The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands.

It is also the third-largest

English-speaking country in the world. The country is divided into three geographical
areas: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The Philippines' position as an island country on
the Pacific Ring of Fire and close to the equator makes the country prone to
earthquakes and typhoons. This country has a variety of natural resources and a
globally significant level of biodiversity. As of 2020, with a population of 109 million and
a population growth rate of 1.31%, it is the 8th-most populated country in Asia and the
12th-most populated country in the world.

In this video, we will cover both causes and effects of overpopulation for you to better
understand the risks that come with it.

The Causes:

1. Poverty - Poverty is believed to be the leading cause of overpopulation. A lack of

educational resources, coupled with high death rates leading to higher birth
rates, result in impoverished areas seeing large booms in population. The effect
is so extensive that the UN has predicted that the forty-eight poorest countries in
the world are also likely to be the biggest contributors to population growth. Their
estimates state that the combined population of these countries is likely to
balloon to 1.7 billion in 2050, from 850 million in 2010.

2. Poor Contraceptive Use - Though the availability of contraceptives is widespread

in developed countries, poor planning on both partners’ parts can lead to
unexpected pregnancies. This issue is exacerbated in underdeveloped areas. A
study by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that this usage figure
drops to 43% in countries that are blighted by issues like poverty, which leads to
higher birth rates.

3. Child Labor - As distressing as it may be to hear, child labor is still used

extensively in many parts of the world. UNICEF estimates that approximately 150
million children are currently working, primarily in countries that have few child
labor laws. This can result in children being seen as a source of income by
impoverished families. Furthermore, children who begin work too young also lose
the educational opportunities they should be granted, particularly when it comes
to birth control.

The effects:

1. Lack of Water - Overpopulation creates greater demand for the world’s

freshwater supplies. As only roughly 1% of the world’s water is fresh and
accessible, this creates a major issue. Some estimates state that human demand
 for freshwater will stand at approximately 70% of what is available on the planet
by 2025. This will place those living in impoverished areas that already have
limited access to such water at great risk.

2. Resource Consumption and Increased Intensive Farming - As the population

grows, so too does the number of resources needed to keep so many people
alive. Food, water, and fossil fuels are all being consumed at record rates,
placing greater demands on producers and the planet itself while farming
practices have evolved to produce enough food to feed larger numbers of
people. However, intensive farming methods also cause damage to local
ecosystems and the land, which may pose problems in the future. Furthermore,
intensive farming is also considered a major contributor to climate change due to
the machinery required. This effect will likely intensify if the population continues
to grow at its current rate.