Global Demographic Trends and Population Dynamics

Factors Influencing Birth and Fertility Rates

Different factors contribute to birth and fertility rates:

• Socio-economic factors: In poor countries, children work from an early age. In developed countries, children cannot work until they are 16 and are considered an economic burden.
• Cultural factors: The number of children is smaller when women have had more education. There are more children in societies where religion has a strong influence.
• Demographic policy: In underdeveloped countries where the population grows more quickly than resources, governments try to reduce the birth rate.

Mortality and Infant Mortality Rates

Mortality rate measures the number of deaths in a population. It is the relation between the number of deaths and the population in the same year, expressed as a number per 1,000. The mortality rate was very high until the 19th century, and then it began to fall in developed countries. Some areas still have high mortality rates because of epidemics, wars, and other factors.

Infant mortality rate refers to the number of deaths per 1,000 children under the age of one. In 1950, infant mortality was high at 155 per 1,000. The figure varies from country to country; it is different in an underdeveloped country compared to a developed country.

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth refers to the number of years someone is expected to live. In 1950, it was 45 years, and today it is 63 for men and 68 for women. In the poorest countries, it is over 40 years.

Measuring Population Growth

Natural growth is the difference between the numbers of births and deaths. When there are more births than deaths, the population grows. The natural growth rate is the relation between the number of births and deaths per 100 inhabitants in a year. The overall growth rate (tasa de crecimiento total) takes migration into account.

Population Policies and Their Impact

Population growth brings different problems with it. A high population increases the expense of healthcare, pensions, and other services. Many developed countries introduce pronatal policies. They give subsidies to large families and create kindergartens. Conversely, some poor countries introduce antinatal policies.

The Population of Spain and an Ageing Society

The Spanish population grew fast in 1970 due to the high birth rate. Since 1980, natural growth has fallen because of:

• The fall in birth and fertility rates and the increase in life expectancy. The Spanish population is ageing.

Uneven Population Distribution

Uneven distribution occurs at three levels:

• Autonomous Communities: Where 60% of the population lives.
• Provinces: Some provinces have less than 10 inhabitants per km².
• Intra-provincial: Distribution within each province.