Skip to main content
Log in

Human Carrying Capacity Is Determined by Food Availability

  • Published:
Population and Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Simple mathematical models have illustrated the relationship between human carrying capacity and population growth. In this study, food supply is proposed as the variable which best accounts for the human carrying capacity. The logistic equation, using food supply data as a variable carrying capacity, yields population estimates which are in accord with actual population numbers. That food supply data adequately fits the logistic model of human population dynamics provides evidence that, consistent with ecological notions typically applied only to nonhuman species, human population increases are a function of increased food availability.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arrow, K., Bolin, B., Costanza, R., Dasgupta, P., Foilce, C., Holling, C. S., Jansson, B., Levin, S., Maler, K., Perrings, C. & Pimentel D. (1995). Economic Growth, Carrying Capacity, and the Environment. Science 268, 520–521.

    Google Scholar 

  • Calhoun, J. B. (February, 1962). Population Density and Social Pathology. Scientific American 206, 139–150.

  • Cohen, J. E. (1995a). Population Growth and the Earth's Human Carrying Capacity. Science 269, 341–346.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. E. (1995b). How Many People Can the Earth Support? New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daly, H.E. (1996). Beyond growth: The economics of sustainable development. Boston, MA: Beacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Darwin, C. (1859). On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection. Random House, USA, Modern Library edn. (1998).

  • Gillman, M. & Hails, R. (1997). An Introduction to Ecological Modelling. Malden, MA: Blackwell Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gotelli, N. (1998). A Primer of Ecology (2nd ed.). Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hern, W. (1999). How Many Times Has the Human Population Doubled? Comparisons with Cancer. Population and Environment 21 (1), 59–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Higgins, G.M., Kassam, A.H. Naiken, L. Fischer, G. & Shah, M.M. (1983). Potential population supporting capacities of lands in the developing world. Technical report of project INT/75/P13, “Land resources for populations of the future,” FPA/INT/513. Rome: Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations.

  • Hinrichsen, D. (1994). Putting the bite on planet earth. International wildlife 24, 36–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinrichsen, D. (December, 1997). Winning the Food Race. Population Reports Series M, No. 13, Baltimore, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Population Information Program.

  • Hopfenberg, R. & Pimentel, D. (2001). Human Population Numbers as a Function of Food Supply. Environment, Development and Sustainability 3 (1), 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lappé, F. M., Collins, J., & Rosset, P. (1998). World Hunger: 12 Myths (2nd ed.). New York: Grove Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lotka, A. J. (1925). Elements of Physical Biology. Baltimore, MD: Williams and Wilkins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lutz, W., Sanderson, W. & Scherbov, S. (1997). Doubling of World Population Unlikely. Nature 387, 803–805.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marchetti, C., Meyer, P. S. & Ausubel, J. H. (1996). Human population dynamics revisited with the logistic model: How much can be modeled and predicted? Technological Forecasting and Social Change 52 (1), 1–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meritt, M.A. (2001). The unsustainability and origins of socioeconomic increase. Unpublished master's thesis, The City University of New York, New York.

  • Meyer, P. S. & Ausubel, J. H. (1999). Carrying capacity: A model with logistically varying limits. Technological Forecasting and Social Change 61 (3), 209–214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, P.S, Yung, J.W. & Ausubel, J. H. (1999). A primer on logistic growth and substitution: The mathematics of the loglet lab software. Technological Forecasting and Social Change 61 (3), 247–271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearl, R. & Reed L.J. (1920). On the rate of growth of the population of the United States since 1790 and its mathematical representation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 6, 275–288.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, W. (1979). Malthus. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pimentel, D. (1966). Complexity of ecological systems and problems in their study and management. In Watt, K. (Ed.) Systems Analysis in Ecology (pp. 15–35). New York and London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Population Reference Bureau (PRB): 2000, 2000 World Population Data Sheet, Washington, DC: PRB, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinn, D. (1992). Ishmael. New York: Bantam/Turner.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quinn, D. (1996). The Story of B. New York: Bantam Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahnema, M. (2002). A Different Look at the “Population Problem.” Population and Environment 24 (1), 97–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, E.O. & Bossert, W.H. (1971). A Primer of Population Biology. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Development Indicators: 2002, Agricultural Output and Productivity. Washington, DC: The World Bank 2002.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hopfenberg, R. Human Carrying Capacity Is Determined by Food Availability. Population and Environment 25, 109–117 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:POEN.0000015560.69479.c1

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:POEN.0000015560.69479.c1

Navigation