Birth&death rates Flashcards
Why do developing countries have high birth rates???
Children are required for agricultural work, especially in subsistence farming.
High infant mortality rates lead parents to have more children in order that they survive into adulthood.
In some cultures, having many children is considered a way to please the Gods, known as virility.
Challenges in accessing contraception, like condoms, make it harder to control family size.
A lack of elderly care infrastructure means parents rely on having many children to support them in old age, reducing the financial burden on each child.
In urban areas, children may be sent to work to contribute to the family’s income.
Why are birthrates falling world wide???
Improved healthcare results in higher child survival rates, leading to fewer births.
Delayed marriages among couples reduce the window for having children.
Advancements in farming technology, such as machinery and fertilisers, decrease the need for labour on family farms.
The cost of raising children encourages smaller families, resulting in more disposable income and an improved standard of living.
Accessible family planning services in many countries enable better family size control, leading to fewer births.
The empowerment of women in the 21st century shifts their focus towards careers, resulting in fewer children to balance work and home life.
Why are death rates higher developing countries???
Developing countries lack the resources to effectively combat diseases, resulting in persistently high death rates from one generation to the next.
War and political instability can lead to significant casualties in developing nations.
Famines caused by droughts and natural disasters result in malnutrition and fatalities in certain countries.
Limited access to clean drinking water can lead to waterborne diseases.
Inadequate sanitation contributes to disease spread.
The absence of health infrastructure, essential medicines and trained medical professionals result in inadequate medical care.
High levels of infant mortality add to a country’s high death rate.
Why are death rates falling globally????
Advancements in medical research and pharmaceuticals have led to more effective treatments for various diseases.
Preventive measures, like providing flu vaccines to vulnerable populations, help prevent diseases.
Free healthcare systems ensure people stay healthy, leading to longer life expectancies.
Increased global trade allows people to access food from other nations, ensuring a healthy and balanced diet.
High-quality ante-natal and post-natal care improve child survival rates and contribute to longer life expectancy.
Efforts to combat malnutrition and hunger have reduced deaths related to malnutrition-related illnesses.
Impact of rapid population growth???
Children
Large numbers of school children places pressure on education services.
Class sizes increase and quality of education suffers.
To meet the increased demand, there’s a necessity to recruit more teachers and midwives.
Maternity hospitals become overcrowded due to the high birth rate.
Insufficient access to nutritious food, resulting in malnutrition and related health issues among children.
Working (economically active) population
The growing population exerts additional pressure on housing, often resulting in the development of shanty towns.
The intensified competition for jobs leads to higher unemployment rates and widespread poverty.
A surge in demand for affordable housing, leading to housing shortages and inadequate living conditions.
Poverty, in turn, contributes to elevated crime rates.
The public transport system becomes overcrowded, and road congestion worsens.
However, a substantial and capable working population may attract significant investments from large companies, which can create employment opportunities and foster prosperity.
In some cases, governments may encourage outward migration as a measure to alleviate the population pressure.
Elderly
The increasing number of people living longer requires government to invest in pensions to support the economically inactive elderly population.
Additional investments are required in nursing homes, home help services, and related facilities to cater to the aging population.
Impact of slow population growth???
Children
The decline in the birth rate can affect industries that cater to children, such as toy shops and baby equipment manufacturers.
School closures, especially in rural areas, can result from shrinking populations, prompting rural-to-urban migration for better access to education.
A smaller pool of young people can lead to a decline in innovation and entrepreneurship, which are often associated with younger demographics.
A decreasing number of children born can result in a higher dependency ratio, meaning that a larger proportion of the population is dependent on a smaller working-age population to support them.
This can put additional pressure on social welfare programs and public finances.
In the long term, a consistently low birth rate can lead to population decline, which can have cascading effects on a country’s economy, culture, and society.
Working (economically active) population
A declining working-age population can lead to labour shortages, making it difficult for businesses to find and retain skilled workers.
This can hinder economic growth and productivity.
With fewer people of working age contributing to the economy, a country may experience slower economic growth, as there are fewer individuals producing goods and services and paying taxes.
Governments may need to raise tax rates to fund essential services due to a dwindling workforce and an increasing elderly population.
The retirement age might be raised to extend individuals’ working years, contributing to pension funds.
To maintain population growth, governments may rely on inward migration, (ie immigration from other countries).
A smaller pool of young, innovative individuals can lead to reduced entrepreneurship and innovation, as these activities are often associated with younger demographics. This can affect a country’s ability to adapt to technological advancements and economic changes.
A shrinking labour force can harm industries that rely on younger workers, such as construction and manufacturing.
Certain job sectors, often considered undesirable, may face labour shortages and remain unfilled.
Elderly
With an aging population, healthcare costs tend to rise as older individuals require more medical attention and long-term care services.
Urban areas may require redevelopment to accommodate a growing number of elderly people, for example, improved public transportation and accessible facilities.
Increased investment in elderly care services, including nursing homes and home care, becomes necessary to provide adequate support for the ageing population.
Factors affecting population density???
Physical factors
Flat terrain can support higher numbers of people because it is easier to construct houses and other infrastructure such as roads and factories.
Coastal regions often have high population densities because of their proximity to the sea, enabling trade through ports.
Fertile soil, typically found along riverbanks, supports agriculture and sustains larger populations.
Areas rich in natural resources, such as coal, oil, or forests, tend to attract high-density populations due to economic opportunities.
Natural barriers, such as mountains or dense forests, may limit accessibility and lead to lower population densities in such areas.
Extreme climates, such as deserts or tundra, often result in low population densities, as these environments are inhospitable for large human settlements.
Human factors
Urban areas like London experience high population densities due to the concentration of job opportunities.
Migration can lead to areas of high population density, particularly when refugees move to refugee camps in search of safety.
Countries with stable governments tend to attract people because of the safety and protection of human rights they offer.
Government policies and incentives, such as tax breaks or subsidies for businesses, can play a role in attracting populations to certain areas.
