Population II: Over, Under, & Optimum Population – SS1 Economics Lesson Note (Second Term)

Underpopulation, optimum population and overpopulation describe the size of a country’s population compared with its available resources. Underpopulation means too few people to use the resources fully. Overpopulation means more people than the resources can support at an adequate standard of living. Optimum population is the size that gives the highest output per head.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define underpopulation, optimum population and overpopulation.
2. State the causes and consequences of underpopulation.
3. Explain why optimum population is the best population.
4. State the consequences of overpopulation.
5. List ways of controlling overpopulation.

What is underpopulation?

Underpopulation is a population that is smaller than the available resources of a country need.

It exists if the people within the country are too few to supply enough labour to tap the available resources fully, given the existing level of technical knowledge.

In such a situation, the resources of the country will not be used efficiently because of the small size of the population. The standard of living will fall.

Consequences of underpopulation

1. The supply of labour will be relatively low.
2. The size of the market will be relatively small.
3. The level of production will be low.
4. The level of income per capita and the standard of living will be low.
5. The low productive capacity will mean that the size of exports will decrease.
6. Savings and investments will be low.

Causes of underpopulation

1. A decrease in birth rate.
2. An increase in death rate.
3. A high level of emigration.

What is optimum population?

The word optimum means best. Optimum population refers to the best size of the population. It is the size of population that, given the available natural resources, technical knowledge, capital and organisation, will yield the highest output per head.

There will be a high standard of living because the size of the population is adequate to tap the available resources fully.

Why is optimum population the best population?

1. The optimum population is equal to the available resources in the country, so it is neither too large nor too small.
2. It yields maximum returns per head.
3. It is not difficult to control or manage.
4. The highest standard of living is attained in a country that has an optimum population.
5. It does not pose a problem to a country’s economy.

What is overpopulation?

Overpopulation is a situation where a country has more people than its physical and human resources can support with adequate living standards. In other words, the population exceeds the available resources of the country.

Overpopulation leads to competition for the available resources. Because resources are relatively scarce, there will be a general fall in the standard of living of the people.

Consequences of overpopulation

1. There will be congestion on land and pressure on other resources, including social services.
2. There will be a fall in per capita income.
3. The demand for goods and services will be relatively higher than what is available.
4. There will be increased imports and greater balance of payments problems.
5. There will be a high level of unemployment and under-employment.
6. There will be a high level of government spending.
7. There may be a high dependency ratio.

How can overpopulation be controlled?

1. Family planning.
2. Discouragement of early marriage.
3. Encouragement of monogamy.
4. Provision of gainful employment for women.
5. Encouragement of emigration.

Evaluation

1. Define underpopulation.
2. State three causes of underpopulation.
3. What is optimum population?
4. Give four reasons why optimum population is the best population.
5. List four consequences of overpopulation.

Assignment

1. Explain any four consequences of underpopulation.
2. State and explain three ways of controlling overpopulation.