Logistic Model of Population Growth

Copyright © 1999 Garret Wilson. Part of the MA International Studies and Diplomacy dissertation web site.

The population size at any time is determined by the previous size and a particular growth rate which also depends on the previous size. This is encapsulated by the following formula:

xn+1 = s · xn · (1 - xn)

where s can be taken to mean the intrinsic birth rate of the population measured in rescaled time units.

Initial population (x0):

Effective growth rate (s):

Number of iterations:

Copyright © 1998-2003 Garret Wilson