POPULATION GROWTH
Population growth can be described as the change in the number of individuals in
a population with time. The change can be positive or negative. Positive change
is associated with an increase in the number of individuals. The negative growth
can be associated with the decline in the population. Change in the population
can occur due to the following reasons,
1. Birth of individual
2. Death of individual
3. Immigration
4. Emigration
The change in closed population is mainly attributed to the birth and death rate of
the population. Population gain is due to the increase in birth and decrease in
death rate.
Population ecology
Population ecology is the study of the distribution and abundance of organisms
in relation to the environment. It is a subfield of ecology, the scientific study of
the interactions between organisms and their environment. Population ecology
focuses on the dynamics of populations and how populations are affected by the
environment.
Attributes of Population
• The size of a population is simply the number of individuals in the
population.
• The density of a population is the number of individuals per unit area or
volume.
• The distribution of a population is the way in which individuals are spread
out over an area.
Age Class and the Age Structure
It is important to understand that at any given point in time the population can be
studied according to age class. The age class is the parameter that is used to
categorize different individuals of the population according to characteristics of
interest. Age class is also sometimes more commonly referred to as the age group.
The class is generally categorized on the basis of the reproductive phase of an
organism. The population is generally categorized into the following
1. Pre reproductive age class
2. Reproductive age group
3. Post reproductive age group
The age structure can be defined as the proportion of individuals in each age
group or class. They are used to plot the age pyramid.
Age pyramid
The age pyramid is the graphical illustration showing the number of individuals
in different age classes in a population. Age pyramids are typically used for the
scientific study of the human population, specifically the demography of the
population. There are three types of age pyramid they are as follows,
1. Triangle Pyramid
2. Bell-Shaped Pyramid
3. Clover Leaf Pyramid
Triangle Pyramid - Triangle pyramid is formed when the population is still
growing. Triangle pyramids are the indicators of the expanding population
Bell Pyramids - Bell-shaped pyramids are generally found in the population
where there is no substantial growth in population, but neither the death rates are
very high. These pyramids are the indicators for a stable population. The number
of individuals in the pre-reproductive phase and post-reproductive phase is the
same.
Clover Leaf Pyramids - Clover leaf pyramids are the indicators of the population
that is diminishing. In this type of pyramid, the number of individuals in the pre-
reproductive phase is lower than the reproductive phase.
Sex Ratio
At the individual level, the individual can identify as male or female, whereas in
population biology or at the population level the quantitative measurements are
called sex ratio. The sex ratio can be defined as the number of females per male,
it is the ratio between the number of males the female. It is generally considered
for sexually reproducing dioecious populations.
An example of a sex ratio can be a population where 60% of the population is
female and 40% is male. The ideal sex ratio is 1:1 where there are 50% females
and % males, this diversion is the result of various causes like low survivorship,
societal norms, and misconception in the population. In a study of human
population, it shows that we have the highest difference in sex ratio where there
is a comparatively low number of females than male. It is majorly because of
female foeticide.
Mortality Rate
Mortality rate is the number of deaths in a population per unit of time. It is usually
expressed in terms of deaths per 1,000 people per year.
Natality Rate
The natality rate is a measure of the number of births per 1,000 people in a
population. It is used to track changes in a population’s fertility rate over time. A
higher natality rate indicates a higher fertility rate, while a lower natality rate
indicates a lower fertility rate.
Population Growth
• The world’s population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050.
• Africa is the most populated continent, and it is expected to double in size
by 2050.
• The number of people over the age of 65 is expected to more than double,
from 516 million in 2010 to 1.3 billion in 2050.
• The number of people living in urban areas is expected to increase from
3.3 billion in 2010 to 6.4 billion by 2050.
Types of Population Growth
There are three main types of population growth: exponential, linear, and logistic.
1. Exponential Population Growth
In exponential population growth, the population size increases at an increasing
rate over time.
2. Linear Population Growth
In linear population growth, the population size increases at a constant rate over
time.
[Link] Population Growth
Logistic growth is the growth pattern where the resources are limited, it is
defined by carrying capacity which can be defined as the population of a
particular species that a particular system can support indefinitely.
Exponential growth produces a J-shaped curve, while logistic growth produces
an S-shaped curve.
Zero Population Growth (ZPG)
When birth rates and death rates are equal then there is zero population growth.
Causes of Population Growth:
1. Decrease in the death rate due to improved medical facilities with the
birth rate remaining the same is one of the major causes of population
growth in India.
2. Illiteracy prevalent in major parts of India make people believe that
'children are god's blessings' hence making them against the concept of
‘family planning’.
3. People of India follow different religions of which some of them do not
advocate the concept of ‘family planning’.
4. As most of the families in rural areas are below the poverty line, they
think having a large family will increase their source of income by
sending children to work.
5. Decrease in infant mortality rate due to improved medical facilities.
6. Many of the Indian families are superstitious about the fact that ‘children
are a sign of prosperity’.
7. Indian families believe that a male child is responsible to continue one's
lineage and the constant attempt to have a male child results in number of
female children.
8. Industrialization and growth of opportunities in urban areas have
increased the urban population.
9. Average life span of people has increased due to control of epidemics by
immunization programs.
[Link] rural areas, children are considered a source of recreation, hence giving
birth to more children is a practice in rural areas.
The effects of population explosion include:
1. The competition for resources.
2. Increasing pollution in the environment.
3. Lack of energy.
4. Reduction of natural resources.
5. Increasing unemployment.
6. Mental health issues.
7. Shortage of essential goods
8. Unemployment
9. Pressure on agricultural land
[Link] to urban area
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[Link] crime rate
[Link] living standards
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[Link] health and sanitation
