The reasons for different rates of population growth

 

Discuss the reasons for different rates of population growth

In favour: Reasons why population growth may be high

A country may have a high population growth rate due to a high birth rate. This may occur when the population is young, women marry at an early age and have more children. A lack of education and limited job opportunities for women may also encourage larger families. In addition, if children are cheap to bring up and family planning is not widely available, the birth rate is likely to be high.

A country may also experience high population growth due to a low death rate. Good healthcare, healthy diets, better housing and improved living conditions can reduce the death rate. This means more people survive for longer, increasing the population size. In addition, if more people immigrate into a country than emigrate from it, net migration will be positive, increasing population growth.

Against: Reasons why population growth may be low

In contrast, a country may have a low population growth rate due to a low birth rate. The cost of raising children may be high because of education and healthcare expenses. In addition, women may have better education and more well-paid job opportunities, encouraging them to delay marriage and have fewer children. Government support such as pensions and sickness benefits may also reduce the need for large families.

A country may also experience low or negative population growth due to a high death rate or net emigration. Poor healthcare, unhealthy diets, poor housing and conflict may increase the death rate. Furthermore, if living standards and job opportunities are better abroad, people may emigrate. If more people leave the country than enter it, net migration will be negative, reducing population growth. For example, Latvia's population is declining because its birth rate has fallen more rapidly than its death rate and it is experiencing net emigration.

Conclusion

The rate of population growth depends on the relationship between the birth rate, death rate and net migration. A high birth rate, low death rate and positive net migration are likely to increase population growth, while the opposite factors may lead to low or negative population growth.

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