Overpopulation

Overpopulation is an undesirable condition where the number of existing human population exceeds the carrying capacity of Earth. The population growth rate of human beings is quite worrying. Towns, streets, and schools have been overcrowded due to rapid population growth. For instance, by 1960 the earth harbored a population of 3 billion people. However, by 2010 the population had doubled. The reasons are crystal clear. Decline in the rate of mortality, increased immigration and birth rates,  and Lack of family planning are evident causes of overpopulation. Overpopulation , then, leads to the effects like, rise in unemployment rate, high cost of living, economic strains and so on.

Causes of Overpopulation 

Better Medical Facilities: Technological advancement was perhaps the biggest reason why the balance has been permanently disturbed. Science was able to produce better means of producing food, which allowed families to feed more mouths. Medical science made many discoveries, thanks to which, they were able to defeat a whole range of diseases. Illnesses that had claimed thousands of lives till now were cured because of the invention of vaccines. Combining the increase in food supply with fewer means of mortality tipped the balance and became the starting point of overpopulation.

Technological Advancement in Fertility Treatment: With latest technological advancement and more discoveries in medical science, it has become possible for couple who are unable to conceive to undergo fertility treatment methods and have their own babies. Today there are effective medicines which can increases the chance of conception and lead to rise in birth rate. Moreover, due to modern techniques pregnancies today are far more safer.

Immigration: Many people prefer to move to developed countries like US, UK, Canada and Australia where best facilities are available in terms of medical, education, security and employment. The end result is that those people settle over there and those places become overcrowded. Difference between the number of people who are leaving the country and the number of people who enter narrows down which leads to more demand for food, clothes, energy and homes. This gives rise to shortage of resources. 

Lack of Family Planning: Most developing nations have large number of people who are illiterate, live below the poverty line and have little or no knowledge about family planning. Getting their children married at an early age increase the chances of producing more kids. Those people are unable to understand the harmful effects of overpopulation and lack of quality education prompts them to avoid family planning measures.

Effects of Overpopulation

Rise in Unemployment: When a country becomes overpopulated, it gives rise to unemployment as there are fewer jobs to support large number of people. Rise in unemployment gives rise to crime as people will steal various items to feed their family and provide them basic amenities of life.

High Cost of Living: As difference between demand and supply continues to expand due to overpopulation, it raises the prices of various commodities including food, shelter and healthcare. This means that people have to pay more to survive and feed their families.

Other Effects: The effects of overpopulation are self-explanatory. When birth rates go up, natural resources get exhausted. This creates unforgiving economic strains at home. Consequently, we deplete fisheries, forests, plant, and animal species. Furthermore, child labor, juvenile crime, and truancy owe attribute to poverty. Children seek other means of survival because their parents cannot adequately provide for them. This scenario produces a corrupted breed of pessimists who see the world as a bully. Parents should not, therefore, relieve themselves of the obligation to raise their dependents in the best way possible.