The Population of the Planet
The planet’s population is constantly increasing, which is facilitated by more favorable living conditions than centuries ago. According to publicly available data, at present, the figure is approaching 7.95 billion (Current World Population). The peak of growth occurred at the beginning of the 19th century, and based on forecasts, by 2100, the world population will be approximately 10 billion (Current World Population). This rapid growth is a significant challenge from both a socio-economic and environmental perspective.
The US Population
Along with the population of the entire planet, the number of US residents is constantly increasing. In 2022, the official figure was about 335 million, which is approximately 50 million more than 20 years ago (United States Population). In 20 years, the indicator may rise by another 30 million (United States Population). The figure is not stable and is constantly increasing, which creates difficulties for effective control over citizens’ standard of living.
Consequences of Population Growth
The problem of overpopulation is acute and entails social, economic, political, environmental, and other difficulties. Vandali and Desai draw attention to the causes of world population growth and mention poverty, early marriage, the lack of education, and some other factors (14). As evidence, the authors cite data from several countries where population growth is expected to be tens of percent over the next few decades (Vandali and Desai 15). This irreversible increase is a severe threat to both the environment and the people themselves.
The consequences of the continuous increase in the number of people on Earth relate to various areas of life. As Vandali and Desai argue, unemployment growth, poverty, pollution, challenging access to healthcare services, increased crime rates, higher epidemic risks, and many other negative effects are expected (16). This is particularly true for the regions where the standard of living of the population leaves much to be desired, for instance, in some African and Asian countries.
As the initiatives to address the problem, proposals to strengthen different areas of life are made. Vandali and Desai argue that there is a need for governments worldwide to take more active steps to coordinate resources (17). Creating better educational conditions, implementing tough legislative norms regarding childbearing rates, providing sustainable access to medical services, engaging non-governmental organizations, and many other steps are assessed as potentially effective (Vandali and Desai 17). In addition, people themselves should be more conscious of the issue in question.
As can be seen, the proposed solutions concern not only social but also political and economic steps. They are aimed at creating an environment in which people, particularly those from vulnerable regions, can receive comprehensive information about the risks of overpopulation. In addition, multi-stakeholder engagement is a potentially effective way to increase people’s awareness and build sustainable assistance, including financial support. At the same time, the efforts of numerous interested parties are needed, which is challenging to implement in the context of economies with distinctive levels of development.
Personal Standpoint
The proposed measures can help improve the issue of overpopulation in the world. However, some steps, such as the involvement of non-governmental organizations, seem to be ineffective because each country needs to work individually to strengthen its legal framework and control financial support. However, expanding medical services and education access are objective interventions that can help improve the social sphere and, therefore, stimulate people’s literacy, including in matters of childbearing.
Works Cited
“Current World Population.” Worldometer, 2022, Web.
“United States Population 2022 (Live).” World Population Review, 2022, Web.
Vandali, Vijayaraddi, and B. S. Desai. “Population Explosion and Future Consequences: A Review.” International Journal of Community Health Nursing, vol. 4, no. 1, 2021, pp. 14-17.