The number of people in the world has risen from 4.4 billion people in 1980 to 5.2 billion in 1990. And scientists estimate that the population could double again to nearly 11 billion in less than 40 years. The human population is growing even faster in many parts of the world, especially in Asia, South America, and Africa. The growing human population impacts our environment in a variety of ways, both directly and indirectly.
More people use more resources, including energy, food, water and so on.
Loss of resources also extends to loss of habitat as people clear more land for new development. Population growth is creating unprecedented demands for all resources, especially water. As populations have grown over the years, countries around the world are facing increased needs for food by cultivating more land through irrigation. Surface water shortages are causing many countries to tap into groundwater reserves. The population increase directly impacts plant and animal species.