Global Demography

WEEK 13

Demography

is a statistical and mathematical study of the size, composition, spatial distribution of human population, and of changes overtime in these aspects through the operation of the five processes of fertility, mortality, marriage, migration and social mobility.

Demographics

is the study of a population based on factors such as age, race, and sex.

Aging of population

is a process in which the proportions of adults and elderly increase in a population, while the proportions of children and adolescents decrease.

Aging of population

This process results in
a rise in the median age of the population. Aging occurs when fertility rates decline while life
expectancy remains constant or improves at the older ages.

Crude birth rate

sometimes referred to as birth rate, is defined as the number of live births per year per 1,000 midyear population.

Crude death rate

sometimes referred to as death rate, is defined as the number of deaths per year per 1,000 midyear population.

Life expectancy

at a specific age is the average number of additional years a person of that age
could expect to live if current mortality levels observed for ages above that age were to
continue for the rest of that person’s life.

Migration

the movement of people across a specified boundary for the purpose of establishing a new or semi-permanent residence.

Mortality rate

the ratio between deaths and individuals in a specified population and during a particular time period: the incidence of deaths in a given population during a defined time period (such as one year) that is typically expressed per 1000 or 100,000 individuals: death rate an annual mortality rate of 15 deaths per 1000

fertility rate

at a given age is the number of children born alive to women of that age during the year as a proportion of the average annual population of women of the same age.

Importance of the study of Demography

is important as it allows us to study the nature in which our population changes over time, and this is important as it allows us to study how changes to the population, such as the aging population phenomenon we are witnessing, can lead to a decrease in GDP and also an increase in mechanization.

For the Economy

Population studies help us to know how far the growth rate of the economy is keeping pace with the growth rate of population. If population is increasing at a faster rate, the pace of development of the economy will be slow

For Society

When population is increasing rapidly, the society is faced with innumerable problems. Shortages of basic services like, public health, water, electricity, transport and communications education, etc. arise. Along with these, problems of migration and urbanization are associated with the growing population which further leads to the law-and-order problem.

For Economic Planning

Data relating to the present trend in population growth help the planners in formulating policies for the economic plan of the country

For Government leaders

In under-developed countries, almost all social and economic problems are associated with the growth of population. These are migration and urbanization which lead to the coming up of shanty towns, pollution, drainage, water, electricity, transport, etc. in cities.

For Political System

Political parties are able to find out from the census data the number of male and female voters, their level of education, their age structure, their level of earning, etc. On this basis, political parties can raise issues and promise solutions in their election manifestos at the time of elections.

Globalization

________ has both direct and indirect effects on population.

HIV/AIDS and SARS

The movement of people around the world has accelerated the spread of diseases such as ______.

Reasons for Mortality Declines (few are dying)

Began in Europe 1800, elsewhere 1900 accelerated post WWII
1. Driven by improvements in public health, hygiene, improvements in nutrition
2. Famine mortality declines due to improved food storage and transport
3. Mortality declines in high income countries continued due to improved medicine addressing chronic and degenerative diseases
4. Developing countries: historically rapid increases in life expectancy

Reasons for Fertility Declines (few are being born)

Economic models point to factors that increase the opportunity cost of children and reduce their benefits especially with women
1. Reductions in benefits of children from external sources, market or government reduce demand further
2. Effect of contraceptives became controversial: European experience without contraception
3. Evidence points to a mortality decline before a fertility decline AGE DISTRIBUTION
Capital Increasing longevity leads to increasing old age dependency. Population aging due to lower fertility, increased old age dependency without improvements in health, due to lower mortality, more functional elderly population

IMPLICATIONS

1. Fewer children lead to more opportunities for other activities and higher quality of children
2. Mortality decline may lead to longer disabled years or longer disability free years
3. Fiscal implications for aging populations lead to an increasing burden on the young or the taxpayer
4. Migration will have modest effects
5. Investment in developing countries won’t relieve fiscal pressures because smaller economies
6. Aging population problems addressable

Reproductive health

As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), _____ addresses the reproductive processes, functions, and system at all stages of life.

Reproductive Health

is a condition in which the reproductive functions and processes are accomplished in a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being.

Reproductive rights

embrace certain human rights that are already recognized in national laws, international laws and international human rights documents and other consensus documents.

Sexual health

is a state of physical, mental, and social well-being in relation to sexuality.

Sexual health

refers to healthy sexual development, equitable and responsible relationships and sexual fulfillment, and freedom from illness, disease, disability, violence, and other harmful practices related to sexuality.

The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012

is a groundbreaking law that guarantees universal and free access to nearly all modern contraceptives for all citizens, including impoverished communities, at government health centers.

Feminism

is all about bringing out equal rights for women while gender equality is about ensuring equal rights for everyone irrespective of their gender.