Geography – Population in Transition

Geography – Population in Transition Change in Population is affected by 3 main factors: 1. Birth Rate 2. Mortality Rate 3. Fertility Rate Reasons for Variations: Mortality Rate ● Economic: mortality rates are generally greater in LICs as they have a frequent insufficient amount of resources; Governments have less money to build hospitals and provide better medical care; inability to access clean water; lack of food resulting malnutrition; and poor law enforcement leading to ineffectiveness of police against crimes. ● Cultural: the acceptance of euthanasia; religious acts (e.g. self-immolation or self-crucifixion of Buddhism and Christianity respectively) ● Environmental hazards: availability of water and food; vulnerability to natural hazards (building infrastructures, evacuation warnings) Fertility Rate ● Economic: children are needed as a workforce in LICs; children are occasionally sold for income; expensive housing may restrict family sizes ● Social: accessibility to family planning and contraception; lack of education on safe, protected sex; gender equality – women have equal opportunities to work and therefore do not have children that may affect their career path; high infant mortality results a higher fertility rate in order to guarantee the survival of some children. ● Cultural: higher fertility rate due to religious reasons not accepting the usage of contraception ● Environmental hazards: the accessibility to clean water; access to medication ● Politics: One Child Policy (China) limits the fertility rate