Overpopulation

Introduction

Although there are many issues concerning the economic development of international community of nations, overpopulation is an important concern for many developing and even developed countries that constitute a major obstacle in the way of achieving economic prosperity. There are several underdeveloped and third world countries that are dangerously becoming overpopulated mainly due to the technological advances in medicines thereby reducing the mortality rate and allowing people to live longer, with less danger of diseases and other conditions responsible for premature death.

There are numerous political, religious, social, and economic reasons behind this overwhelming growth in population in these countries. For example, some countries have a social system and standard that prohibit the use of contraceptives and other measures aimed at controlling birth rate and family planning. This paper aims at discussing the different aspect related to and affects of overpopulation in developing and third world countries, with a greater emphasis on the economic effects. The paper also discusses the growing concerns of overpopulation in United States and the effects of overpopulation on global peace and stability.

Discussion

Prior to 2000 the number of children under five years of age has always exceeded the number of people over sixty. After 2000, the children were already in the minority. In 2007 the increase in the number of rural residents has resulted into reversing the situation. Since 2003, the average woman gives birth to fewer or exactly as many children as for simple replacement of generations. There would also be in the future. No one who lived before the year 1930 has witnessed a doubling of the population on Earth. It is also unlikely that the experience of the person who is born after 2050.

Meanwhile, anyone who has already completed 48 years was able to observe a unique event. During his lifetime there was more than twice the growth of world population - 3 billion in 1960 to 6.65 billion in 2008. The fastest in the history of population growth rate of approximately 2.1% per year, reported in 1965 - 1970. Before the twentieth century, the Earth's population has never grown at such a rapid pace, and it unlikely that the situation will be repeated. Our descendants surely recognize the rapid growth in the years sixties as the most important demographic event in the history of the world, even though those who lived then were not aware of it. Second, the rapid slowdown of humanity, which began in 1970 and reached the current level of 1.1% -1.2% per year, was mainly a consequence of choices made by couples around the world choose to have fewer children than previous generations.

It probably has happened so many times in the past. For example, as a result of major epidemics and wars in the sixteenth century, not only decreased the number of children coming into the world, but also population changes were therefore largely independent of human will. Thirdly, in the last half of the 20th century there has been a significant demographic imbalance between regions with ...