Rates That Determine Change

We can compare the birth rate and death rate into a very useful measurement called the natural increase rate. Natural increase rate = Birth rate – death Rate.

Another reason why a country’s population changes is that people move to the country (immigrate) or the leave the country (emigrate). If we combine these two rates we get the net migration rate. Net Migration rate = immigration rate – emigration rate. A final useful measurement is a country’s population growth rate which combines both natural increase and net migration. Population growth rate= natural increase rate + net migration rate

The rate at which a country’s population grows or declines has an enormous influence on peoples lives. If the population increase too quickly there may be problems providing housing, education, healthcare, and jobs. If the population declines there may be shortages of works and customers to meet the needs of businesses.