population explosion

American  

noun

1. the rapid increase in numbers of a particular species, especially in the world's human population since the end of World War II, attributed to an accelerating birthrate, a decrease in infant mortality, and an increase in life expectancy.

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population explosion British  

noun

1. a rapid increase in the size of a population caused by such factors as a sudden decline in infant mortality or an increase in life expectancy

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Etymology

Origin of population explosion

An Americanism dating back to 1950–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

population explosion

The high desert has seen a population explosion over the past few decades thanks to its relatively cheap housing compared to Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

She added that it was unlikely there would be a population explosion as wildcats live in low density numbers over wider areas and they would be closely monitored and managed.

From BBC ● Nov. 18, 2025

With the expansion of the area’s wetlands in 2021, it saw a population explosion.

From Science Magazine ● Nov. 21, 2023

Beasley attributes the population explosion to a few explanations, including humans illegally moving wild pigs to the areas where hunting them is legal year-round, as well as to warmer climates in recent decades.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2023

All those momentous consequences of pottery triggered a population explosion, causing Japan’s population to climb from an estimated few thousand people to a quarter of a million.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond