Demography

Question 1

what is population size

Answer 1

the interplay of births, deaths and migration
P2 = P1 + births - deaths + net migration

Question 2

what is a population pyramid

Answer 2

a graphic presentation of the age and sex composition of the population

Question 3

types of population pyramids

Answer 3

• Spike: high birth rate, high death rate, low growth rate, in equilibrium
• Wedge: high birth rate, low death rate, high growth rate, in transition
• Barrel / beehive: low birth rate, low death rate, low growth rate, in equilibrium

Question 4

what is demographic transition

Answer 4

a theory/model to explain shift from Spike to Barrel population pyramids

Question 5

where is demographic transition usually seen

Answer 5

• Transition from high birth and high death rates to low birth and low death rates
• Often seen in change from rural (poor) to industrialized (wealthy) society
  Note: changes in birth rate and mortality in infancy and childhood are very important

Question 6

how does the demographic transition occur?

Answer 6

1. Population has high birth rates and high death rates (particularly at young ages)
2. Death rates begin to fall (improved environmental conditions)
3. Population increases rapidly
4. Birth rates begin to fall but population has increased greatly
5. Population has low birth and death rates

Question 7

what is the dependency ratio

Answer 7

Question 7

key death rates in demography

Answer 7

1. Infant mortality rate – (number of deaths of infants aged 0-1 year/number of live births) for a specific time-period. Reported as infant deaths per 1000
   * Measure of populations state of health (general – food, sanitation, overcrowding and quality of healthcare – especially with low rates)
   * International indicator of health
2. Under 5 mortality rates – (no. of deaths of infants 0-5 years/no of live births) for a specific time-period. Reported as infant deaths per 1000
3. Maternal mortality ratio (MMR) – ratio of the number of maternal deaths during a given time period per 100,000 live births during the same time-period
   * Deaths during pregnancy or within 42 days of termination
   * Associated with or aggravated by pregnancy

Question 8

what are the alternative population measures

Answer 8

fertility rate
life expectancy
healthy life expectancy
PYLL (potential years of life lost)
DALY (disability adjusted life years)