Final answer:
The human population demonstrates exponential growth, which means it grows more rapidly as the population size increases. This rapid growth has led to unprecedented increases in the number of people on Earth, but it could potentially shift to logistic growth if resource limitations arise.
Step-by-step explanation:
The human population grows by about 2 percent each year, showing exponential growth. Exponential growth in population means that as the population size increases, the rate at which it grows also becomes faster over time. This type of growth pattern is characterized by the fact that the larger the population becomes, the faster it grows. Historically, the human population has been growing very slowly, but in recent centuries, it has started to grow exponentially. This rapid increase is highlighted by the fact that it has only taken 12 years for the world's population to increase from six billion to seven billion people.
However, this exponential growth may not continue indefinitely. Logistic growth occurs when the number of individuals in a population increases up to a certain point—called carrying capacity—and then it levels off. Human populations have increased their carrying capacity by improving technology and resource use, which has helped maintain exponential growth for a longer period. Nevertheless, if resources become limited, the human population's growth will likely transition to logistic growth, where growth rates will stabilize.