Optimum population
Encyclopedia
The optimum population is the size of a population
that is optimal. There are, however, various opinions on what "optimal" means in this usage, resulting in various end-targets for it, but estimations usually take ecological sustainability
and carrying capacity
more or less into account. Also, optimum population can refer to a specific area, such as a region or country, but can also refer to the entire world
or universe
.
, economical output
and philosophical or ethical ends-in-themselves
.
Some commentators disagree with the concept of "optimum population", believing that the human population will always, in the long-term, be able to adapt to the requirements of a larger population. Others do not believe it is a helpful concept as any calculation will always be plagued with assumptions, as well as unverifiable predictions, even if it could theoretically exist.
To reach an optimum population, a country must be able to measure human welfare and environmental impacts, as well as having policies in place to influence the fertility rate and net migration
. This implies agreement on welfare, environmental issues, accurate projections of immigration, age distribution and changes in lifespan among other factors. Reaching optimum population is an important objective in the wider project of creating a sustainable society.
The optimal world population
has been estimated by a team co-authored by Paul R. Ehrlich
. End-targets in this estimation included:
Based on this, the estimation of optimum population was to be roughly around 1.5 billion to 2 billion people.
The UK based think tank
Population Matters, (formerly known as the Optimum Population Trust), has calculated the optimum population of nearly 150 countries.
Organisations:
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
that is optimal. There are, however, various opinions on what "optimal" means in this usage, resulting in various end-targets for it, but estimations usually take ecological sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
and carrying capacity
Carrying capacity
The carrying capacity of a biological species in an environment is the maximum population size of the species that the environment can sustain indefinitely, given the food, habitat, water and other necessities available in the environment...
more or less into account. Also, optimum population can refer to a specific area, such as a region or country, but can also refer to the entire world
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
or universe
Universe
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...
.
For humans
Regarding the human population, end-targets for an optimum population include ecological sustainabilitySustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
, economical output
Output (economics)
Output in economics is the "quantity of goods or services produced in a given time period, by a firm, industry, or country," whether consumed or used for further production.The concept of national output is absolutely essential in the field of macroeconomics...
and philosophical or ethical ends-in-themselves
Intrinsic value (ethics)
Intrinsic value is an ethical and philosophic property. It is the ethical or philosophic value that an object has "in itself" or "for its own sake", as an intrinsic property...
.
Some commentators disagree with the concept of "optimum population", believing that the human population will always, in the long-term, be able to adapt to the requirements of a larger population. Others do not believe it is a helpful concept as any calculation will always be plagued with assumptions, as well as unverifiable predictions, even if it could theoretically exist.
To reach an optimum population, a country must be able to measure human welfare and environmental impacts, as well as having policies in place to influence the fertility rate and net migration
Human migration
Human migration is physical movement by humans from one area to another, sometimes over long distances or in large groups. Historically this movement was nomadic, often causing significant conflict with the indigenous population and their displacement or cultural assimilation. Only a few nomadic...
. This implies agreement on welfare, environmental issues, accurate projections of immigration, age distribution and changes in lifespan among other factors. Reaching optimum population is an important objective in the wider project of creating a sustainable society.
Estimations
Various end-targets are often balanced together in estimating the optimum human population, and different emphasis on different end-targets cause variability among estimates.The optimal world population
World population
The world population is the total number of living humans on the planet Earth. As of today, it is estimated to be billion by the United States Census Bureau...
has been estimated by a team co-authored by Paul R. Ehrlich
Paul R. Ehrlich
Paul Ralph Ehrlich is an American biologist and educator who is the Bing Professor of Population Studies in the department of Biological Sciences at Stanford University and president of Stanford's Center for Conservation Biology. By training he is an entomologist specializing in Lepidoptera , but...
. End-targets in this estimation included:
- Decent wealth and resources to everyone
- Basic human rightsHuman rightsHuman rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
to everyone - Preservation of cultural diversityCultural diversityCultural diversity is having different cultures respect each other's differences. It could also mean the variety of human societies or cultures in a specific region, or in the world as a whole...
- Allowance of intellectual, artistic, and technological creativity
- Preservation of biodiversityBiodiversityBiodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
Based on this, the estimation of optimum population was to be roughly around 1.5 billion to 2 billion people.
The UK based think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
Population Matters, (formerly known as the Optimum Population Trust), has calculated the optimum population of nearly 150 countries.
See also
- Birth rateBirth rateCrude birth rate is the nativity or childbirths per 1,000 people per year . Another word used interchangeably with "birth rate" is "natality". When the crude birth rate is subtracted from the crude death rate, it reveals the rate of natural increase...
- Optimum sustainable yieldOptimum sustainable yieldIn population ecology and economics, optimum sustainable yield is the level of effort that maximizes the difference between total revenue and total cost. Or, where marginal revenue equals marginal cost. This level of effort maximizes the economic profit, or rent, of the resource being utilized...
- Fertility rate
Organisations:
- Sustainable Population AustraliaSustainable Population AustraliaSustainable Population Australia is an Australian special advocacy group, founded in Canberra in 1988, which seeks to establish an "ecologically sustainable" human population...