China is the most populous nation in the world; India has one billion people in a land one-third the size of Australia; and Indonesia, the fourth, most-populous nation, has 107 people crammed into each square kilometer of land. With too many people and not enough resources, poverty and hunger in some countries are persistent realities and birth control policies are hot potatoes.

Ironically for developed and relatively affluent countries such as Australia, Singapore and Japan, underpopulation is an equally real threat. Social forces such as higher levels of education and financial independence among women are referring matrimony less attractive. In the wake of sexual revolution, couples pursue the notion of free love and indulge their passions without marriage. Labels such as old maids are archaic and thankfully almost unheard of, even as the average marital age of women continues its upward creep. Indeed, many women opt to remain single as they view marriage as irrelevant or even burdensome.

In Singapore and Japan, for instance, many women are getting college degrees and putting romance and marriage on the back burner in favor of career and financial independence. Even for couples that tied the knot, many prefer to remain childless or have very few children due to the astronomical cost of modern child raising. Moreover, the sweet taste of career success, financial affluence and personal freedom may be difficult to relinquish. Subsequently, as birth rates decline dangerously and the population fail to poise for replacement, governments begin to worry.

Should politicians be concerned with the romance and love life of individuals? Apparently, each personal life becomes the political, economic and social issue of a nation. A decreasing population becomes a threat to national security because future recruits are needed for the defense force. Manpower is needed for the domestic market and workforce, instead of over-relying on multinationals who owe no allegiance to the country. Finally, in a top-heavy social structure where an aging population outnumbers the younger generation, the physical and financial resources needed to care for the old may prove inadequate.

Some governments have tried family friendly incentives to encourage people to marry and propagate, but marital and reproductive interest remains low and birth rates continue to drop. Others have sought immigrants to fill the population gap, but opponents view immigration as a threat to the nation's cultural identity and security. Indeed, it is a dilemma and challenge to influence private decisions that have national implications.

What are some problems mentioned that are common to overpopulation?

One of the results of the sexual revolution is that ________.

Putting romance and marriage on the back burner means ________.

Which of the following is not a future threat of under-population?

The result of government intervention is that ________.