Group Discussion on Population

The rapidly growing population of the world is an alarming notion which we tend to ignore more often than we should compared to other factors that are given prime time consideration. We are in strict need of restrictions, given that our religious leaders shut their theory of producing more children.

A Group Discussion on Population can be presented to you from various angles. Below are some facts, quotes and arguments to help you form an opinion on Group discussions topics related to population explosion.

Some facts about Population:

  • The world population reached 7.6 billion as of mid-2017. The world has added around one billion people over the last twelve years.
  • With the world's population growing by 1.10 percent per year (83 million people annually), it is estimated that the global population will 8.6 billion in 2030, 9.8 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100.
  • 50.4 percent of the world's population is male and 49.6 percent is female.
  • Statistics show that half of the world's population growth will be concentrated in just nine countries: India, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan, Ethiopia, the United Republic of Tanzania, the United States of America, Uganda and Indonesia (in order of their contribution to world population).
  • China (1.41 billion) and India (1.34 billion) continue to be the two most crowded countries of the world, representing 19 and 18 percent of the world's population, respectively.
  • The average population density of India is 382 people per square kilometre but Bihar's figures stands at an enormous 1,102 people per sq. km.

Group discussion topics on Population, you can expect to see:

1. Overpopulation is harmful for the entire world.
2. Overpopulation is the mother of poverty and illiteracy in India.
3. Growing population of India - Boon or Bane?
4. India should strictly adopt the policy of one child (or two) per parent.
5. Is the world population exceeding the carrying capacity of Earth?
6. Population growth is good for economic development.
7. Immigration can lead to overpopulation in some nations.
8. India should not take in any more Bangladeshi or Rohingyas to prevent overpopulation.
9. Forced eviction in China - the right way to deal with population influx?
10. Should India adapt the eviction technique that China has been practicing?
11. India must take immediate measures to stop flow of population from rural to urban cities.
12. Overpopulation results in low living standards.
13. Beijing's crackdown on low-end population is unfair.
14. Population control needs to be strictly implemented in India.

Some quotes that can be used in Group Discussion on Population:

"A crowded society is a restrictive society; an overcrowded society becomes an authoritarian, repressive and murderous society."
- Edward Abbey

- Dan Brown, Inferno

Pros of One-child policy:

1. Population control: China claims to have prevented the increase of 300 million people by implementing this policy.

2. Better education: Even the poor and the middle class can afford to educate their single child in a better institution than they would to their 6 children.

3. Eradicate poverty: Fewer mouths to feed will help poor parents develop better living standards.

4. Child labour: Rise in child labour has been directly proportional to number of children in a family.

Cons of One-child policy:

1. Abortions: Given the preference to boys in India, it will lead to more female infanticide and abortions.

2. Over-indulgence: Catering the needs of a single child make the parents obsessed towards fulfilling their demands, hence spoiling them.

3. Less active youth: No siblings to play with and grow up with will lead to less active childhood.

4. Gender ratio: The male to female ratio will suffer immensely if this policy is adapted in India.


India might not be ready for one child policy but strict implementation of two child policy (irrespective of religion, ethnicity, caste and state) could help a big deal in reducing population explosion. It should be punishable offense and only then can we expect population control.

We hope that you find this GD guide on Population useful in dealing with group discussions on this and other related topics.