How can we limit human population growth?

Question

Olivia Akins · Accepted Answer

Limiting population growth globally could be done in a few ways.

There are a few ways to limit or slow the human population's growth.

Making contraceptives and family planning services easily available to those who desire them can curb the number of unplanned pregnancies. Education about reproduction and delaying the age of motherhood reduce family size and fertility rates. In the US, females having children later in life is believed to be one of the contributing factors to lower fertility rates (see here ).

A study of thirty-one economically developing countries found that when a country has a moderate or strong family planning program in place, women who are moderately educated show a significant reduction in their fertility rate. This is in comparison to countries with weak or no family planning programs, where a moderate education for women does not make a significant impact on fertility rates (Diamond et al., 1999).

In 1978, China introduced it's famous one-child policy to curb its growing population. This drastically reduced the country's fertility rate and lead to a decrease in population growth, as shown below.

Note: In 2015, China relaxed the policy so that each couple could have two children (see here).

Works cited:
Diamond, I., Newby, M., & Varle, S. (1999). Female education and fertility: examining the links. Critical perspectives on schooling and fertility in the developing world, 1999, 23-45.

Andrew Armstrong · Answer

undefined Human population growth can be limited through various means, including access to family planning services, education, promoting gender equality, improving healthcare, implementing policies to reduce fertility rates, encouraging sustainable living practices, and addressing socio-economic factors such as poverty and inequality.