World Population

Population means people living all over the world. World population explosion is a familiar and common thing. It is grossly irresponsible talking about the earth being able to support an ever and alarming increasing population. 

From an estimated 100 millions on 500 BC world population rose to its 1000 millions around 1830. Later it doubled, further 1000 million were added. It has now increased five-fold than the previous number of population.

Population explosion: We need not go into the ways of population in any great detail. Suffice it to say that the two primary causes were the industrial revolution of the 19th century and the rapid economic and industrial development of the present. It is a matter of interest to look at how such a geometric increase in population has come about.

All figures of world population commonly held are theory that population will continue to grow with the increase of food production is now seen at simplistic. The rich countries which grow most food have the least or even zero or negative growth while famine stricken countries continue increase their numbers. The worldwide distribution of the population growth should be major cause of explosion. 

The worldwide rate to economic growth has substantially fallen from the 4% of characteristic of the 3rd quarter of the 20th century.  Of international conferences on population of the last 20th years have repeatedly stressed that millions of people were likely to die of starvation before the end of the century. The explosion of population truly means the extermination of many other living creatures. There appears a close connection between population growth since the mid 17th century and the numbers of species have become extinct. But the rate of annual extinctions in the past 17th century is abnormally high compared with previous centuries.

The Catholics influence: The influence of the Catholic Church in Latin America and Islam in the Muslim countries cannot be disregarded. But perhaps, most significant of all, is some traditional compulsions. Insecurity of parents and high child mortality lead to a choice of large families as insurance for old age. Effective means of birth control, the myth of more children as proof of men fertility and the low status and self esteem of women in poor religion dominated societies lead to bigger or more extended families.

Controlling: We cannot predict what the world population would likely be in future because population protections are extremely difficult. Population and development are inter-dependent. People make or ensure development for people. The world population can be checked only by grappling with the complex economic issues.

There are some countries which are thickly populated. China, India, Bangladesh, Russia are top listed countries in this regard. The legitimate questions to ask is how many people the earth can be support with some assurances of a reasonable standard of living. If population continues to increase at an alarming rate, additional things will be needed to provide them with.