In general language, population refers to the universe or total number of an object in a given geographical area. When we talk of population, it is in relation to a specific location or boundary. Population growth refers to an increase in the number of individuals living in a specific area or region over a certain period of time. This can occur through natural population increase (births exceeding deaths) or immigration (people moving into a population from outside). Population growth can have significant impacts on a population’s resources, environment, economy and infrastructure. The estimated population of the world is 8.1 billion people and that of Nigeria is 218.5 million people. The Global growth rate worldwide was projected to slow from an estimated 6.1 percent in 2021 to 3.6 percent in 2022 and 2023. This is 0.8 and 0.2 percentage points lower for 2022 and 2023 than projected in January. However, Nigeria seems to be an exception with its growth rate at an estimated 2.4 percent.
Absolute poverty was defined by the UN as “a condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information.” Absolute poverty is a severe level of poverty in which an individual or household lacks the basic necessities of life, such as food, shelter, clean water and healthcare. It is characterized by extreme deprivation and a lack of resources to meet even the most basic human needs. Individuals living in absolute poverty often struggle to survive and are vulnerable to diseases, malnutrition and other health issues. Poverty is one of the leading causes of hunger in our world. Without access to adequate, healthy food, people are likely to be hungry, undernourished, and in poor health, with high rates of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other nutrition-related health problems. Even when families can scrape together enough, a balanced and healthy diet is often beyond their reach. According to the World Bank, approximately 40% of Nigeria’s population currently lives in extreme poverty, which is defined as living on less than USD 1.90 a day. This earned Nigeria the title of “The Poverty Headquarters of the World.” In terms of the global population, it is estimated that over 700 million people around the world live in extreme poverty, accounting for around 10% of the global population.
It is important to discuss the nexus between poverty and population growth especially from an economic perspective because nations of the world fail to realize that as population grows, so does world poverty. As it were, the relationship between hunger and population growth is multifaceted and requires an extensive approach to properly explain it. There are many opinions, some proffered by scholars as to what kind of relationship they share and if increasing population is really responsible for the heightening world poverty levels. Popular opinions believe that increasing population is a major player in the level of poverty across the world especially in countries with rapidly growing populations such as Nigeria that account for about 11% of the world poverty index. In countries like this that suffer from low productivity especially in the agricultural sector, their growing population has proven to be a disadvantage to them with no resources to maintain it thereby increasing the level of poverty in such countries. In such countries, the relationship between poverty and population is as the one proposed by Thomas Malthus in his theory. Malthus was of the opinion that sooner or later, the expanding population may not have sufficient amount of resources to manage it. Whilst his own country may have proven his theory invalid, countries with less developed economies such as Nigeria proved his theory relevant with the emergence of poverty as their population grows.
The vicious cycle of poverty is another important aspect of poverty to be discussed. The vicious cycle of poverty refers to a self-perpetuating pattern in which individuals or families experience poverty and find it difficult to escape from it. It involves a combination of economic, social, and psychological factors that create barriers and keep people trapped in poverty across generations. The cycle tends to reinforce itself and make it challenging for individuals to break free from poverty’s grip. It involves five stages; low income, low savings, low investment, low capital formation and low productivity. The cycle is rotational and brings people under this classification back to the beginning. Overall, the individual parts of the vicious cycle of poverty work together to create a complex and interconnected web of challenges that can make it difficult for individuals and communities to escape poverty and achieve economic stability. Possible causes of this type of poverty are lack of education and skills, unemployment or underemployment, discrimination and marginalization, limited access to healthcare, high levels of debt, natural disasters or other external shocks, political instability and gender inequality. The low income component of the cycle plays a major role in reinforcing poverty for these individuals. Low income can make it extremely difficult for individuals to afford basic necessities of life. This can result in poor living conditions, inadequate nutrition, and limited access to education or job opportunities, which in turn reinforces poverty.
Despite how it may seem that a rapidly growing population only has negative effects, it still has benefits to offer. In developed countries with rapidly growing populations, their increasing populations have brought upon them blessings rather than curses. Theoretically speaking, a rapidly growing population can lead to an increased workforce, increased consumer base, innovation and entrepreneurship, higher tax revenues, enhanced competitiveness, increased diversity and boost to housing and construction industries. A rapid population growth leads to more production of goods due to the available labor, increasing tax revenue. This increased tax revenue can be used on environmental and health projects. The economy can benefit from economies of scale and increased specialization. Rapid population growth will lead to economic expansion since more people can produce more goods. More money will be available in tax revenue to fund public services like environmental and health care programs. The demand for products and services will rise as the population grows, encouraging specialization. This indicates that some people concentrate on creating a single product or service. However, each person’s efforts may merge into something amazing depending on their distinct abilities and talents.
These theoretical benefits have been realized in developed countries but in underdeveloped or developing countries such as Nigeria, population growth has only offered curses. High unproductive labour force combined with low investment in both human and physical capital is a reason. It hinders the ability of a rapidly growing population to translate that growth into prosperity and benefits for the economy. Low investment in physical capital, such as infrastructure, technology, and machinery, can limit the ability of businesses to expand and grow. This can result in limited job opportunities, low wages, and reduced economic growth potential. Similarly, low investment in human capital, such as education, training, and healthcare, can hinder the development of a skilled and knowledgeable workforce. This can limit opportunities for employment, economic diversification and innovation. Rapid population growth can also strain resources, infrastructure, and social services, leading to a lack of adequate support for the growing population. This can exacerbate problems related to poverty, unemployment, and social instability.
So how do we debunk the vicious cycle of poverty? It will not be an easy process but it is a step taken in the right direction. Providing access to quality education for all individuals, teaching individuals about budgeting, saving and investing, providing economic empowerment initiatives and providing individuals with the opportunity to acquire marketable skills and training can help them build long-term financial stability, secure better job opportunities and increase their earning potential thereby breaking the vicious cycle of poverty. Supporting individuals in starting and growing their own businesses can create economic opportunities and increase income levels, helping to break the cycle of poverty for themselves and future generations. High population growth can strain resources and exacerbate poverty levels within communities. Implementing family planning programs, educating communities about the benefits of smaller family sizes, and increasing access to contraceptive methods can help slow population growth rates and improve economic opportunities for families. Ultimately, rapid population growth has been seen and confirmed to be the capital cause of poverty in developing nations of the world such as Nigeria. Rapidly growing populations in developing nations with low economic capability results in greater demand and competition for limited resources such as food, water and land, overwhelmed infrastructure and public services, high levels of unemployment and underemployment, and reduced agricultural productivity; all which contribute to enhancing and fostering poverty in these nations. Thus, population growth can be assumed to be the root cause of poverty in developing nations of the world.
Chizitere Nicole OBI
Class of 2026
Chizitere Nicole OBI