Human Population Dynamics

A developed country consumes more resources per person. For example, people in the U.S. consume 10 to 30 times more resources than people in developing countries.&nbsp.An affluent nation is expected to have a greater impact on the earth’s resources. The higher standard of life combined with higher life expectancy in the affluent nation is expected to consume much more of the earth’s resources than even a rapidly growing nation with a large population base as the carbon footprint of a growing nation starts from a much smaller.

The Russian Federation has the Lowest Growth rate (-0.377%). It does not have the lowest total consumption pressure or the lowest total ecological footprint.&nbsp.China has the lowest per person ecological footprint (1.84). China does not have the lowest total ecological footprint. In fact, its total ecological footprint is next only to the U.S. Though China has a low per person ecological footprint, it has a very high population (4.5 times that of the U.S.), which overshadows the low ecological footprint making the total ecological footprint very high.

Yes, population size is one of the very important predictors of total consumption pressure.China has the highest population, which overshadows the effect of its low per-person consumption pressure, and makes its total consumption pressure very high. The U.S. has a population of one-fifth of China, and yet has the highest total consumption pressure. Therefore, though population size is an important predictor, there are other equally important predictors as well.&nbsp.In general, the European countries have the highest per person ecological footprint.

This is expected as the standard of living is higher in the European countries, and consequently, the resource consumption per person is also expected to be high.&nbsp.&nbsp.The European countries have a high ecological deficit. These countries are, therefore, utilizing far more resources than they have within their boundaries. Chile, though a South American country, has a small ecological deficit probably owing to the peculiar geographical shape and position of the country