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Countries with Rapid Population Growth and Resource Constraints: Issues of Food, Agriculture, and Development

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  • Nikos Alexandratos

Abstract

Recent long‐term demographic projections suggest a fast deceleration of global population growth and the eventual peaking of world population later in this century at about 9.2 billion, roughly 50 percent above the present level. Some low‐income and food‐insecure countries, however, have projected populations in 2050 that are multiples of present ones. In some of these countries agriculture must play a leading role in their development efforts because they have high economic dependence on that sector. For those among them that have scarce agricultural resources, a prima facie case can be made that the high population growth rates projected may not be compatible with the development potential offered by such resources. Their demographic projections may need to be revisited, taking into account such inadequate potential. The global demographic slowdown notwithstanding, the “population explosion”‐related issues pertaining to food and agriculture will not become irrelevant but will be become increasingly localized.

Suggested Citation

  • Nikos Alexandratos, 2005. "Countries with Rapid Population Growth and Resource Constraints: Issues of Food, Agriculture, and Development," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 31(2), pages 237-258, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:popdev:v:31:y:2005:i:2:p:237-258
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1728-4457.2005.00064.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. World Bank, 2003. "World Development Report 2003," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 5985, April.
    2. World Bank, 2003. "World Development Report 2004," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 5986, April.
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    4. Pender, John L., 1999. "Rural population growth, agricultural change and natural resource management in developing countries: a review of hypotheses and some evidence from Honduras," EPTD discussion papers 48, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
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    Cited by:

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    2. Shukui Tan & Maomao Zhang & Ao Wang & Qianlin Ni, 2021. "Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Driving Factors of Rural Settlements in Low Hilly Region—A Case Study of 17 Cities in Hubei Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Isabel Günther & Kenneth Harttgen, 2016. "Desired Fertility and Number of Children Born Across Time and Space," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 53(1), pages 55-83, February.
    4. Amanda Balasooriya & Darshana Sedera, 2025. "Top Management Challenges in Using Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development Goals: An Exploratory Case Study of an Australian Agribusiness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-19, July.
    5. Lawrence Guodaar & Douglas K. Bardsley, 2024. "Social networks can mitigate climate change-related food insecurity risks in dryland farming systems in Ghana," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 29(7), pages 1-22, October.
    6. Jianxin Mu & Shahbaz Khan, 2009. "The effect of climate change on the water and food nexus in China," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 1(4), pages 413-430, December.
    7. Nikos Alexandratos, 2008. "Food Price Surges: Possible Causes, Past Experience, and Longer Term Relevance," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 34(4), pages 663-697, December.
    8. Malin Falkenmark & Charlotte de Fraiture & Margaret J. Vick, 2009. "Global change in four semi‐arid transnational river basins: Analysis of institutional water sharing preparedness," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 33(4), pages 310-319, November.
    9. Fangqu Niu & Lan Wang & Wei Sun, 2023. "Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Determinants of Rural Construction Land in China’s Developed Areas: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Delta," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-19, October.
    10. You, Gene Jiing-Yun & Ringler, Claudia, 2010. "Hydro-economic modeling of climate change impacts in Ethiopia," IFPRI discussion papers 960, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    11. Tukufu Zuberi & Kevin J.A. Thomas, "undated". "Demographic Change, the IMPACT Model, and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa," UNDP Africa Policy Notes 2012-003, United Nations Development Programme, Regional Bureau for Africa.

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