Geography Comparison Flashcards
Introduction?
This essay will cover and compare the differences in development between Norway and Afghanistan by investigating development factors.
First method of research?
The first method of gathering information I used was the internet. I used the World Fact Book to find
information on the countries infant mortality rates, birth rates, and global national income per capita. The website was useful as it comes from a government agency so it is trustworthy, although, one disadvantage of
using the internet is that it can contain bias.
Second method of research?
The second method of gathering information I used was the atlas. I used the index of the atlas to find information on the countries literacy rates, internet rates, and infant mortality rates. An atlas is a reliable source as they go through many checks to make sure everything in it is accurate and they are also widely distributed to schools making them easily accessible. Although, one disadvantage of using an atlas is that it cannot be changed, this means that the information inside them can go out of
date quickly.
Figure one paragraph? (Literacy rate)
In figure one, Norway’s literacy rate is at 100% whilst Afghanistan’s is only at 37.3%. One reason for Norway’s higher literacy rate could be because the level of education there is higher and more accessible, this means that more people are getting qualifications. Some reasons for Afghanistan’s low literacy rates could be because kids are forced to work and schools may be harder to access, especially in rural areas.
Figure two paragraph? (Internet usage rate)
In figure two we can see that Norway has a higher internet usage rate at 90% compared to Afghanistan’s 18.4%. One reason for this may be because of Norway’s more advanced infrastructure, this means it is easier for the people there to gain access to technology/ the internet. Afghanistan’s lower internet usage rates may be because they might not have the luxury of being able to spend their income on electronics, as they might have to prioritise other expenses.
Figure three paragraph? (Infant mortality rate)
In figure three we can see that Afghanistan has a much higher infant mortality rate at 101.3 out of 1000 compared to Norway’s 1.8. This may be because Afghanistan has a poorer healthcare, pregnancy can be harder when the facilities in hospitals are not suitable for pregnancy, this can affect the outcome of the infant. On the other hand, Norway’s higher infant mortality rate may be because they have a much a lot more access to vaccines that prevent diseases leading to infant
mortality.
Figure four paragraph? (Life expectancy)
In figure four we can see that Norway has a higher life expectancy at 82 years old compared to Afghanistan’s 52. The standard of living in Norway is higher as it will have better hospitals, more access to doctors, and more money that they are able to spend on money and vaccines. One reason for Afghanistan’s lower life expectancy is because of poor nutrition, food shortages t famine, and they might have more physically demanding jobs, these will all lead to a shorter life.
Figure five paragraph? (Birth rates)
In figure five we can see that Afghanistan has a higher birth rate at 38 per 1000 people compared to Norway’s 12. This could be due to the lack of access to contraception and poorer education. One reason for Norway’s lower birth rate is that family planning is well taught in education, this helps unwanted pregnancies.
Figure six paragraph? (GNI per capita)
In figure six we can see that Norway has a higher Gross National Income Rate Per Capita at 63980 (US$) compared to Afghanistan’s 2000 (US$). This could be because people in developed countries have access to higher paying jobs as they have a higher level of education and skills, better infrastructure, and a wider range of industries. Although, in Afghanistan most of the population are dependent on agriculture which can be vulnerable to drought, floods, etc.
Conclusion?
By looking at the results in each of the graphs we can see that Norway is a more developed country than Afghanistan. One indicator that shows this is the internet usage rate, this shows us the difference in infrastructure between the two countries. Another indicator is the infant mortality rate, which shows us that Norway has better access to healthcare, another indicator is the Gross National Income Rate Per Capita which tells us that the education is better and that there are a lot more job opportunity’s requiring higher levels of education.
