In 1996  there was  a 15 person per thousand  net increase in  global population  (1.5%).   Most of this  increase is in less developed countries (Owen et al. 69).  The doubling time is the time required for a population to double its size.  Based on the 1996 population increase figures,  it would take 45 years (from that year) to double the earth’s population.  If the population rate  continues unchecked,  in the year 2041  we will have twice the number  of people on earth as we did in 1996.  This is an astounding prediction.

To  further complicate  the problem,  medical advances have  helped humans live longer than ever.   We have an abundance of older humans  who  in the past  would have died  at a much earlier age.   Additionally,  these same  medical  advances have helped us eliminate or lessen the effect of diseases which affect humans.  Diseases which once were lethal to millions of people no longer have this type of virility.  Therefore, adding to the increased birth rate of the world is the number of individuals living beyond  what once  was the norm.   That means  the death rate  has significantly  decreased.   The  combination  of increased birth rate and decreased death rate is alarming.

Another factor to consider is that a large percentage of the world’s population currently is very young.   It is believed that  33%  of the population is under the age of 15.    In 1998 there were 1000 million women of child-
bearing age.  This sets the stage for a massive population explosion in the near future (Owen et al. 73-74).

Developed countries  have actually  experienced a  drop in birth rate.   This can be attributed often to the indus- trialization of the nation.  When agriculture is replaced by other technologies in a society, the need to have a large family  (to assist in farm labor)  no longer exists.   By around  2100  the population growth in these countries is expected to level out and become stable with no further growth.

By contrast, the population of developing countries will have doubled in the same time span.  Part of the reason for this is that they lack the highly-trained  people required to move them towards industrialization. Often they do not have the energy reserves that  other countries  have which  would enable them to  develop their  industries.   They also usually  do not have the monetary resources (capital) to promote these endeavors.   These problems are only slowly being addressed,  and the population climbs exponentially in the meantime (Owen et al. 72).

Another  reason for  the soaring birth rate  in many developing  countries is the lack  of birth control.   This is a complicated issue with many underlying factors contributing to the end result.  One problem is that many devel-
oping countries have had large families for  so long that it is  inherent in them to  continue the practice.   It will
take years  of education to change this lifestyle.   Often,  too,  there are the moral  and religious beliefs of the people.   Many people in the  world still believe it is immoral to practice birth control.  Changing these beliefs is
a much more formidable task.  See Cultural Perspectives.  Still others would use the technology if it was available to them and it was affordable (which in many cases means it would have to be free).
 
 

The  earth is  only capable of sustaining a  certain amount of life.   Already  we have  stressed  the planet to a breaking point.   There are outbreaks  of starvation  constantly in less  developed countries  –  so often that, unfortunately, we do not pay as much heed to  them anymore.  As the population  continues to rise,  the supply
of food will continue to dwindle.   We can only produce a fixed  amount of food with  the resources which we have.   The rising number of humans also necessitates further land for  them to use as habitation.   The more land  used for us to live on,   the less there is available for farming.   It is a vicious circle which has no end if the population growth is not curbed.
 
 
 

These are only a few of the negative consequences caused by overpopulation of the planet.  Others are more subtle and are socially oriented  –  such as increased competition for resources between societies  (or even cities within a country).   Already there are debates between countries over water resources.   In the United States alone,  states are competing for the rights to water sources for their inhabitants.  These types of problems will only increase over the years.

To  resolve the  problem  of world  overpopulation,  it will  take a  combined effort  from many  different quarters.  Because the reasons for the population growth are so varied,  it will  require that the solutions be equally varied.  Some of the approaches which need to be  attempted are listed below.  It will take an integrated  effort on the part of both developed countries and those which are  developing to be  successful.   It is the betterment  of conditions for the whole  planet which must be considered rather than the needs of specific countries.