Population Development

Population Development

1. Natural Resources

   • The world has finite natural resources. Throughout history, these resources have been exploited in order to ensure human survival. However, as the world's human population has surpassed 8 billion, we are now in a position where the earth cannot sustain the rate at which these resources are being exploited. This has led to some regions of the world being no longer able to support their populations.
     • Overpopulation occurs when the number of people living in a region is greater than the capacity of the natural resources available to them. Therefore, a region is said to be overpopulated when it has exceeded its carrying capacity. Overpopulation can occur due to different factors, such as - over exploitation of natural resources due to poor mangement or human pressure -rapidly increasing population due to high birth rates and inward migration.
     • Underpopulation occurs when a region does not have enough people to fully exploit its resources. It frequently occurs in developed, highly industrialised countries that experience low birth rates. Due to the low birth rates, these countries now suffer from labour shortages.

2. Society and Culture

   • The role of women in society
     • The status of women within a society directly impacts on population growth. In countries or regions where women do not have equality, birth rates are higher. This occurs due to younger marriage ages and a lack of education. In the developing world, many countries areas are patriarchal societies, meaning that decisions that impact on women's lives are made by men. As a result, women continue to suffer from gender equality including child marriage and forced marriage, gender-based violence and barriers to education and employment.
       • In order to combat high birth and infant mortality rates, charity organisations and relief agencies have introduced programmes aimed at administrating vaccines to prevent childhood diseases. These measures, along with increased knowledge of family planning and childcare hygiene practices, are beginning to lower child mortality rates.
         • There are very few problems in India that cannot be solved with the empowerment of women. Rural India's overpopulation is mainly a result of the societal and cultural constraints on women. An improved participation of Indian women in education is key to gender equity and the overall wellbeing of the family.
           • Traditionally, India has had a patriarchal society in which the status of women has been inferior to that of men. Despite improvements in urban areas, the majority of rural areas maintain this traditional view of women. As a result of this, women have been subjected to social disadvantages, with their societal role largely limited to that of wife and mother. This has increased the rate of population growth in rural areas and added to the issues of poverty and hunger.​ ​
   • The role of religion
     • The world's major religions place family at the centre of society. Therefore, the traditional view of women as mothers is often promoted. As a result, Families are larger in countries where religious influence is strong. As well aspromotin large families, the majority of religions also oppose birth control measures and abortion.
   • The role of Education
     • Education will identify opportunities for Indian women to work outside of the household. This will allow them to create an identity other than mother and wife. As this occurs, birth rates will fall across rural India, in turn easing the issues of poverty and malnutrition that are the leading causes of child mortality in India.​
       • If a family has to choose, it will educate a son ahead of a daughter. Education of a son is seen as an investment, given that a son and his wife will look after his parents in their old age. This has led to the societal view that educating a girl is not a worthwhile investment, because a daughter and her husband will look after the husband's parents, meaning the girl's family of origin will not benefit. Added to this, the family of a daughter is often expected to pay a dowry to her husband's family prior to their marriage. Despite the Indian government's ban on the dowry system in 1961, the tradition has endured in rural India.

3. Income Levels

   • Countries with very low birth rates are among the wealthiest in the world, examples includes Western Europe. In wealthier countries, females are free to work outside of the home.and wait until they are in their thirties to start a family. They are also educated and informed about family planning. The cost of raising children is also a reason for lower birth rates.
   • Regions of the world with the highest birth rates are also the regions with the highest levels of poverty (Example South East Asia). Governments do not provide financial assistance for struggling families. Therefore, children are seen as an economic advantage. Women are married and begin having children when they are young as 15 years old, which means that they have many children during their fertile years

4. Technology

   • Earth's population has reached 8 billion in November 2022. As the population grows, so too does the demand for food, water , fuel and other vital natural resources. Advantages of the population growth are due to the agriculture and medical technological roles.
     • Agricultural Revolution: it began in the 18th century in the developed countries with major improvements in farming practices, such as crossbreeding of animals and crop rotation which had increased food production across the developed world.
     • The green revolution: it began in the 1960s. From this era onwards, scientists began to develop methods to increase food production through altering the genetics of crops.
     • Medical Improvements lead to a long-term decrease in population growth. As health conditions improve, families tend to have fewer children- since more children are likely to survive adulthood. The development of new medications and vaccinations to prevent diseases covid-19, malaria and measles has greatly increased the life expectancy in countries were these medications and vaccines have been implemented.