Overpopulation solutions have become a focal point at the intersection of a wide range of interest groups, from human rights to environmental impacts and climate change.
As human population numbers continue to boom globally, concerns are over the impacts of overpopulation on the natural environment, finite and renewable resources, and environmental degradation have escalated to unsustainable levels.
Several strategies are needed for reducing overpopulation, including gender equality, family planning resource access, education, and sustainable development programs.
We can work to achieve a balance between the growth of the human population and the planet’s carrying capacity by providing people with the information and means to make wise decisions about the size of their families, promoting women’s rights and reproductive health, and creating equal opportunities for economic growth.
Furthermore, in order to ensure a sustainable future for future generations, it is essential that expenditures be made on sustainable technologies and practices that reduce resource use and ease the effects on the environment.
In this article, we briefly discuss overpopulation, the numbers, and observable trends, the impacts of overpopulation on the natural environment, and some of the solutions to overpopulation that can mitigate these negative impacts.
Keep reading to discover solutions to overpopulation and find out how you can start making a difference today!
What is Overpopulation?
Overpopulation occurs when there are more people than the planet can sustain and our needs outstrip the carrying capacity of the earth.
In ecology, carrying capacity refers to the number of individuals in a specific region or habitat that can be sustained in that area, without the loss of lives due to insufficient resources like food, water and shelter, and without irreversible degradation of natural resources.
In simple terms, overpopulation leads to a situation where resources are depleted quicker than they can renew themselves naturally, which leads to fewer resources and in turn a limitation on the number of lives that can be sustained.
This can also result from overconsumption, which often goes hand in hand with overpopulation. Overconsumption refers to the use and depletion of resources at a rate that outpaces the ability to replenish those resources. Even smaller populations can consume too much, too quickly, if how they’re using resources is unsustainable.
Overpopulation: The Numbers
In 2023 there are over 8 billion people alive on earth. Experts expect that if something doesn’t change, we could see 9.7 billion people by 2050 and 11 billion by 2100.
It took over 2 million years for the global population to reach 1 billion in the year 1800. That number doubled in 130 years to 2 billion in 1930. It took just 44 years for that number to double again, to 4 billion in 1974. As of 2020, the number has almost doubled again to 7.8 billion in just 46 years!
Have a look at the video below, by Data is Beautiful on YouTube, for a nice visual representation of how the numbers change over time:
What Causes Overpopulation?
Overpopulation is the result of too many births and too few deaths, low emigration and high immigration in a specific area. Globally, overpopulation is caused by rapid population growth due to advances in medicine and technology leading to fewer mortalities and longer lifespan, poverty, lack of education, and restricted access to birth control and family planning.
However, how this came about is more complex:
There are many, interrelated, factors that lead to overpopulation but there are two major factors that play a crucial role in the scale and rapid rate of our population growth:
Advances in medicine have led to fewer deaths from diseases, especially diseases that once took large numbers of lives in short periods, like smallpox and polio.
The result is fewer people dying but also longer life expectancy, which means that as new generations are born, preceding generations are still present and the overall population size increases faster.
Advances in technology, especially in agriculture, have led to our ability to feed population numbers that were thought to be impossible as recently as the 1960s. In 1968, American biologist Paul Ehrlich wrote ‘The Population Bomb’, in which he stated that “in the 1970s hundreds of millions of people will starve to death…”.
His theory was that population growth would outstrip our ability to feed the population and everyone would starve to death.
However, in the late 1960s the ‘Green Revolution’ took food production to levels never seen before and the global population continued to grow.
The video below, by BBC Earth Lab on YouTube, gives a brief overview of the population boom and how we got where we are today:
Better natal practices have served to mitigate one of the biggest, and saddest reasons why population growth rates were lower in the past, namely that child and infant mortality rates were much higher.
Even though birth rates were higher between the 17th and 21st centuries, averaging around 6 children per woman, the struggle for survival meant that many children did not grow old enough to have children themselves.
Within the last century, global child mortality rates have decreased from around 25% to just 2.9%. The steepest decline has been within the last 50 years.
Advances in natal healthcare and surgical safety mean that though people in developed countries are having fewer children, more of those children are growing up to live full lives and start families of their own.
Lack of education in developing countries has resulted in a poor understanding of family planning and the continuation of traditional beliefs like the perception that many offspring are a sign of wealth.
In many African countries, children are viewed as potential workers who can contribute to the family’s needs, incentivizing larger family units.
Effects of Overpopulation on the Environment
Overpopulation and overconsumption are closely linked to negative environmental outcomes.
There is now no part of the earth that is not affected in some negative way by human activities. This is magnified by the ever-growing demands our ever-growing population places on the planet.
Increased human population sizes and increased demand for natural resources have led to severe negative impacts.
The video below, by The Knowledge Exchange and Sir David Attenborough on YouTube, briefly covers the impacts of human activity on the natural environment, as amplified by overpopulation:
While over 70% of the earth’s surface is covered with water, only around 1% of that is fresh and accessible. Increases in immigration to developed countries place massive pressure on freshwater supplies in countries like the USA, UK, and Australia.
Increasing populations in developed countries increase the need for intensive farming practices, which damage ecosystems, and increase agricultural pollution.
Agricultural pollution has been responsible for some of the biggest environmental declines on the planet, resulting in the permanent loss of biodiversity.
Increased demand for consumer goods and transportation results in heavier mining for fuel resources, and damaging practices like fracking which pollute groundwater, release greenhouse gases, and can cause earthquakes.
These changes have a ‘domino effect’ on ecosystems around the world and interrupt or destroy environmental cycles that are crucial for sustaining life on earth.
The 20th century saw a marked increase in the effects of natural disasters stemming from events like El Nino. Fires, flooding, and erosion devastate ecosystems and necessitate higher immigration to safer areas.
Effects of overpopulation on the environment:
- Habitat loss and deforestation
- Loss of biodiversity and mass species extinction
- Land, water and air pollution
- Soil degradation and desertification
- Depletion of finite resources
- Use of renewable resources at unsustainable rates
- Climate change due to excessive greenhouse gas emissions
- Oceanic acidification
6 Overpopulation Solutions for Individuals
Overpopulation has no simple (or at least simple and ethical) solution. There are differing theories about how to tackle the problem and different approaches or viewpoints.
Some see population as a problem that is gradually solving itself due to demographic transition, where populations tend to have fewer children as their economic and educational circumstances improve, and advances in education and female economic empowerment that allow women to choose if and when they will have children.
Others feel that the solution to overpopulation lies in more proactive measures like economic incentives to have fewer children or regulating the number of children allowed per family. These kinds of measures quickly lead to social and ethical considerations that are difficult to solve.
Mitigating the impacts of overpopulation is perhaps a simpler route to take for individuals who are not responsible for things like government policies. On an individual level, there is much we can do to support a decrease in birth rates and a shift away from overconsumption.
These are 6 overpopulation solutions and things you can do, today, to support the earth as it tries to sustain our ever-growing numbers:
#1: Support Education for Women and Girls
Numerous studies (such as this one by Harvard Health Review) have shown that there is a direct and significant link between improved education for women and girls and a lower reproduction rate.
The Harvard study cited above states that “case studies of improved secondary education for females offer hope for the future. A 1998 study of Niger discovered a 31% decrease in fertility rate among women who had completed secondary school. A comparable 1997 study in Yemen found a 33% decrease”.
These findings have been echoed over and over again.
Supporting the education of women to at least secondary school level is a definitive impact on reducing birth rates. It also improves the spacing between children and improves the health and quality of life for those children.
This has a knock-on effect, where the children of better-educated mothers are also more likely to be educated themselves.
#2: Support Initiatives that Provide Education and Access to Family Planning
Accurate, factual and unbiased education for children, adolescents and adults about reproduction, sexual health and consent are essential to reduce the number of unintentional births that occur each year. Approximately 40% of pregnancies are unintended, which translates to around 85 million unintended pregnancies per year.
Easy, affordable, and reliable access to contraceptives and birth control is a major factor in preventing unplanned births and is one of the stronger overpopulation solutions.
Improved education improves the use and efficacy of these but they must be available and accessible.
In poorer countries, access is lacking and leads to millions of unplanned births every year.
The impact of planned families can also be reduced by using eco-friendly baby products, like biodegradable nappies and non-synthetic wet wipes. Small changes can have a big impact on your impact!
#3: Invest in and Support Responsible and Innovative Agriculture
Agriculture is responsible for 80% of global deforestation, biodiversity loss, habitat loss, soil and water pollution, and even desertification.
From poorly managed small farms, overgrazing and logging to huge commercial farms that exploit local water supplies and encroach on natural habitats, the environmental impact of agriculture are huge.
Responsible farming techniques, education and pressure from consumers can go a long way to improving this. However, if we want to keep producing enough food for a booming population, we need to start thinking differently about food production.
Check out this incredible video by Freethink on YouTube about how the Netherlands produce food:
Just as the advances in technology and food production got us to 7 billion without starvation, we need it to get us to 11 billion without causing ecological collapse.
Vertical farming, in urban areas, to feed local populations also uses controlled growing conditions, indoors, to grow food as efficiently and rapidly as possible.
Their reduced physical footprint means that more food can be produced using less land, which negates things like habitat loss and deforestation for agriculture.
#4: Consume Less, Consume Better and Choose Sustainable Sources
Overconsumption is a major driving force behind the depletion of natural resources at unsustainable rates. Wealthy countries like the US consume more per capita than underdeveloped countries that have higher population numbers. Overpopulation solutions must go hand-in-hand with overconsumption solutions to be effective at all.
This video, by DW Planet A on YouTube, shares an interesting perspective on consumption and overconsumption:
Choose to consume less. Responsible and thoughtful consumption can drastically improve the ecological footprint of every individual and every industry.
From energy, fuel and transportation choices to the kinds of food you buy, and the clothes you wear. Choosing zero-waste toiletries, like shampoo and conditioner bars, natural soaps, and zero-waste toothpaste, plastic-free deodorant and switching to more sustainable cleaning products, like eco-friendly laundry detergent and zero-waste dish soap, is also a good way to lower your environmental impact. There are always better options available.
Research your products and the companies that supply them and then support the ones that put the environment first. Look for companies that use renewable resources, that farm or manufacture sustainably and that use ethical labor practices.
#5: Choose Renewable Energy Resources
One of the biggest sources of environmental degradation and pollution is energy production from fossil fuels. Overpopulation solutions are lacking and incomplete if they do not include changes to energy production.
Coal and oil are finite resources and their overexploitation is not sustainable. In addition, the process of using them for power and fuel generates massive water pollution, land degradation and air pollution.
Choosing to buy and support renewable energy resources like solar and wind power makes reduces the footprint of your energy consumption. It also supports the shift away from fossil fuels at a larger scale when governments and industries see the buy-in of consumers.
Supplement your power needs using solar or wind power. Choose to support the businesses that do the same. Support the renewable energy wherever you can – be it by voting on policies, investing in the industry, or simply choosing to use it when it becomes available in your area.
#6: Actively Participate in Reducing Waste and Pollution
Zero-waste is a trend that has proved it is here to stay. But you don’t have to go full zero to make an impact! Any measures you take to prevent waste from going to landfill or polluting natural environments makes a difference.
Small changes that add up:
- Choose biodegradable materials
- Refuse plastics where you can
- Choose refillable zero-waste products, like toothpaste tablets and mouthwash tablets.
- Recycle the plastics you can’t refuse
- Use products that do not come in plastic packaging, like zero-waste soaps and shampoo bars
- Choose items made from recycled materials
- Make compost at home
- Choose eco-friendly alternatives, like bamboo toothbrushes and wooden soap holders, over plastic ones
- Sell or swap things you don’t need
- Choose brands that support sustainability
Conclusion
In conclusion, overpopulation and overconsumption are of great concern for the natural environment and human life.
They’re associated with biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, pollution, unsustainable rates of consumption for renewable resources and rapid depletion of finite resources.
They’re directly related to climate change and global warming.
Scientists have long been warning us of an impending ecological collapse that could end life as we know if for humans and the planet itself.
Overpopulation solutions are complex and multifaceted but there are solutions and at an individual level, there is a lot we can do to mitigate the environmental impact of our existence and continued population growth.
The choices we make day-to-day and the causes, initiatives, and industries that choose to support all make a difference in how we consume resources and how the consumption of those resources impacts the planet.
References and Further Reading
Active Sustainability: Causes and Consequences of Overpopulation
Euro Scientist: What Causes Population?
Everything Connects: Effects of Human Overpopulation
Slate: About That Overpopulation Problem
The Balance: The Environmental Impacts of Overpopulation
Vox: We’ve worried about overpopulation for centuries. And we’ve always been wrong.
Wikipedia: Human Overpopulation
World Bank Blogs: Female Education and Childbearing: A Closer Look at the Data
Frequently Asked Questions
What is overpopulation?
Overpopulation occurs when the number of people on earth surpass the earth's carrying capacity. Too many people, consuming too much in terms of natural resources. Read the full guide for more detail on what overpopulation is.
How many people are on earth now?
There are currently around 7.8 billion people on the earth. Read the full article to find out more about the past and future numbers of people on earth.
Does overpopulation cause climate change?
This is a complicated question to answer but human activity is a leading cause of climate change and the more humans there are on earth, the greater our impact on the earth. Read the full article to learn more about how population and climate change are connected.
