Overpopulation and Underdevelopment

Abstract

After a critical review of definitions of overpopulation, a definition based on the average daily animal protein intake per capita in a country is proposed. On the basis of this definition, approx. 75 percent of the world's population live in overpopulated countries. It is shown that increases in agricultural production and in food and feed imports will not suffice to solve the overpopulation problem of the developing countries, and that a reduction of population after zero population growth has been achieved is necessary. Ecological aspects of the population-food supply problem are briefly reviewed.