; Advances in medicine; and. Poor family planning (Barbier 92).
The Causes, Effects, and Consequences of Overpopulation
This essay has explored the causes, effects, and consequences of overpopulation, as well as potential solutions to alleviate the issue. Given the complex nature of this phenomenon, a comprehensive approach will be required, involving stakeholders from all sectors of society.
Overpopulation: Causes, Effects, Future & Solutions Essay
This essay explores the complex issues of overpopulation, analyzing its root causes and significant effects on the environment and society and outlining workable strategies to lessen its effects. Recognizing and treating overpopulation is essential to building a sustainable future for future generations in a world where human footprints are ...
80 Overpopulation Topics & Essay Examples
In comparison to the population in 2000, the population in 2050 is predicted to rise by 47 percent. The aim of this research is to describe the effects of overpopulation on land, air, and food […] First of all, it is necessary to improve the justice system which is the reason of overpopulation in prisons.
A Brief on 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.
Overpopulation Essay: Effects and Solution for Overpopulation
The following essay will discuss the causes, issues, and situation of overpopulation in India and other developing countries, as well as potential solutions. Causes of Overpopulation Population growth is primarily driven by a lower death rate and an increase in average life expectancy.
IELTS Overpopulation Essay: What problems does this cause in cities?
Many countries of the world are currently experiencing problems caused by rapidly growing populations in urban areas, and both governments and individuals have a duty to find ways to overcome these problems. Overpopulation can lead to overcrowding and poor quality housing in many large cities. Poorly heated or damp housing could cause ...
Overpopulation: Causes, Effects and Solutions
Amazon. $ 1.99. " Overpopulation occurs when a species' population exceeds the carrying capacity of its ecological niche. It can result from an increase in births (fertility rate), a decline in the mortality rate, an increase in immigration, or an unsustainable biome and depletion of resources.
Essay on Overpopulation in 500 Words
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.
Cause And Effect Essay On Overpopulation
1151 Words. 5 Pages. Open Document. Overpopulation, which is the increase of human population on Earth, is one of the most harmful environmental problems going on in today's society. As the rate of deaths has decreased, the rate of births has gone up drastically. As the human population grows more in quantity in little time, there are numerous ...
Overpopulation, Its Causes and Effects
Get original essay. Overpopulation is a bothersome condition where the quantity of existing human populace surpasses the conveying limit of Earth. Overpopulation is brought about by a number of elements. Decreased death rate, better medical offices, and exhaustion of valuable resources are many of the causes which results in overpopulation.
Overpopulation in World: Causes, Effects, and Solutions
The cause of overpopulation in the world is many and they differ from place to place. At one place migration might causing it, at another place it might have been caused due to poverty. Whatever the cause may be, we must take necessary steps to reduce overpopulation. Essay on Effects of Overpopulation in World (400 words) - Essay 3. Introduction
The Problem of Overpopulation
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. Get a custom Essay on The Problem of Overpopulation. The United Nations (UN) forecasts that the world's population is expected to increase by 2 billion in 30 years.
The Overpopulation as a Global Crisis
The symbiotic relationship between overpopulation and disease susceptibility is evident: impoverished living conditions engender malnutrition, thereby compromising individuals' immune systems and predisposing them to infectious illnesses. This cascading effect mirrors a domino-like progression, wherein overpopulation begets illness and mortality.
Human Overpopulation: Causes and Effects in Developing Countries
Hanan Maryil. This research paper outlines the causes and effects of human overpopulation, focusing in developing countries. The primary cause of this problems includes low mortality rates coupled with high birth rates. The exponential influx in human overpopulation has had negative effects on both the economic stability and environment of the ...
Causes And Effects Of Global Overpopulation
Causes of Overpopulation In the 4.6 billion years of earth's existence, modern humans (homo-sapiens) have only roamed the earth for about 200,000 years, specifically the continent of Africa. After 100,000 years or so they ventured out of the continent, becoming the first explorers.
IELTS Essay, topic: Overpopulation
IELTS Essays - Band 6. The world is experiencing a dramatic increase in population, which is causing problems not only for poor, undeveloped countries, but also for industrialized and developed nations. Describe some of the problems that overpopulation causes, and suggest at least one possible solution. You should write at least 250 words.
Overpopulation in Many Major Urban Centres Around the World is a Major
Below you will find a sample essay for the IELTS Essay type: Cause and Solution Essay. By studying this Essay, you can prepare for the IELTS Essay Writing task. This sample essay is written on the topic of Overpopulation. Overpopulation in many major urban centres around the world is a major problem. What are the causes of this?
Overpopulation Essay In English || Effects and Causes of Overpopulation
Hello friends, in today's video I am going to write an essay on the effects and causes of overpopulation on a nation. I hope you will find my video helpful. ...
The legacy of eugenics
In Obasogie's introductory essay, published in April, he makes the case that eugenics thinking did not end in the last century, as many people believe. "Eugenics stood for the idea that a person's abilities and social position were innate traits determined by their biological and genetic makeup, and the same traits would be passed on to ...
Judge in Trump classified docs case grants his request for hearing on
WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal judge presiding over the classified documents case of former President Donald Trump granted his request Thursday for a hearing on whether prosecutors had been permitted to improperly breach attorney-client privilege when they obtained crucial evidence from one of his ex-lawyers.. The order from U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ensures further delays in a ...

Overpopulation Essay

Ill-Effects of Overpopulation

Solutions of Overpopulation

Conclusion of Overpopulation Essay

FAQ of Overpopulation Essay

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Download the App

Overpopulation: Cause and Effect

Download our free whitepaper

Falling Mortality Rate

Underutilized Contraception

Lack of Female Education

The Effects of Overpopulation

Ecological Degradation

Increased Conflicts

Higher Risk of Disasters and Pandemics

Discover the real causes and effects of overpopulation

CELEBRATING EARTH DAY WITH CONVERSATIONS ON OVERPOPULATION

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

Women’s Rights

More Readings

How Is Population Growth Responsible for the Growing Problem of Water Scarcity

Overpopulation Essay: Causes and Solutions

Table of contents

Cite this paper

Related articles

Most popular essays

Join our 150k of happy users

Essay on Overpopulation

Introduction to Overpopulation

Causes of Overpopulation

Effects of Overpopulation

A. Environmental Impact

B. Social and Economic Ramifications

C. Impact on Healthcare Systems

D. Educational Challenges

Regional Disparities

1. Population Density in Different Regions

2. Impacts on Developed and Developing Nations

3. Migration Trends

1. Education and Family Planning

2. Sustainable Development

3. Government Policies

Case Study: China’s One-Child Policy

Implementation

Revisions and Abandonment

Lessons Learned

Current Status

Future Outlook

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

Current world population in January 2023: 8 billion

What is overpopulation?

Why is overpopulation an issue?

What is carrying capacity?

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

Increasing Earth’s carrying capacity

Decreasing population numbers

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

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

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

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

Myth 5 – Population growth is good for the economy

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

What action can each of us take?

References:

IELTS Overpopulation Essay

Organising a Problems & Solutions Essay

Model Essay

IELTS Overpopulation Essay - Sample Answer

More Problems & Solutions Essays:

Competing for Jobs Essay

IELTS Problem Solution Essay Example: Why is immigration problematic?

Band 7+ eBooks

Bargain eBook Deal! 30% Discount

IELTS Modules:

Recent Articles

Skimming and Scanning Tips for IELTS Reading

5 Key Grammar Rules for IELTS

Referencing in IELTS Reading: Comprehending the Text