Population Growth (Cambridge (CIE) O Level Economics)

Factors that Affect Population Growth

• Population refers to all of the inhabitants of a particular country

• The population growth rate is the size of the change in the population of a country, expressed as a percentage 

• The following factors affect population growth

  • The annual birth rate

  • The annual death rate

  • The net migration

    • A higher birth rate and lower death rate would both increase the population

    • More immigration than emigration would increase the growth rate

• All countries have different rates of population growth

  • Population growth rates are currently highest in less economically developed countries such as Niger, Mali and Zambia

  • Population growth rates are lowest in more economically developed countries

  • In some MEDCs such as Italy and Japan, the population is decreasing as the number of deaths is higher than the number of births

Reasons For Different Rates of Population Growth

• There are two broad causes of population change

  • Migration (explained above)

  • Natural population change (birth rates and death rates)  

Natural causes of population change 

• Natural change in population is calculated by deducting the death rate from the birth rate 

• The following factors led to a decrease in the death rate 

  • The agricultural revolution led to higher yields and healthier, more varied diets

  • Improvements to medicine and medical care 

  • Improvements to technology and transport, leading to a wealthier population which increases life expectancy

  • Improved housing and sanitation 

• The birth rate has remained high in LEDCs due to

  • Lack of access to family planning and contraception 

  • An increase in women surviving childbirth

  • Families continuing to have large numbers of children to look after their parents in old age and to help support the family

  • Culture of having larger families which takes many years to change

  • Religious reasons 

• The birth rate has fallen significantly in many MEDCs due to

  • Increased access to family planning and contraception

  • Changing social norms which include starting families later, having fewer children, or remaining single

  • Increased costs of child rearing and university education