Limiting Factors to Human Population

A population that exceeds the carrying capacity will change the environment in a way that will decrease future population size.

The maximum population size that can be sustained indefinitely by the environment is called carrying capacity. It is simply the largest number of any given species that a habitat can support indefinitely.

Clearly, no population can sustain an exponential growth rate indefinitely. Eventually the population will run out of food and space. That is, eventually human population will be limited by some factor or combination of factors, called limiting factors.

Short-term (apparent within 1 year) factors. Examples: major world catastrophes, such as outbreak of a new disease, loss of current crops, drought, sudden wars, etc.

Intermediate-term (1-10 yrs) factors. Examples: climate changes, pollution, energy shortages that affect food production, etc.

Long-term (decades to affect) factors. Examples: soil erosion, global warming, acid rain, etc.

Though it is difficult to estimate the Earth’s maximum carrying capacity, all statistics about population, resources show that we are already stretching Earth’s total resources to the limit, i.e. approaching to its carrying capacity very quickly. However, the carrying capacity of the earth might increase as well with the advent of modern technology to manipulate our environment.