Population Growth (Cambridge International IGCSE Economics)

Factors that Affect Population Growth

Spec point — 5.3.1 · Birth rate, death rate, net migration, immigration and emigration.

• 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

Exam Hint MCQ will often check your understanding of the differences between these terms. Remember immigration and emigration are not the same. Immigration is the inward movement of people into a country. Emigration is the outward movement of people from a country.

Reasons For Different Rates of Population Growth

Spec point — 5.3.1 · How and why birth rates, death rates and net migration vary between countries.

• 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