---
title: "Population Growth Rate — AP Enviro Definition & Exam Guide"
description: "Population growth rate measures how fast a population changes from births, deaths, and migration. Learn how resources cap it and how it's tested on AP Enviro."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/ap-enviro/key-terms/population-growth-rate"
type: "key-term"
subject: "AP Environmental Science"
---

# Population Growth Rate — AP Enviro Definition & Exam Guide

## 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.

## Related Study Guides

- [3.5 Population Growth and Resource Availability](/ap-enviro/unit-3/population-growth-resource-availability/study-guide/VJyMj5rEj3GLAlaNlQcL)

## Review

### Related Terms

- [Exponential Growth](/ap-enviro/key-terms/exponential-growth): 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](/ap-enviro/key-terms/demographic-transition): Demographic transition refers to the shift from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as countries undergo industrialization and development.