Rapidly Increasing Population

A big issue is rising in underdeveloped countries. This problem is a rapidly increase in population. Currently there are over seven billion people in the world and will continue to expand rapidly for decades. The United Nations announced that if this holds true and population continues to grow, taxing natural resources will become an option if countries cannot better manage the population increase. With this follows issues with resources, deforestation, food security, global prices, and many more problems.

There are four demographic stages. Stage one is where the birth rates and death rates in a country are both high.  Step two is when the birth rate remains high but the mortality rate is decreasing. Step three is where the birth rate decreases and the death rate is lower. In this stage, the change in the economy altered the ideas of having larger families as technology improves and prices for everything rises. For these reason, people want fewer children. Step four is where the birth rate and mortality are both relatively low. Developed and stable populated countries, like Sweden are in this transition.  Until countries become more developed and equal out the birth rates and death rates, the population will continue to grow rapidly. In countries with low-technology and a more agricultural basis, more children are needed and are seen as having an enhanced economic status. Most of these countries are developing countries. Peter Ogunjuyigbe, a demographer at Obafemi Awolowo University in the small central city of Ile-Ife said, “If you don’t take care of population, schools can’t cope, hospitals can’t cope, there’s not enough housing — there’s nothing you can do to have economic development.”

There are 300 million plus people in Nigeria which is about the population size of present day United States. They live in a country about the size of New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada.

Nearly all of the increase is in sub-Saharan Africa, where the population rise far outstrips economic expansion. Of the roughly 20 countries where women average more than five children, almost all are in the region. Internationally, the African population boom means more illegal immigration, already at a high, according to Frontex, the European border agency. There are up to 400,000 undocumented Africans in the United States.

The United Nations estimates that the global population will stabilize at 10 billion in 2100, assuming that declining birthrates will eventually yield a global average of 2.1 children per woman. At a rate of even 2.6, Dr. Guengant said, the number becomes 16 billion. Sub-Saharan Africa, which now accounts for 12 percent of the world’s population, will account for more than a third by 2100, by many projections. The projections are always changing however.

According to the NY Times in Nigeria, “At Alapere Primary School, more than 100 students cram into most classrooms, two to a desk. As graduates pour out of high schools and universities, Nigeria’s unemployment rate is nearly 50 percent for people in urban areas ages 15 to 24 — driving crime and discontent.”

There are definite problem with increasing populations, not just in African countries but different countries around the world. Some cultures believe in having many children, as many as 11 or 12, which makes it difficult to change their beliefs. I don’t necessarily think people should be told how many kids they can or cannot have but they need to be informed of issues that involve population and having children.