overpopulation

Too many people for the resources available in an area (such as food, land, and water). The consequences were first set out by English economist Thomas Malthus at the start of the population explosion.

Although there is often a link between overpopulation and population density, high densities do not always result in overpopulation. In many countries, resources are plentiful and the infrastructure and technology are well developed. This means that a large number of people can be supported by a small area of land. In some countries, such as Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Brazil, insufficient food, minerals, and energy, and unequal income distribution result in poverty and often migration in search of better living conditions. Here even low population densities may amount to overpopulation. Overpopulation may also result from a decrease in resources or an increase in population or a combination of both.