1. Population

• The world's population is increasing by approximately 80 million people a year
• World population was 1 billion

  1804
• Population growth was steady and low
• It then took just over 100 years for the population to double to 2 billion
• The rate of increase after 1930 was then more rapid and led to a population explosion
• The fastest increase in population happened during the 1980s and 1990s
• Population growth rate


  The average annual change of the population size during a set period of time, usually a year
• The population is still increasing but at a slower rate
• In 1970 the growth rate was 2%
• In 2022 the growth rate is under 1%
• It is predicted by the UN that the population will stabilise at around 11 billion in 2100
• Population increase is not the same as the population growth rate
• Carrying capacity


  The number of people that an area can support
• Overpopulation


  When there are more people in an area than can be supported by its resources and technology
• Underpopulation


  When there are more resources available than the population can use effectively
• Consequences of overpopulation


  • Increased levels of pollution
  • Increased crime rates
  • Increased unemployment or underemployment
  • Increased levels of food and water shortages
  • Increased pressure on services such as hospitals and schools
• Consequences of underpopulation


  • Fewer people pay taxes which can lead to higher taxes
  • Underused resources, which can lead to waste
  • A shortage of workers
  • Lower levels of exports and production which affects the wealth of an area
  • Fewer customers for goods and services
• Optimum population


  When there is a balance between the number of people and the resources/technology available
• The optimum population results in the highest standard of living because there are not so many people or so few resources that the standard of living falls, and there are enough people to develop the resources of the country