zero population growth, n.

zero-population-growth
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zero-population-growth_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2018

# zero population growthnoun

## Factsheet

### What does the phrase zero population growth mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the phrase zero population growth. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

### Where does the phrase zero population growth come from?

Earliest known use

1950s

The earliest known use of the phrase zero population growth is in the 1950s.

OED's earliest evidence for zero population growth is from 1955, in Population Studies.

### Nearby entries

1. zero-line, n. 1834–
2. zero magnet, n. 1890–
3. zero mark, n. 1821–
4. zero meridian, n. 1849–
5. zero norm, n. 1966–
6. zero option, n. 1976–
7. zero-order, adj. 1919–
8. zero plane, n. 1842–
9. zero point, n. 1789–
10. zero-point energy, n. 1913–
11. zero population growth, n.1955–
12. zero post, n. 1908–
13. zero-power, adj. 1950–
14. zero-rate, v. 1972–
15. zero-rated, adj. 1972–
16. zero rating, n. 1971–
17. zero sound, n. 1957–
18. zero-sum, adj. 1944–
19. zeroth, adj. 1850–
20. zero tillage, n. 1963–
21. zero tolerance, n. 1940–

## Meaning & use

1. 1955–
   The absence of any increase (or decrease) in a population over a period of time; abbreviated ZPG.
   1. 1955

      > The late stages of demographic transitions have usually been represented as involving close to zero population growth.

      Population Studies vol. 9 51
   2. 1967

      > Most discussions of the population crisis lead logically to zero population growth as the ultimate goal.

      Science 10 November 732/2
   3. 1983

      > Much of the push..for zero growth—both zero population growth and zero economic growth—has come out of concern about the immense environmental devastation being wreaked by unbridled growth.

      W. H. Blackstone in J. Howie, Ethical Princ. Social Policy ii. 36
   4. 2012

      > The result has been zero population growth in one of the world's most underpopulated and unspoilt places.

      telegraph.co.uk (Nexis) 13 September
   ecology
   1. zero population growth 1955–
      The absence of any increase (or decrease) in a population over a period of time; abbreviated ZPG.
   2. ZPG 1970–
      Zero population growth.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

Originally published as part of the entry for zero, n. & adj.

zero, n. & adj. was revised in June 2018.