Unit 4 - Essays - Ageing and Youthful Populations UPDATED Flashcards
‘The main impact of a youthful population on a country is social.’ With the aid of examples, how far do you agree with this statement?
Paragraph 1: Social Impacts – Pressure on Education and Healthcare
Point: A large young population puts extreme pressure on schools and hospitals, creating serious social challenges.
Education:
The Gambia has one of the youngest populations in the world, with a median age of 17.
Schools are overcrowded, especially in urban areas like Banjul, where class sizes often exceed 50 students.
The government spends 20% of its budget on education, but this is still not enough.
In rural areas (Upper River Division), many children must walk long distances to attend school, reducing attendance.
Scale variation: The problem is worse in rural areas, where there are fewer schools.
Healthcare:
The Gambia has a high birth rate (28 per 1,000 people), meaning hospitals must care for many pregnant women and newborns.
The infant mortality rate is 38 per 1,000, one of the highest in West Africa.
Maternal health services are underfunded, leading to high rates of malnutrition and child deaths.
Spatial variation: Healthcare is worse in rural areas, where hospitals and doctors are limited.
Analysis: These are clearly social problems because they affect people’s education and health, which are essential for a country’s development.
Paragraph 2: Economic Impacts – High Unemployment and Informal Economy
Point: A youthful population can help the economy if jobs are available, but in The Gambia, unemployment is a major issue.
Youth unemployment is 41%, meaning almost half of young people cannot find work.
60,000 young people enter the job market each year, but the economy cannot create enough jobs for them.
Many young people work in the informal sector (70% of total employment)—this includes street vending, farming, and small businesses.
Informal jobs do not offer job security, meaning people live with financial uncertainty.
Temporal variation: The problem has worsened over the last decade as more young people enter the workforce without job opportunities.
If the economy cannot grow fast enough, many young people will remain unemployed, leading to poverty and frustration.
Analysis: Economic impacts are deeply connected to social impacts. If young people cannot find jobs, they cannot afford healthcare or education for their children, worsening social problems.
Paragraph 3: Environmental Impacts – Overpopulation and Resource Strain
Point: More people means more pressure on land, water, and housing, leading to long-term environmental issues.
Deforestation and Land Pressure:
The Gambia’s forests are shrinking by 4.2% per year due to increasing demand for land.
In rural areas like Central River Division, more young people are clearing land for farming and housing.
Urban Overcrowding and Pollution:
Cities like Serekunda are rapidly expanding, leading to uncontrolled urban growth.
Many young people migrate to cities, but there are not enough jobs, forcing them to live in slums with poor sanitation.
Water shortages are common, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks like cholera and typhoid.
Analysis: The environmental impact is both social and economic. Poor living conditions affect health and well-being (social), while deforestation and urbanization threaten economic sustainability.
Paragraph 4: Political and Cultural Impacts – Social Change and Governance Challenges
Point: A youthful population can drive political change, but also creates challenges for governments.
Youth Political Activism:
Since the fall of President Yahya Jammeh in 2017, young people have played a big role in politics.
Many are frustrated by unemployment and poor government services, leading to protests and demands for change.
Social media has given young people a platform to voice concerns, increasing pressure on the government.
Example: Political movements led by youth groups in Banjul have influenced policy decisions.
Traditional vs. Modern Culture:
A youthful population brings cultural shifts as young people adopt new ideas.
In rural areas, traditional family structures remain strong, but in cities, young people are embracing modern lifestyles.
This creates a cultural divide between older and younger generations, leading to tension in families and communities.
Analysis: While these are social impacts, they also have political consequences, making it hard to separate social from economic and political factors.
Conclusion
The social impacts of a youthful population are significant, especially in education, healthcare, and cultural change.
However, economic, environmental, and political impacts are equally important and cannot be ignored.
Final judgement: The statement is partially true, but the impact of a youthful population is not just social—it affects all parts of a country’s development.
