(a) Account for the rapid growth of world population in the last two decades (b) Explain any three problems arising from this rapid growth (c) Suggest solut...

Answer Details

(a) Account for the rapid growth of world population in the last two decades:

• Fall in the death rate due to improved medical care, vaccination, control of epidemics and better sanitation, so more people survive and live longer.
• High birth rate in many developing countries, where large families are still favoured and there is early marriage.
• Improved food supply and nutrition from better farming (irrigation, fertilisers, improved seeds), reducing famine and death from hunger.
• Better public health, clean water supply and hygiene, which cut infant mortality so more children survive to adulthood.
• Longer life expectancy and, in places, immigration, all adding to numbers.

(b) Three problems arising from this rapid growth:

• Pressure on food supply: population outstrips food production, causing shortages and malnutrition.
• Unemployment and poverty: too many people compete for too few jobs, lowering living standards.
• Pressure on services and environment: overcrowding, housing shortages, strain on schools, hospitals and water supply, and problems such as slums, congestion and pollution/deforestation.

(c) Suggested solutions:

• Family-planning and population-education programmes to reduce the birth rate.
• Increase food production and create more jobs by expanding agriculture, industry and skills training.
• Provide and expand social services and infrastructure (housing, schools, hospitals, water) and encourage even distribution of population and planned urban development.