The world's population is growing at a tremendous rate. Currently, the planet is home to 7.6 billion people (according to the latest UN estimates). This is quite surprising when you consider that in 1900 there were only 1.5 billion people on the planet.
As this growth shows no signs of slowing, it becomes increasingly important for the global scientific community to assess the potential outcome of overpopulation. More people means a dramatic decline in natural resources, which can create many health problems for the population and the planet as a whole. It is assumed that every consequence of overpopulation can lead to the mass death of most living things!
Increased incidence of respiratory illness
Increased air pollution inevitably leads to breathing problems and worse asthma symptoms. Urban residents, the elderly and young children will be particularly affected.
Severe water pollution
Promotional video:
An incredible number of people die each year due to diseases associated with contaminated water. Filtration of drinking water does not always purify it effectively.
The spread of infectious diseases
Crowded places are a favorable environment for the spread of viruses and infections. Overpopulation can lead to massive epidemics of meningitis, typhoid, cholera, scabies and many other diseases.
Overcrowded hospitals
After natural disasters, city hospitals and hospitals are always overcrowded. But imagine that when overcrowded, people will lie in the corridors because medical resources will not be enough.
Changing of the climate
The increase in the number of people on the planet will only aggravate the ecological situation in the world, which will lead to even greater global problems of climate change.
Urban sprawl
Congested cities have to expand to accommodate all the people. For this, the authorities use the nearest areas, which leads to the destruction of natural resources and the infringement of animals living in them.
Deforestation
Today there is a clear correlation between extremely low population density and the state of forests. If the number of people increases, then more timber will have to be used and the area for farming will have to be increased.
Minimizing wildlife
Along with deforestation, there will be a massive extinction of wild flora and fauna. Deforestation will not only destroy the ecosystems of the earth, but will also lead to the migration of many animals, making it easier for poachers.
Mass extinction
As vulnerable populations of living things lose the precious natural resources they have left, they die from lack of food. Just imagine that about 20 plants and animals around the world die out every hour.
Lack of food
Statistics show that between 2010 and 2012, one in eight people suffered from hunger or malnutrition. These indicators are only growing, because the number of the population is increasing, but the amount of food is not.
Soaring food prices
Overcrowding can drive up food prices as manufacturing tries to keep up with growing numbers of people. Accordingly, factories and plants have to spend more resources.
Diseases transmitted by airborne droplets
As people come into closer contact with each other, airborne diseases such as tuberculosis spread more easily.
Deteriorating health care
When massive epidemics begin, people will not be able to receive quality medical care, because there will not be enough medicines.
Malaria is everywhere
Overcrowding also facilitates the spread of infectious diseases such as malaria between people.
Endless traffic jams
Of course, terrible traffic is due to overpopulation. Improving infrastructure can indeed help reduce traffic congestion, provided that the number of cars does not increase.
Crowded public transport
Overcrowding will put pressure on the metro and other public transportation systems. In large cities, it will be impossible to move from one point to another without experiencing discomfort from the incredible number of people.
The risk of developing skin cancer increases
As air pollution intensifies due to large numbers of people, this will deplete the ozone layer. As a result, UV rays will become a major cause of skin cancer and premature aging, as well as eye problems (such as cataracts or blindness).
Access to safe water will be limited
The population that will live in urban areas is projected to increase by 2.5 billion by 2050. This means that access to safe drinking water will be limited.
Increased risk of lung cancer
Asthma and respiratory diseases will become the main causes of lung cancer.
Widespread sore throat and chest pain
These problems are already popping up in densely populated cities, especially in a country like India. Polluted air (due to the high number of people, cars and factories) worsens the condition of the respiratory system every day.
Fish will begin to disappear into the oceans
The more people exist on the planet, the more resources will be required to maintain them. Global seafood demand is expected to grow by 50 million tonnes by 2025. With this amount, the fish simply will not have time to reproduce itself.
High crime rate
As resources become more scarce, crime rates will increase. It's simple: not all people will be provided with basic necessities.
Increased air pollution
Overpopulation will lead to worldwide air pollution. Now such problems exist only in densely populated and industrial areas.
Overgrazing
The need to produce more food is putting pressure on local and commercial farms. This leads to intensive consumption of plants by livestock and overgrazing. Lack of crop rotation in pasture animals and their grazing at the wrong time can lead to soil degradation and a number of other environmental problems.
New parasites
Intensive farming kills beneficial insects and plants, depletes the soil, creates polluted runoff, which clogs water systems. All this affects the genetic erosion of crops and some types of livestock around the world, because of this, biodiversity is reduced and natural habitats are destroyed.
Higher fertility rates
In overcrowded areas, as disease and food shortages spread, fertility often increases rather than decreases. For example, if many children die from malaria before the age of five, people will have more children to make sure that some of them do survive.
Desertification
Desertification threatens the livelihoods of approximately 1 billion people in 100 countries, a number that is likely to increase as population grows.
Rising unemployment
An unstable number of people can lead to reduced opportunities due to lack of resources and increased competition. An imbalance between supply and demand for jobs will create unemployment and underemployment.
Growing conflicts and wars
Overpopulation can indeed lead to tensions between countries and communities, leading to conflicts over land tenure or the supply of necessary resources.
Author: Rita Lucky