2.1.14—Human carrying capacity
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Objective
- 2.1.14
- Level
- SL
Estimate Human Capacity Conditionally
Human carrying capacity is conditional on diet, consumption, technology, trade, efficiency, spatial scale and environmental degradation.
State the lifestyle and time horizon before estimating. Efficiency may expand access, but rebound in total use and depleted natural capital can reduce the gain.
Two cities of equal population need different land and energy capacity if one imports food and consumes more per person.
No. It depends on stated assumptions about lifestyle, technology, scale and time.
Technology cannot expand carrying capacity indefinitely without natural-capital limits.