Underpopulation: Definition and Causes are discussed in this article. We hope you find it informative and able to satisfy your research demands.
Underpopulation: Definition and Causes
Read Also: Reasons for High Population Growth in West Africa
‘Population’ can be grossly defined as the total number of persons living in a particular geographical zone or area at a given time.
In referring to population, the number of boys, girls, men, and women who live in a country is often what is considered irrespective of their impediment or disabilities.
There are three conditions of the population; Under-population, optimum population, and Over-population but in this article, we will throw more light on Under-population and try to understand what it means.
Under-population is a type of population in which the number of persons present or living in a particular country is less than the natural resources available to the country, making the natural resources more than the individuals.
This invariably means that the size of the population is quite small such that when it is joined together with the available resources of a country try and give a level of existing technology, it will generate minimum returns on each person.
Read Also: Solutions to High Population Growth in West Africa
In other words, a situation in which the available mineral and natural resources available in a country are more than the number of persons living in that country is what is often referred to as ‘Under-population.
Causes of Underpopulation
1. A decrease in the birth rate
Humans are only able to come into the world through birth and when there is no birth, there can be no natural increase in the population of a country.
A decrease in the birth rate on the other hand for whatever reasons there may often lead greatly to underpopulation in that country.
The decreased birth rate could be as a result of so many factors but irrespective of the factors, as long as there is no birth or decreased birth rate, there will be Underpopulation within the affected country.
Read Also: Disadvantages of Large Population
2. An increase in the death rate
Wars, sickness, famine, hardship, natural disasters, and other factors make people die at a very tender age. These terrible circumstances reduce the chances of a country having an adequate population.
As long as a country keeps on burying its citizens, fewer people will be left with heads on their neck in the country and will generally lead to Under- population.
3. High level of Emigration
Due to some circumstances, a lot of persons leave their countries of residence for a greener pasture, some people leave because of hardship, others leave for the sake of the advancement of their career, others leave to join their families who stay out of the country, for whatever reason that one may leave his or her country, as long as the rate at which people leave the country is more than the rate at which people come into the country, Under- population is bound to take place.
Read Also: Advantages of Large Population
These causes of Under-population are the basic causes because of course, without birth, there will be no addition to the number of persons, without death, there will equally be no subtraction and without Emigration, people who belong to a country will still stay there and add to the population census.
