Population - resource relationships

Optimum population:
• The optimum population of an area is the number of people, who
when working with all the available resources, will produce the
highest standard of living and quality of life.

• If the size of the population increases or decreases from the

optimum, the standard of living will fall.

• Examples of countries which are believed to have optimum

populations at present include the United States and the United
Kingdom.
 Overpopulation:
• This occurs when there are too many people relative to the resources
and technology locally available to maintain an adequate standard of
living.

• Countries like Bangladesh, Ethiopia and parts of China, Brazil and

India are often said to be overpopulated as they do not have
sufficient food, minerals and energy resources to sustain their
population.

• They suffer from localised natural disasters such as drought and

famine. They are also characterized by low incomes, poverty, poor
living conditions and a high level of emigration.
 Underpopulation:
• This occurs when there are far more resources in an area (such as
food, energy and minerals) than can be used by the number of people
living there.

• Examples include Canada and Australia. Countries like Canada and

Australia can export their surplus food, energy and resources.

• They also have high incomes, good living conditions, high levels of
technology and high immigration rates. HOWEVER…
• By extension, a country can also have more resources than people
and have a low standard of living.

• Guyana (the only English speaking country in South America) is a

prime example of this exception. Guyana is abundant in gold,
diamonds and bauxite. As of 2015, significant oil and gas deposits
have also been found.

• However, the country still has a low standard of living with visitors
going so far to describe the country as being frozen in time.