Thomas Malthus stated his theory in the year 1798.

Background Information:

Thomas Malthus was an English economist who lived from 1766 to 1834. He was concerned about the issue of overpopulation, and he believed that if the population continued to grow unchecked, it would eventually outstrip the resources available to support it.

Malthus's Theory:

Malthus's theory, which he first outlined in his 1798 book "An Essay on the Principle of Population," can be summarized as follows:

- Population growth is exponential, meaning that it increases at a geometric rate.
- Food production, however, is only able to increase arithmetically, meaning that it increases at a much slower rate than population growth.
- As a result, there will always be more people than there are resources to support them. This leads to competition for resources, which in turn leads to poverty, famine, and disease.
- Malthus believed that the only way to prevent this outcome was to limit population growth, either through moral restraint (abstaining from sex) or through other means such as war, disease, or natural disasters.

Impact of Malthus's Theory:

Malthus's theory was controversial at the time, and it continues to be debated today. Some critics argue that his predictions have not come true because technological advancements have allowed us to increase food production and improve living standards. Others, however, point to the ongoing problems of poverty, hunger, and environmental degradation as evidence that Malthus's concerns were justified. Regardless of one's views on the matter, Malthus's theory remains an important contribution to the study of population and its impact on society.