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Optimum population

Overview

The Optimum population for a region or country is a level of (human) population which is ecologically sustainable . It is less than the carrying capacity

Carrying capacity

The carrying capacity of a biological species in an environment is the population size of the species that the environment can sustain indefinitely, given the food, habitat, water and other necessities available in the environment...

, so the amount of resources available can support the country's population

Population

In biology, a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular species; in sociology, a collection of human beings. Individuals within a population share a factor may be reduced by statistical means, but such a generalization may be too vague to imply anything...

needs indefinitely, which maximizes the overall welfare

Welfare

Welfare or welfare work consists of actions or procedures — especially on the part of governments and institutions — striving to promote the basic well-being of individuals in need...

(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.

If the population is below its optimum, it can increase with a net social benefit without damaging the natural resources needed for the population.
If it is above the optimum, 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, as well as having policies in place to influence the fertility rate and net migration

Human migration

Human migration is movement by humans from one district to another, sometimes over long distances or in large groups....

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Encyclopedia

The Optimum population for a region or country is a level of (human) population which is ecologically sustainable . It is less than the carrying capacity

Carrying capacity

The carrying capacity of a biological species in an environment is the population size of the species that the environment can sustain indefinitely, given the food, habitat, water and other necessities available in the environment...

, so the amount of resources available can support the country's population

Population

In biology, a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular species; in sociology, a collection of human beings. Individuals within a population share a factor may be reduced by statistical means, but such a generalization may be too vague to imply anything...

needs indefinitely, which maximizes the overall welfare

Welfare

Welfare or welfare work consists of actions or procedures — especially on the part of governments and institutions — striving to promote the basic well-being of individuals in need...

(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.

If the population is below its optimum, it can increase with a net social benefit without damaging the natural resources needed for the population.
If it is above the optimum, 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, as well as having policies in place to influence the fertility rate and net migration

Human migration

Human migration is movement by humans from one district to another, sometimes over long distances or in large groups....

. This implies agreement on welfare, environmental issues, 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 UK based think tank

Think tank

A think tank is an organization, institute, corporation, or group that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economy, science or technology issues, industrial or business policies, or military advice...

Optimum Population Trust

The Optimum Population Trust is a registered United Kingdom charity, think tank, and campaign group concerned with the impact of population growth on the natural environment, specifically natural resources, climate change and biodiversity. With respect to population growth, it researches climate...

have calculated the optimum population of nearly 150 countries.

Achieving Optimum Population

Although no country has yet formally adopted an optimum population target, many recognize the problems caused by population growth

Population growth

Population growth is the change in population over time, and can be quantified as the change in the number of individuals in a population using "per unit time" for measurement...

and overpopulation. Most of the effort has been focussed on reducing population growth. 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

Women's rights

The term women's rights refers to freedoms and entitlements of women and girls of all ages. These rights may or may not be institutionalized, ignored or suppressed by law, local custom, and behavior in a particular society...

and thought in starting a large family than following tradition.

Economic

Increasing career opportunities will have peoples' minds set on education, 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 planning ahead on starting a family.

Increasing emigration

Emigration

Emigration is the act of leaving one's native country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state, is termed migration. There are many reasons why...

, and/or reducing immigration

Immigration reduction

Immigration reduction refers to movements that advocate a reduction in the amount of immigration allowed into their country. This can include a reduction in the numbers of legal immigrants, advocating stronger action be taken to prevent illegal entry and illegal immigration, and reductions in...

, within certain areas (especially those in which the residents have an atypically-high impact on the environment

I PAT

I PAT is the lettering of a formula put forward to describe the impact of human activity on the environment.In words:This describes how our growing population, affluence, and technology contribute toward our environmental impact....

), is viewed by some as a key factor in stabilizing population and preserving natural resources.

Optimum population

Achieving Optimum Population

See also