Activity 3.1- Human Population

More developed country:

-Name:

Canada 

-Birth rate (per 1,000 population):

10

-Death rate (per 1,000 population)

8

-Rate of natural increase (%):

0.3%

-Life expectancy:

Male- 80
Female-84

-Fertility rate:

1.7

-Gross national income:

$47,280


Less developed country:

-Name: 

Niger

-Birth rate (per 1,000 population):

47

-Death rate (per 1,000 population):

9

-Rate of natural increase (%):

3.8%

-Life expectancy:

Male- 60
Female- 63

-Fertility rate:

7%

-Gross national income:

1,030



      The information above is presenting demographic data about the two chosen populations of Canada and Niger. "Demography studies how human populations grow, shrink, and change in terms of age and gender compositions using vital statistics about people such as births, deaths, populations size, and where they live" (Mutiti, et al, pp.16). The information comes from the population reference bureau and is utilized to make projections on population increase/decrease over time (Population Reference Bureau). This can help demographers and government leaders understand the amount of resources needed in order to sustain life as these populations increase, create new technologies to over-come population growth limits of an environment, and determine if a population is reaching an exponential growth limit. Exponential growth is the "accelerating pattern of increasing population size... meaning that the populations is increasing by a fixed percentage every year" (Mutiti, et al, pp.3). When a population reaches this limit the population growth is greatly reduced. (Mutiti, et al, pp.3). 


      The information given are all factors which are taken into consideration to determine if a population is more or less developed. These factors are measured against the different stages of demographic transition models (DTM) in order to determine what level a country or population is at. There are four existing stages, but according to Mutiti, et al., no existing human population currently exists at stage 1, so by process of elimination we can mark that option off for identifying our population's stage levels (pp.19).  
      When comparing Canada's demographic information with Niger's we can conclude that Canada has a lower birth rate, death rate, fertility rate, and rate of natural increase than Niger, but a higher life expectancy and gross national income. In contrast, these factors differences determine what DTM stage this country is at. Canada's birth rate is at 10, and its death rate at 8. Based off of the conditions for stage III one may be lead to believe that Canada may exist at this DTM stage, but the extremely low fertility rate and higher gross national income per capita indicates (GNIPC) that Canada actually exists as a stage IV on the DTM scale (Mutiti, et al, pp.19-20). On the other hand Niger has an extremely high birth rate, but a decently low death rate. They also have a higher fertility rate, and lower gross national income per capita. These are indicators that Niger exists as a stage II on the DTM scale, because they have high birth rates, lowered death rates, and they still have many children which shows that children aren't as expensive to take care of (Mutiti, et al., pp. 19).  
      Compared to the world's average in more developed countries, Canada had a lower death rate, and rate of natural increase, about the same rate of fertility, and a higher GNIPC, which indicates that it is slightly more advanced than the average world's more developed population. On the other hand, when comparing Niger to the world's average of even the least developed countries it showed to have a higher birth rate, death rate, fertility rate, as well as a lower life expectancy, and lower GNIPC. All of these things could potentially make it qualify to be a stage I country in terms of the DTM scale, but the fact that it has a higher rate of natural increase keeps it from being so. On average, Niger is less developed than the average of the least developed countries (Population Reference Bureau). 

Resources

Mutiti, S., Mutiti, C., Manoylov, K., VandeVoort, A., & Bennett, D. (2018). Introduction to environmental science (3rd ed.). Biological Science Open Textbooks. University System of Georgia. pp. 2-22

Population Reference Bureau. (2019). 2019 world population data sheet. 2019-World-Pop Data-Sheet.pdf


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