Examine the relevance of the Malthusian theory to developing countries. 

• The theory suggested some measures to population growth such as family planning late marriage which are being implemented in Uganda
• LDCs are concerned about the danger of over population of which Malthus was mindful
• There are low wages, poverty, and unemployment in LDCs that could have resulted from high population growth.
• He predicted starvation, suffering and death and unemployment in LDCs that have their origin from over population.
• He assumed that land is fixed in supply. In LDCs, land productivity is fixed due to poor technology.
• He predicted mass starvation, suffering and death. These have been experienced in LDCs in one way or another, for example there have been several ways in Uganda since independence.
• In some parts of Uganda it is true that population growth rate is very high like in Kigezi and Bugisu, low of diminishing return is in operation hence justifying fears Malthus.
• In LDCs, it is true that population is growing at a faster rate than food production. This justifies Malthus observation that food grows at an arithmetic rate while population grows at geometric rate.
• He prophesized that an improvement in health care and food supply would lead to an increase in population. This is true in Uganda where immunization programs have led to an increase in population due to the fall in infant mortality rate.

However, to some extent, the theory is not applicable to LDCs due to the following facts

• He assumed that resources e.g. land are fixed and therefore food production cannot increase faster than population but ignored that the quality of resources can be improved.
• He ignored the fact that improvement in technology lead to increase in food production
• The ignored the fact that continuous supply of food can obtained from international trade.
• He assumed that food is not the only determinant of population growth; there are other factors such as immigration, levels of education, and cultural beliefs.
• Foreign aid may not necessarily increase population in developing countries like Africa, because not all foreign aids are used in food production
• Malthus never indicated the time when the population trap would occur which means the theory is in waiting for the reality to occur.
• In spite of population increase, the standards of living of people have been raising in many countries which is contrary to Malthusian theory.
• The modern medicine and public health programs have reduced the death rate and therefore population increase does not show a define relationship with income per capita.
• The theory was developed in Britain and has never been experimented in developing countries and probably not substantial in developing countries.