Growth of population before 1850 the growth of population before 1850 was low and not alarming. It was 1000 million in 1880 due to:
(i) The food supply was not assured. There was scarcity of food because of hostile environment and prevalence of epidemics, diseases, famines and wars.
(ii) Birth rate was high and death rate was also high. Growth rate was, therefore, low.
(iii) With the spread of agriculture, food supply was assured and with settled life, death rate declined gradually, though the birth rate remained high. Population increased slowly.
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(iv) People migrated to new areas and more and more land was brought under cultivation. In the beginning of the Christian era population was about 300 million.
(v) The growth of population up to the Industrial Revolution continued to be slow. The industrial revolution was followed by migration of people from Europe to North America, South America, Australia and Africa.
(vi) Advancement in medical science resulted in the control of deadly diseases like small pox, plague, cholera, Kala Azaar, etc.
Death rate gradually decreased due to improved medical sciences, protected water supply, sanitation and other preventive measures against diseases. As such, by 1850 the population reached 1000 million. Growth of world population after 1850 Population increased at an alarming rate and by July, 1987 it reached 5000 million. The rapid increase of population after 1850 was due to –
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(i) Industrial Revolution: It helped man to produce more. Increased production of commodities led to increase in population.
(ii) Colonization: Europeans discovered new lands like Africa, Australia, New Zealand, North America, South America, etc.
(iii) Advancement in medical sciences led to better control of diseases and Population epidemics; death rate reduced, but birth rate remained high.
(iv) Lack of awareness among the people to check the birth rate.