CHAPTER 34
POPULATION
34.1 FACTORS THAT AFFECT POPULATION GROWTH
34.2 THE REASONS FOR DIFFERENT RATES OF POPULATION
GROWTH
34.3 THE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN THE SIZE AND STRUCTURE
OF POPULATIONS
LEARNING OUTCOMES
◦By the end of the chapter you will be able to:
Describe the factors that affecting population growth
Analyse the reasons for different rates of population
growth in different countries
Discuss the effects of changes in the size and
structure of population on different countries
34.1 FACTORS THAT AFFECT
POPULATION GROWTH
◦ Key terms
Birth rate: The number of live births per thousand of the population each year
General fertility rate: the number of live births per thousand women between the ages of 15
and 44 years
Death rate: the number of deaths per thousand of the population each year
Infant mortality rate: the number of children less than one year old dying divided by the
number of live births in a particular year
Maternal mortality rate: the number of deaths of women related to childbearing divided by
the total number of live births in a particular year
Immigration : the number of people moving into a country in a given time period
Emigration : the number of people moving out of a country in a given time period
Net migration : the difference between immigration into a country and emigration out of a
country during a given time period
34.1 FACTORS THAT AFFECT
POPULATION GROWTH
◦ Population growth in a country is affected by a number of factors
Birth rate If the birth rate of a country goes up, it will lead to population
growth.
[It can also be measured by the number of children born to the
average women in her lifetime]
Death rate If the death rate of a country goes down, it will lead to population
growth.
[infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate are also
important]
Net migration If the number of immigrants moving into a country is greater than
the number of emigrants leaving it, the net migration figure will be
positive and there will be a growth in population
34.2 THE REASONS FOR DIFFERENT
RATES OF POPULATION GROWTH
Differences in People aim to have more children to counteract high
birth rates level of infant mortality
Children can add to household earnings once they
start work
Knowledge about methods of birth control is
generally less widespread in developing countries
The level of female employment can vary between
countries and this can affect decisions about
whether to have children or not
If there is a tendency to marry later, this could have
an effect on the birth rate
People may prefer to have higher standard of living
and do not want to expense of having children
34.2 THE REASONS FOR DIFFERENT
RATES OF POPULATION GROWTH
Differences in
death rates The quality of and access to health care varies
Inoculation rate against certain diseases is higher in
some countries
A better diet
Incomes tend to be lower in developing countries
making it more difficult to pay for medical care
Medical resources and facilities
34.2 THE REASONS FOR DIFFERENT
RATES OF POPULATION GROWTH
Differences in
net migration Relative ease with which people can move between
countries
War or civil disturbance
The extent of civil liberties and political freedom in a
country
People may move from one country to another if they
think that one economy is stronger than another and
therefore they have better chance of gaining
employment and earning an income
34.3 THE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN THE
SIZE AND STRUCTURE OF POPULATIONS
◦Optimum population = the ideal population of a country in
relation to the availability of resources
◦Overpopulated = a population that is too large in relation to
its other resources
◦Underpopulated = population is too small in relation to its
other resources
34.3 THE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN THE
SIZE AND STRUCTURE OF POPULATIONS
◦The effect of increase in population size
Benefits Disadvantages
A country will be able to make more If the increase in population is greater
effective use of its economic resources than the increase in output, there will
{if it is underpopulated previously} be fall in living standards –reduction in
Increase in the number of potential GDP
workers If a country becomes overpopulated,
Increase in potential consumers – size there may not enough output to satisfy
of markets will increase the people
Increase in investment, improving the Overcrowding – putting pressure on
technological efficiency of production education and housing
Significant negative environmental
effects – pollution and depletion of
resources
Rise in unemployment
34.3 THE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN THE
SIZE AND STRUCTURE OF POPULATIONS
◦The effects of decrease in population size
Benefits Disadvantages
If a country is above optimum size and There may not be enough people of
a decrease in population brings it to its working age, leading to a reduction in
optimum resources, it’s resources will total supply in an economy
be more efficiently utilised If a country can’t supply all of the
If there is a high level of products wanted by its population, they
unemployment, a decrease in may need to be imported and this could
population size could lead to a create difficulties in the current account
reduction in the rate of unemployment of the balance of payments
If there is a high level of inflation, a There will also be decrease in the level
decrease in population size could of total demand in an economy and this
reduce the extent of inflationary could make firms reluctant to invest
pressure, especially in relation to
demand-pull inflation
Reduction in the effects of overcrowding
and environmental issues
Change in the age distribution of
population
◦Ageing population
1. Average life expectancy has increased
2. Older people can be an economic asset because of their greater
experience and willingness to take on more responsibility
3. They can act as advisors and mentors to younger people
4. There will an increase in dependency ratio
- More workers needed to support each retired person
- There will be increased spending by the government for pensions and
health care, and leading to higher taxes for those in work
- Workers may get disincentive to work.
Changes in the gender distribution of
population
◦Economic effect is being reduced in many countries as female
participation in the labour force is being encouraged. Example; some
countries are providing nurseries and childcare facilities at subsidised
rates to encourage mothers to go out to work
◦The gender distribution in a country can be changed by government
policy
◦There are still inequality between the wages of males and females . It
has been estimated that women make up 60% of the world’s working
poor
Population pyramid
◦ Can be used to show the differences between certain features of population in
various countries
o Developing countries ; o Developed countries;
High death rate Low death rate
High birth rate Lower birth rate
Low life expectancy Longer life expectancy
THANK YOU
PREPARED BY MS ANN NANTHINI