World Population Change

What Is It? The population of the world grows according to two factors: birth rate and death rate. The relationship between these two is called the natural increase. If birth rate is higher than death rate there will be a positive natural increase and the population will grow. If birth rate is lower than death rate there will be a negative natural increase and the population will fall. If birth rate and death rate are at a similar level the will be no natural increase. Birth Rate - Death Rate = Natural Increase

Factors Which Control Birth Rates Birth rates can change for a number of reasons. High birth rates occur in countries where large families are needed so that the children can work at an early age. Families often have large numbers of children so that will be someone around to look after the parents in their old age. Some religions ban the use of contraception, meaning that the birth rate is harder to control.

Factors Which Control Birth Rates Birth rates fall due to improvements in health care, meaning that children are more likely to survive into old age. Women in many countries, especially in MEDC's, tend to get married later and have children later, as they want to establish a career first. More education in the use of contraceptives has also helped to slow birth rates. In some countries the birth rate has been artificially controlled by the law. China is the best example of a country which has tried this.

Factors Which Control Death Rates Death rates are high in countries where there is poor health care, bad sanitation or insufficient food. Primarily these are less developed countries that do not have the money or expertise to improve the situation. These countries often have problems of disease.

Factors Which Control Death Rates Death rates primarily fall due to improvements in health care, including better access to it. A clean water supply and better sanitation means that the threat of disease also diminish.