Hi, welcome to this hall on the topic advantages and disadvantages of over-population in geography.
Table Of Contents
- Meaning of over-population
- Advantages of over-population
- Disadvantages of over-population
- Revision Questions
Meaning Of Over-Population
Over-population is defined as a situation whereby the population is considered too large for the available resources, for people to enjoy the highest possible standard of living. In other words, over-population refers to a situation where the population exceed the available resources.
Advantages And Disadvantages of Over-Population
Advantages
- Large labour: High population provide large labour force for Industries.
- Large market: High population is a source of large market for the goods produced by the Industries.
- Effective planning: With large population concentration in an area, there is need for effective planning so that the towns can function properly.
- Togetherness: Many people are brought together and this can promote unity among the diverse people in the country.
- Quick information dissemination: Because people stay everywhere in this areas, it is very easy for information to go round quickly.
- Defense: Organized army in such area is possible.
- Increase in revenue: Government generate more revenue from income taxes and other sources.
- Export of manpower: Manpower is exported to this regions to enable them to earn foreign exchange
Disadvantages Of Over-Population
There are so many disadvantages of over-population, These include the following:
- Pressure on natural resources: Natural resources like fertile farmlands become over exploited when there is high population growth in an area.
- Increase in crime wave: Areas of high population densities are usually associated with high crime rate like armed robbery, car snatching and hired assassins. This may be due to lack of jobs; hence, people resort to crimes.
- Insufficient food: As a result of the high influx of people into an area, there will not be sufficient food to cater for high population, which leads to food shortage, especially in developing countries.
- Unemployment/under-employment: Areas of high population densities usually do not have enough jobs for the ever increasing influx of people. This leads to unemployment and under-employment.
- Inadequate housing: High population concentration leads to poor accommodation as the houses available may not be enough for the high population.
- Traffic congestion: Many people travel on the roads at the same time and this leads to traffic congestion most of the time.
- Environmental pollution: Poor housing, pressure on natural resources and social facilities do lead to environmental pollution.
- Pressure on social amenities: Social amenities like pipe-borne water and electricity are usually overstressed by the influx of people into an area.
- Inadequate health services: This is very common in developing countries and there are many cases of disease outbreak in areas of high population concentration.
- Development of slums ghettos: High population concentration leads to the development of slumps and ghettos which are associated with poor standard of living.
Revision Questions
- What is over-population?
- State five advantages of over-population.
- Outline seven disadvantages of over-population in an area.