Population and Development Rates (Leaving Cert Geography): Revision Notes
Population and Development Rates
Understanding the relationship between population and development
There is a clear connection between a country's level of economic development and its population characteristics. When a nation's economy grows stronger, families tend to become smaller on average. This relationship helps explain the different population patterns we see across the world today.
Understanding this fundamental relationship between economic development and population patterns is essential for explaining many of the demographic differences we observe between countries at various stages of development.
Developed countries and population patterns
Historical development and demographic change
The Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions during the 18th and 19th centuries transformed Europe's economy and society. These changes created new industries like textiles and provided markets for manufactured goods. As economies grew, several important changes occurred:
- People began moving from rural areas to cities seeking employment opportunities
- Tax income from working populations funded improvements in healthcare, sanitation systems and education
- These improvements led to longer life expectancy and reduced birth rates
Demographic Transition Model (DTM): A model showing how populations change as countries develop economically, typically moving through different stages of birth and death rates. This model is fundamental to understanding how economic development influences population patterns.
Current characteristics of developed nations
Countries like those in Europe and North America progressed through the Demographic Transition Model more quickly than other regions. Today, these developed nations share several key features:
- Low population growth rates - many populations are now static or declining
- Ageing populations - fewer young people and more elderly citizens
- Industrialised economies with high gross domestic product levels
- Labour shortages and underpopulation in some areas
Migration needs in developed countries
To maintain their standard of living, many developed countries now rely on inward migration from developing nations. This migration helps fill labour shortages and supports economic growth.
This dependency on migration creates a symbiotic relationship between developed and developing countries, where developed nations benefit from skilled workers while developing nations may experience brain drain.
Developing countries and population challenges
Major obstacles to development
Developing nations face significant difficulties when trying to control population growth while promoting economic development. Most of these countries are currently in Stage 2 or Stage 3 of the DTM, which creates particular challenges.
Youth population and governance issues
Many developing countries have very young populations - around 30% of people are under 14 years old. These nations often struggle with:
- Government instability and social unrest
- Corruption and poor resource management
- Limited economic opportunities
Brain drain: When educated people emigrate from developing to developed countries for better employment opportunities, leaving their home countries with fewer skilled workers. This phenomenon significantly hinders the development potential of emerging economies.
Urban migration and overpopulation
Economic difficulties force many people to move from rural areas to cities seeking work and better living standards. This creates serious problems:
- Cities can double their population in fewer than 15 years
- Overcrowding and violence become major issues (examples include São Paulo in Brazil and Mexico City)
- Resource pressure affects food supplies, housing and sanitation systems
- Poor living conditions lead to malnutrition and disease
Economic development barriers
With fewer industrial jobs available, well-educated people often emigrate to developed countries where better-paid employment exists. This brain drain makes regions less attractive to multinational corporations (MNCs), creating a cycle that hinders development.
This creates a vicious cycle: lack of development leads to emigration of skilled workers, which further reduces the country's capacity for development and economic growth.
Quickly developing countries
Newly industrialised economies
The newly industrialised economies (NIEs) are primarily located in Asia, with China being a major example. These countries have attracted significant investment because:
- Labour-intensive industries can access low wages and inexpensive resources
- High levels of investment have supported rapid economic development
Newly industrialised economy (NIE): A country that has recently transitioned from an agriculture-based economy to an industrial one. These economies represent a middle ground between developed and developing nations.
Development concerns
While this investment has aided economic growth, there are serious concerns about:
- Poor working conditions for employees
- Environmental degradation in these rapidly developing nations
The rapid industrialisation in NIEs often comes at a significant cost to both worker welfare and environmental sustainability, raising questions about the long-term sustainability of this development model.
Global inequality facts
Understanding the scale of global inequality helps put population and development issues in context:
- Over 80% of all people worldwide live on less than $10 per day
- The poorest 40% of the world's population accounts for only 5% of global income
These statistics demonstrate the extreme disparity in global wealth distribution and help explain why population and development challenges are so interconnected with economic inequality.
Summary
Key Points to Remember:
- Economic development typically leads to smaller family sizes and lower population growth rates
- Developed countries now face ageing populations and need immigration to maintain their economies
- Developing countries struggle with young populations, rapid urban growth, and economic development challenges
- Newly industrialised economies in Asia are growing rapidly but face working condition and environmental concerns
- Global inequality remains extreme, with most people living on very low incomes