POPULATION DYNAMICS

Definition of terms
Population dynamics is the ever changing structure of population due to factors such as
birth rate, death rate and migration.
 Population is the total number of specified group of people, animals or plants living in
an area at a particular time.
 Birth rate refers to the number of children born alive per 1000 people in a given year.
 Death rate refers to the number of deaths per 1000 people in a given year.
 Life expectancy is the average number of years a new born child is expected to live
from birth.
 Population structure is the composition of population e.g. ratio of males to females or
proportion of working to non-working people.
 Dependency ratio is the proportion of working to non-working people.
 Over population is when there are more people in an area than available resources
could support.
 De jure population is the total number of people present during a census plus citizens
outside the country.
 Optimum population is when the population and the available resources are equal.
That is, there is balance between resources and number of people.
Factors influencing fertility

Fertility rate
Fertility rate refers to total number of live births a woman is capable to produce during her
reproductive period.
Social factors
 Religion;
 Lack of education
 Preference for a child of particular sex
 Early parenthood e.g.Earlymarriages/teenage pregnancy. I
Economic factors
 Country's level of development;

 Desire for wealth

 Use of children as security

Cultural factors
 Children seen as a source of labour
 Virility of men
.
 Factors leading to high birth rate

 Early child bearing.

 Use of children as family labour.
 Lack of use of contraceptives.
 Use of children as security in old age.
 Lack of education on family planning.
 Desire for a particular sex.
 Religious beliefs against use of contraceptives.
 Factors leading to low death rate
 Improved quality of health services and facilities.
 Better nutrition and diet.
 Emergence of old age homes and allowances.
 Improved standard of living.
 Improved supply of clean drinking water
 Migration

Effects of high population on the environment

 Shortage of resources
 Urbanization
 Development of slums
 Pollution
 Land degradation
 Over use and extinction of resources

Impact of rapid population growth on available resources

 Shortage of facilities and amenities: e.g. health and educational

 Degradation/depletion of natural resources: e.g. land, water, food.
 Traffic congestion
 UnemploymentOptimum use of resources
 Increased productivity in the work place
 Wide pool of human resources

Possible solutions to rapid population growth

 Promotion of family planning and use of contraceptives.
 Legislation and strict government policies.
 Incentives for small families.
 Education on the effects of high population growth.
 Women empowerment.

Impact of HIV/AIDS on population

  Reduction in population
 Loss bread winners
 Creates employment : e.g. counsellors, doctors etc.
 Improves infrastructure; erection of many buildings to deal with issues of HIV/AIDS.
 Encourages training opportunities.

POPULATION CENSUS

Population census refers to the official counting of people in an area at a given period of
time.
Importance of population census

 It enables the identification of changes in the structure of population

 Vital information is compiled.
 It helps in delimitation of parliamentary constituencies.
 It helps with some budgeting purposes.
 It is used to identify where developments are needed most.
 It helps to know the number of people in an area.
Population policy

Population policy refers to the government's decision which is intended to change the
characteristics of population such as its size, growth rate, composition etc.
Importance of Population Policy

 To ensure balance between population and available resources.

 It permits future population projections which are needed for development planning
 To control rapid population growth by putting in place relevant measures
 To help population regulation by putting in place relevant legislation
 It enables stakeholders to work towards a common goal

Population migration
Migration is the movement of people from one place to another permanently or temporarily.
There are two types of migration:
 International migration: movement of people from one country to another.
 Local migration: movement of people within a country
Factors influencing migration

Impacts of rural-urban migration

Positive impacts on the source areas Negative impact on the source area
 Remittances.  Brain drain.
 Reduced family size.  Unequal distribution of resources.
  Reduced pressure on available
resources.
 Transfer of skills, ideas and
technology.
 Investment of income in rural areas.
Effects of rural urban migration on receiving areas (urban areas)
Positive effects
 Increased market
 Increased labour force.
 Exchange of skills and technology.
 Increased productivity.
Effects of international migration on a source country
Positive
 Reduced pressure on available
resources.
 Gaining of foreign exchange.
 Returning migrants brings new skills
and technology.
Effects of international migration on a receiving country
Positive
 Acquisition of skilled manpower such
as doctors.
 Abundance of labour.
 Increased market for local products.
 Exchange of cultural knowledge.
 Family breakdown.
 Decline in economic activities.
 Age and gender imbalance.
 Depopulation.
 Spread of diseases.
Negative effects
 Shortage of amenities.
 Depletion of natural resources.
 Rise in unemployment.
 Establishment of squatter settlement.
 Pressure on government budget.
Negative
 Brain drain
 Loss of active population
 Poor development due to shortage of
skilled manpower
 Families break down as some
members never
Negative
 Loss of culture by immigrants.
 Increased social ills.
 Spread of diseases from other
countries
 Increased pressure on manmade and
natural resources.
 Competition for limited job
opportunities with the local people.
The Role of stakeholders in addressing problems resulting from rural- urban migration

Youth

 Formation of cultural and entertainment clubs such as drama clubs to educate people
about
negative consequences of migration.
 Formation of sporting clubs to address boredom that is associated with rural-areas.
 Utilization of government schemes to start business that will create employment for other
people.

 Unemployed youth can take part in voluntary services such as VDC to bring
developments to their village.
 Active participation in decision making.

Government

Infrastructural development in rural areas.

 Provision of social amenities in rural areas.
 Provision of better educational and health facilities in rural areas.
 Provision of clean drinking water in rural areas.
 Rural electrification.

Causes of conflict over the use natural resources

Overpopulation or shortage ofresources.

 Unfair distribution of resources/ Corruption.
 Overuse/misuse of natural resource
 Lack of access or land tenure.
 Lack of consultation over the use of natural resources
 Relocation e.g. to Gerald estates
 Lack of environmental education

Effects of international migration on a receiving country

Positive
• Acquisition of skilled manpower such
as doctors.
• Abundance of labour.
• Increased market for local products.
• Exchange of cultural knowledge.
Negative
• Loss of culture by immigrants.
• Increased social ills.
• Spread of diseases from other
countries
• Increased pressure on manmade and
natural resources.
• Competition for limited job
 opportunities with the local people.

The Role of stakeholders in addressing problems resulting from rural-

urban migration

Youth
 Formation of cultural and entertainment clubs such as drama clubs to educate
people about negative consequences of migration.
 Formation of sporting clubs to address boredom that is associated with
rural-areas.
 Utilization of government schemes to start business that will create
employment for other people.
 Unemployed youth can take part in voluntary services such as VDC to bring
developments to their village.
 Active participation in decision making.

Government
 Infrastructural development in rural areas.
 Provision of social amenities in rural areas.
 Provision of better educational and health facilities in rural areas.
 Provision of clean drinking water in rural areas.
 Rural electrification.
Causes of conflict over the use natural resources
 Overpopulation or shortage ofresources.
 Unfair distribution of resources.
 Overuse/misuse of natural resource
 Lack of access or land tenure.
 Corruption.

Ways of reducing conflict arising from the use of scarce resources

Government

 Legislation; formulation of laws that safe guard the interest of the environment
e.g. sand mining, collection of fire wood.
 Strict government policies; enforce laws and punish those individuals that
misuse the environment.
 Education; government should educate communities through workshops and
kgotla meetings about the importance of natural resources.
 Negotiations and consultation; work hand in hand with other stakeholders in
order to find a common solution to environmental issues.
Private sector
 Assist government in policy formulation.
 Sponsor workshops concerned with environmental conservation.

Community
 Educate the public about conservation of natural resources
 Advice the government in policy formulation
 Form clubs.