Population - A danger signal for our Planet
The world human population currently numbers about 8.23 Billion people on this planet and the figures rises by more than 70 million people each year, 10,000 new people(babies) enter every hour on the planet. The factors affecting global human population are fertility, mortality, initial population and time. Current growth rate of world population is 0.85% per year which was 1.94% in the year 1965. The fertility rate in the developed world is closed to replacement level and stable population. Population control is challenging task for developing world.
It took all of history upto the year 1650 A.D for world population to reach 50 crores and until 1960 to reach 3 billion and today reached 8.23 billion in 2025. World population has multiplied 16 times during the period of 375 years. Due to the population exploision, a majority of people in today’s world are hungry and increasing numbers are being more hungry. There is disparity in living standards between developed and developing nations.
An economically poor country with more population can not invest for future prosperity and development, but will spend more on consumption of basic human needs. If the population growth does not stabilize, we may lose the freedoms, privileges and good quality of life. According to an estimate in the year 2085, the population on this planet will be more than 10 billion. No any problem is more serious to the well being of mankind then the limitation of population growth. It is a hard fact that its effects are worldwide demanding the attention of all nations – east and west , large and small , developed and developing countries.
The demographics of India ranks first most population country in the world. Today China population is 1.42 billion and growth rate is 0.35% near to population stabilization, whereas India’s population today is 1.46 billion with growth rate of 0.88% already containing 17.84% of the World’s population with 2.4% land area of the world, while India’s population growth rate has been declining over the years. The overall population will continue to grow as India has more than 47% population below the age of 25 years and more than 65% below the age of 35 years in the reproductive age group. We know that the year 1921 is great divide year in the demographic history of India. The population of India in 1911 census was 25.21 crore and in 1921 census it decreased from 25.21 to 25.13 crore (– 8 lakh) therefore growth rate was ( - 0.31) in 1921. The population of India has multiplied around 6 times during 1921 to 2025 from 25 crore to 146 crore.
India was the first country in the world to have an official Family Planning Programme which was launched in 1952 with the objective of reducing birth rate and control the rapidly growing population. Population policy given in the year 2000 A.D by aimed to stabilize the population by 2045, aligning with sustainable development goals. The policy also emphasized Socio – Demographic goals like reducing infant and maternal mortality rates as well as promoting universal education. In India, rapid population growth is nullifying the benefits of economic development of the country. It is commonly believed to be root cause of poverty, malnutrition, uncontrolled fertility and lack of health services. Stabilizing population is an essential requirement for promoting sustainable which is closely linked with gender equality & equity as well as quality of life.
For advocacy of National Population Management and development issues, this needs strong commitment and public support, quality of care and services, serious attention and involvement of all i.e. Govt. ,State Govt., NGO’s and its citizens, then only we can achieve the fixed demographic goals and quality of life for the people of our country. Very painful to mention that after emergency, no political leader or party has raised this important issue. However, they are aware that rapid population growth has serious implications on the life of country’s population. No political party even cared to emphasize the need for some concrete steps to restrict growing population in their Election Manifesto.
However the time has come to control the population and establish linkages between population change and various social environmental, economic and health related challenges.
About author
Dr. Gyanendra Kumar, a renowned economist with a Ph.D. in Economics (Demography), has served as CEO of Family Planning Association of Delhi office and edited Jansankhya Sandesh Newsletter. He's currently President of Voluntary Health Association, Delhi.
