Population is an important driver; however, population growth projections for drylands can be confounded by the impact of socio-economic and health problems, like HIV/AIDS. For example, in the case of Botswana (mostly semiarid) where one in three adults are reported to be infected, a 20% decline in population is predicted between 2000 and 2050.

This situation could also apply to other dryland countries in Africa. Rapid demographic changes - increases or decreases -make planning resource management more problematic. Migrating populations can be a source of additional pressure on dryland environments and resource management within them when livestock temporarily concentrate at key resources such as water points. Under these circumstances conflicts over water often arise between nomads and farmers (e.g. in dry subhumid part of Tanzania). A transition between migration as a temporary livelihood strategy to permanent migration creates additional pressure on drylands.