The size, growth, and composi=on of a country's popula=on affect its economic and environmental wellbeing. Rapid popula=on growth requires large commitments of natural resources for food, housing, educa=on, and health care. It worsens problems of poor air and water quality, soil erosion, and so on. In cases of very rapid growth, a country will have a large popula=on that is too young to provide support for themselves or others (i.e., there will not be enough adults to work). However, several countries are experiencing slow growth, stability, or even nega=ve growth (popula=on decline). In cases of nega=ve growth, a country will soon have a large popula=on that is too old to support themselves or others. Whether because of very rapid growth or nega=ve growth, countries have trouble caring for large popula=ons that require a great deal of health care, economic assistance, and the like. So, it is clear that popula=on composi=on is very important, not just popula=on size. As discussed in class and in the text, the most