Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
The population growth rate refers to the rate at which a population increases or decreases over a specific period of time, taking into account births, deaths, and migration.
AP course connection
Topic 3.5: 3.5 Population Growth and Resource Availability
Exponential growth occurs when a population increases at an accelerating rate over time, resulting in a J-shaped curve.
Carrying Capacity: Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals that an environment can sustainably support without causing significant negative impacts.
Demographic transition refers to the shift from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as countries undergo industrialization and development.