Read this essay to learn about the population explosion: causes and consequences!
The rapid and dramatic rise in population of an area is termed as population explosion. As per statistical data, the world’s population has increased by 2.4 times from 1959 to 2000. The population of the world will be around 10.9 billion during 2050 (UN projection).
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The combination of factors like high birth rate and low death rate is responsible for population explosion. The lowering of death rate (mortality) is attributed to improved medical care, proper sanitation and appropriate nutrition.
The population explosion is mainly seen in many countries of Asia, South America and Africa. Thus, population explosion in an area may be defined as the condition of having more people than can live in a particulars area in comfort, happiness and good health. According to Malthus (1978) the human population would outgrow the capacity of land to produce food.
For a stable population, the natality (birth rate) and mortality (death rate) should be the same. But with the development of science, the equilibrium in between natality and mortality has been disturbed.
Causes of Population Explosion
The main causes of population explosion may be outlined as given below:
(i) Improved Medicare:
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With the development of medical science man is capable of eliminating epidemics like cholera measles, flue, chicken pox, small pox etc. the diseases like cancer, ulcer, appendicitis etc. can be cured with suitable surgery.
(ii) Proper sanitation:
The present society is provided with improved public health system. That is, the steps have been taker to provide pure drinking water, proper drainage system, and latrin to avoid open defecation.
(iii) Adequate food supply:
With the development in agricultural technology and efficient transport system, all parts of the world are getting adequate food for their maintenance.
(iv) Illiteracy:
In some parts of the world, illiteracy is one to the causes of population explosion.
(v) Improved living standard:
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Rapid population explosion has been correlated with poverty and high childhood mortality rate. With improved living standard, the fertility rate has become higher resulting in population explosion. High fertility which has been traditionally associated with prosperity, prestige and security for the future, now jeopardizes chances for many to achieve health and security.
Consequences of Population Explosion
Some important consequences of population explosion are as follows:
(i) Stress on natural resources:
In order to supply food, water, clothing’s etc. to the increased population, the natural resources like forest, minerals, water, land, wildlife etc. are under high stress. The stress on the above resources causes serious environmental problems for the present and future generation.
(ii) Stress on civic amenities:
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To maintain the increased population, there exists serious stress on civic amenities like water and electricity, supply, transport system, health services-etc.
(iii) Industrialization and urbanization:
In order to provide the basic needs of increased population, there is extensive industrialization and urbanization which release a lot of pollutants to the environment.
(iv) Reduced fertility of the soil:
The fertility of the soil has been reduced due to over cultivation for generating higher amount of food resources.
(v) Scarcity of non-renewable resources:
Due to overexploitation of non-renewable resources, the amount is gradually declining.
(vi) Waste accumulation:
As the population increases, a lot of waste is accumulated causing serious environmental hazards.
(vii) Lowering of agricultural lands (Farm lands):
To pro- vide shelter to the increased population the agricultural lands are used for the construction of houses.