Optimum Population

The Optimum population for a region or country is a level of (human) population which is ecologically sustainable, that is it is less than the carrying capacity so the amount of resources available can support the country's population needs indefinitely, and which maximizes the overall welfare (happiness, standard of living) of the population. There are different views on the appropriate measure of welfare, and this is an area of political disagreement. Carrying capacity is the number of individuals an environment can support without significant negative impacts to the given organism and its environment. If the population is below its optimum then it can increase with a net social benefit without damaging the natural resources needed for the population, if it is above the optimum then the negative effects of overcrowding (pollution, crime, social dysfunction, etc) and environmental damage reduces welfare or there are too few resources to maintain the population at its current level. To reach optimum population, a country must be able to measure human welfare and environmental impacts and have policies in place to influence the fertility rate and net migration. This implies agreement on welfare and environmental issues, and accurate projections of immigration, age distribution and changes in lifespan among other factors. Reaching optimum population is an important objective in the wider project of creating a sustainable society. The standard of living for an individual or population is determined by the interaction between physical and human resources and can be expressed by:

Achieving Optimum Population Although no country has yet formally adopted an optimum population target, many recognize the problems caused by population growth and overpopulation. Most effort has been focussed on reducing population growth, and there are several policy areas that influence this: Social and Cultural Changing people's views and attitudes on religion to adjust it into a modern fashion, changing social attitudes, such as giving women more rights and thought in starting a large family than following tradition. Economic Increasing career opportunities will have peoples' minds set on education and career prospects, and maintaining their job, such that the immediate impulse to start a family might be delayed. Medical and Scientific Increasing the amount of contraception in LEDC (Less Economically Developed Country) educating adults and children about sexual education, on how to use contraception and the risks involved. Political Improving education to direct people into a career, this will have people concentrate on getting a stable job rather than plan ahead on starting a family.

Example of China Social and Cultural Higher statuses has been given to women, so that they can get better career prospects, and have a say in planning a family, this means they can work on their career rather than plan a family straight away. Also the government has asked couples to marry later, and asked for fewer marriages to take place, so that fewer children will be born. Economic The government is delivering “Glory Certificates” to any couple who have followed the "One Child" law; this gives many benefits such as lower taxes, cash rewards, and better career opportunities. Medical and Scientific Before a couple can marry and have children, they must go through several tests, one including a test to see if they carry and genetic or infectious diseases, to see if a child they would have will carry it on. Political The "One Child" policy is known all around the world, China had enforced this law to reduce its rapidly growing population. Because of this one child policy, families tend to only want a boy to help them in the future, but this is fading out with growing job opportunities for women.

Overpopulation

This can occur when there are too many people in relation to the country’s resources and technological development. This occurs when the total population has gone over the carrying capacity of the country. Examples of countries which are overpopulated include Bangladesh, Brazil and India. Resources will be in short supply and there will be overcrowding and damage to the environment.

 Just because a country is overcrowded, it is not necessarily overpopulated. For example, Holland is a very densely populated country but it has enough resources to support its population.

 In the 1960s China was definitely overpopulated; this is why it introduced its one child policy.

 Some rural communities in parts of Africa are overpopulated. This isn't because such areas are crowded with people but because there simply aren't enough resources to support the number of people living there.

 Remember, MEDCs can be overpopulated as well as LEDCs. Countries which are overpopulated often have insufficient food, minerals and energy resources to sustain their population. They often suffer from natural disasters as droughts and famines and are characterised by low incomes, poverty, poor living conditions and also a high degree of emigration.

Under population

In relation to the resources of an area, under population occurs when there are far more resources in an area than can be used up by the number of people living there. Resources can be items such as food energy and minerals. Underpopulation can also be defined as when a countries population has declined too much to support its current economic system.

Calculating Percent (Straight-Line) Growth Rates

The percent change from one period to another is calculated from the formula:

Where:

PR = Percent Rate VPresent = Present or Future Value VPast = Past or Present Value

The annual percentage growth rate is simply the percent growth divided by N, the number of years.

Example

In 1980, the population in Lane County was 250,000. This grew to 280,000 in 1990. What is the annual percentage growth rate for Lane County?

VPresent = 280,000 VPast = 250,000 N = 10 Years

The population of Lane County grew 12 percent between 1980 and 1990 or at an rate of 1.2 percent annually.