Back to: Population Education B.ed Notes, M.A Notes, IGNOU Notes and Graduation Notes

Population growth definition

The rise in the number of people on Earth is referred to as population growth. The majority of human history has had a relatively steady population size. However, electricity, nutrition, drink, and hospital attention became more accessible and dependable as a result of invention and industrialisation. As a result, the human population has swiftly expanded and is still growing, having a significant influence on the planet’s ecosystems and environment. Technical and societal innovation will be necessary to support the world’s population while adapting to and minimizing climate and environmental challenges.

Consequences of population growth

affecting the number of environmental resources being extracted. These resources include minerals, plants, water, and animals, particularly in the oceans, as well as fossil fuels (oil, gas, and coal). In turn, the removal of resources frequently results in the discharge of trash and toxins that degrade the quality of the air and water and endanger the health of both humans and other animals.

Increased use of fossil fuels to make electricity, drive industrial operations, and motor transportation (such as cars and planes).
An increase in the use of fresh water for industrial activities, agriculture, recreation, and drinking. Through lakes, rivers, the earth, and artificial reservoirs, freshwater is drawn.
increasing environmental effects on ecology. To build urban areas, including homes, shops, and highways to support expanding populations, woodlands and other ecosystems are uprooted or eliminated. In addition, when people rise, more land is put to use for farming, including raising crops and caring for animals. This in turn has the potential to reduce species numbers, geographic boundaries, and biodiversity, and change how organisms interact with one another.

Hunting and poaching are being increased, which is reducing the numbers of the targeted species. If additional resources are made available for the species that remain in the environment, fishing and hunting may also indirectly boost the populations of species that are not harvested or slaughtered.
increasing the planned or unintentional import and export of supplies, which increases the spread of invasive species. Invasive species frequently flourish in disturbed habitats where urbanization has occurred and outcompete native species. For instance, several invasive plant species abound in the areas of land near highways and roadways.
the spread of illnesses. Diseases may spread quickly across and among communities when people live in heavily populated places. Furthermore, infections can spread fast to other areas due to simpler and more frequent mobility.

What are the effects of rapid population growth

lack of enough food for everyone.
A rise in inequality and underemployment.
A lack of enough food for everyone.

A rise in impoverishment.
An uptick in pollution
A lack of useful space.

Deforestation brought on by an increase in construction.
Devastation of the natural world’s vegetation, animals, and resources.

Rapid population expansion has a variety of effects on UDCs in respect to the global economy. First, because developed countries’ per capita incomes drop as populations expand in the latter, fast population expansion tends to widen the income gap between UDCs and those of developed nations.

Secondly, a rapidly expanding population stimulates migration abroad. However, these are primarily applicable to Middle Eastern nations where there is a shortage of both skilled and unskilled labor. However, affluent nations have put curbs on immigration since low-wage foreign labor depresses salaries for domestic employees and stirs up social and political unrest.

Although they can help cover the costs of such employees’ schooling, they seem to be unable to tax their income. When compared to the two sorts of losses mentioned above, the revenue they send is little. The greatest minds are frequently permitted to live continuously in the nation where they are employed, which causes a complete loss to the native country.

The domestic consumption of even internationally traded products rises with fast population expansion. As a result, the exportable surplus is decreasing. On the other hand, more food and other basic commodities are needed to fulfill the needs of the fast growing population.

It causes a rise in the imports of these products as well as capital goods required for the growth. The nation’s budget deficit position deteriorates as a result of decreased exports and increased imports. This might require the government to limit the acquisition of capital goods, which would have a negative impact on the nation’s economic growth.