This title examines one of the world's critical issues, world population. Readers will learn the historical background of this issue leading up to its current and future impact on society. Causes of increased population such as mechanization use of fossil fuels, improvements in crop yields, and improvements in medical care are discussed. Affects of increased population are examined including poverty, environmental degradation, stress, crowding, poor hygiene, disease, competition for resources, and demographic transitions. Climate change due to fossil fuel use and deforestation is also covered. Factors that limit population growth such as natural disasters and epidemics are explored, as are efforts to decrease world population such as lowering birth rates, replacement level family planning, education, and expanding women's rights. Programs that address world population such as and the Transition Town Post Carbon Institute are also introduced. Engaging text, informative sidebars, and color photographs present information realistically, leaving readers with a thorough, honest interpretation of world population. Features include a timeline, facts, additional resources, Web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index. Essential Issues is a series in Essential Library, an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.