How do we know the world is over-populated?

Question

I mean is, I hear a lot of people saying that the world is over populated. But I wonder to myself, How do we know what the population was 5000 years ago or 10,00 years ago or 100,000 years ago.

People are saying the world is over populated, but how many years back does that go? 100 years 300 years?? I just wanna know.

Answer 1

Over populaton is directly related to the resources available per head.

There are not enough for everyone hence lots of starving national populations.

We as a world people are cutting down irreplacbale forests across the globe for mass soya bean production for food and bio-fuels.

When the demand outstrips supply then you can say we are over populated.

At this point we are VERY over populated.

Answer 2

we dont know exactly, but scientists have pretty good estimates of the population at various points in history based on the archaeological record

there is no doubt that the world's population today is higher than it has ever been before in history.

however there is quite a lot of debate about what exactly it means to be "overpopulated"

some will point to global poverty and the global food crisis and say the world is already overpopulated because look at all the people who can't even get food.

but others will say that the food crisis and poverty are not results of "overpopulation" but rather of problems in resource distribution. in other words, the world's richest people control a disproportionately high share of the world's resources and wealth. these people will say that it is these unjust socio-economic and political factors, and not "overpopulation" that are the cause of global poverty and starvation.

in fact, there is PLENTY of food currently grown in the world to feed EVERYONE. its just that not everyone gets to see that food. and rich people eat lots of meat which are highly resource-intensive.