Overpopulation and Underpopulation

What is Overpopulation?

• Population exceeds the ability in its resources to support the needs of that population, thus resulting in lower quality of life.

• There aren’t enough people in a country to exploit the resources they have in a country to help the country make more money.

When resources cannot support the needs of the population, there will be...

• Shortage of food and water, poor housing, poor education and schools, inadequate jobs and infrastructure.

• Shortage of foods but adequate houses for people to live in.

• Poverty and adequate infrastructure

• Poor education, poor housing and good wealth.

An example of overpopulated country in LICs

• USA

• China

• Italy

• Australia

Name the population policy China has adopted to reduce its population growth rate.

• One child policy

• Three or more policy

Explain the consequences if the country is overpopulated. (Hint: you can tick more than one answer)

• Shortage of food. People in overpopulated country suffer from poor health and malnourished so this reduces food productions as less number of people works in primary sector.

• Inadequate infrastructures. The governments are not able to provide good infrastructures and services such as school, hospitals, clinics.

• Shortage of houses. They live in squatter settlements. They cannot afford to own a good house so they build their own houses from scrap materials like metal sheets and woods which lack of services such as sanitation, water and electricity.

• Bad traffic congestion. People own vehicles and commute to work daily. Traffic congestion especially during working hours cause people to be late and not punctual to work/school. Overuse of vehicles, increases air and water pollutions. Increase smokes release to air from carbon dioxide released from factories and car exhaust fumes.

• Increase crime rates. People are jobless, end up to do crimes eg robbery and theft to support themselves.

Which one is the correct answer for the solution to the problem of overpopulation.

• More traffic congestions as people use cars to commute to works.

• Increase in crimes as unemployment increase.

• People live in Shanty towns or squatter settlements.

• Increase food production to reduce food shortage problems by introducing better seeds which crops can grow fast, apply good quality fertilizers, practise aquaculture.

What is the meaning of underpopulation?

• There are few people to support the current economic activities of the areas.

• Too many people and not enough resources.

• Number of people living in a unit area of land.

• One child policy, China

Which are the problems of underpopulation? [Hint: you can tick more than one answer]

• Shortage of workers

• Dependency on imported goods

• Shortage of people in armed forces

• Shortage of foods and water supply