English

Theories of Population Growth

Advertisements

Topics

  • Malthusian Theory of Population Growth
  • Malthusian Growth Concept
  • Population Checks
  • Table
  • Theory of Demographic Transition
  • The Three Stages
  • Birth and Death Rate Trend in India (per 1000 people)
  • Real-Life Application
  • Key Point Summary
Maharashtra State Board: Class 11

Malthusian Theory of Population Growth

Thomas Robert Malthus proposed the Malthusian theory in 1798 in his essay “An Essay on the Principle of Population”.

Maharashtra State Board: Class 11

Malthusian Growth Concept

  1. Population Growth: Grows geometrically (e.g., 2, 4, 8, 16).
  2. Food Supply Growth: Grows arithmetically (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4).
  3. Imbalance: Population outpaces food supply, creating scarcity.
Maharashtra State Board: Class 11

Population Checks

  • Preventive Checks: Actions to slow birth rate (late marriage, moral restraint).
  • Positive Checks: Natural factors raise death rate (floods, famine, disease).
Maharashtra State Board: Class 11

Table

Time Period Population Food Supply
Year 1 2 1
Year 2 4 2
Year 3 8 3
Year 4 16 4
Maharashtra State Board: Class 11

Theory of Demographic Transition

Given by A.J. Coale and E.M. Hoover in 1958, this theory explains how population patterns shift as a nation develops.

Maharashtra State Board: Class 11

The Three Stages

Stage/Feature Description Example
First: Low Growth High birth and high death rates, little overall population growth India before 1921
Second: High Growth Death rate starts falling, birth rate remains high, population “explosion” Developing India today
Third: Low/Stable Both birth and death rates are low; population growth stabilises. Developed countries
Maharashtra State Board: Class 11

Birth and Death Rate Trend in India (per 1000 people)

Year Birth Rate Death Rate
1901 49.2 42.6
1951 41.7 22.8
2011 20.97 7.48
Maharashtra State Board: Class 11

Real-Life Application

Imagine a town: Every year, twice as many people are born, but only one extra bag of rice is grown each year. Soon, there’s not enough rice for everyone.

Maharashtra State Board: Class 11

Key Point Summary

  • If the population keeps growing faster than food resources, natural or social disasters (“positive checks”) kick in to restore balance. 
  • India is currently in Stage 2, with high population growth but falling birth and death rates.

Test Yourself

Advertisements
Share
Notifications

Englishहिंदीमराठी


      Forgot password?
Use app×