4.3 Why are the populations increasing?

How do populations increase?

1. Increased net migration (immigratation - emigration = net migration)
2. High fertility rate
3. High birth rate combined with a low birth rate = high natural increase

What are the reasons for high birth rates?

• no contraception
• families need big families because they need the kids to work on the farm
• there is no superannuation, therefore children need to take care of their parents. The more children, the less burden it is to the children.
• High child mortality rate means that parents are likely to have more children as insurance, so that they will have people to work the farm and look after them in their old age.
  

Which countries have high birth rates?
Laos
Bhutan
Cambodia – 89% live in rural areas – we can assume they are farmers (agricultural workers) and therefore need big families to work the farm.
Nepal
Pakistan
Nepal
Bangladesh
India – 70% live in rural areas – we can assume they are farmers (agricultural workers) and therefore need big families to work the farm.


What are the reasons for low death rates?

• life expectancy rates are high because of improvements in medicine and health faculties
• infant mortality rate drops because improvements in child birth practices and access to mid wives.

Examples of countries whose death rates have dropped are… China, Pakistan, India, Nepal, These countries still have high birth rates so their populations are growing rapidly as result.