How overpopulated are we really?

At first glance - yes, there are a lot of us. The world population has exceeded 8 billion people, and in some regions the density is really off the charts. Cities are growing up and out, in megalopolises it is impossible to push through, traffic jams, noise, garbage. But here's the paradox - huge tracts of Earth are still sparsely populated. Huge areas of Canada, Russia, Australia, Siberia, the Sahara or Alaska are practically empty.

So, the issue is not the number of people as such, but the uneven distribution of resources and population. Millions are crowded into urban centers because that's where the work, infrastructure, and prospects are. And the rest of the world remains almost empty.

What's the root of the problem?
The problem is not so much in the population size as in the inefficient system of consumption and distribution.

We throw away tons of food, while millions go hungry.

We deplete the earth by cutting down forests for monocultures.

We build cities without taking into account the environment and comfort for living.

We create "smart" technologies, but do not learn to be smart in everyday life.

And until we reconsider our habits, no reduction in the birth rate will save the planet.

What can be done?
Smart urban planning and settlement - support for life in small towns, decentralization.

Investments in education and conscious parenting are not prohibitions, but understanding.

Sustainable consumption - food, energy, water, garbage: everything needs a measure.

Development of technologies aimed at preserving resources - vertical farms, desalination of water, renewable energy.

International cooperation, not isolation and struggle for resources.

Or maybe overpopulation is a myth?
There is an opinion that talk about overpopulation is used as a way to distract attention from real problems: poverty, corruption, war, inequality. After all, it is much easier to blame "too many people" than to admit that the system of distribution of goods simply does not work.

So, is this a problem?
Yes. But not because there are many of us, but because we have not yet learned to live as a single intelligent organism.

Overpopulation is not a death sentence. It is a challenge. And humanity has dealt with challenges more than once.