Demography The science of human population – population size, density, distribution, age structure, sex ratio, rate of birth, death, immigration, and emigration Helps predict population dynamics and human impact

Sex ratios Problems in China – one baby policy

Birth, Death, Immigration & Emigration Birth + Immigration = growing Death + Emigration = shrinking If equal, stable population Overall growth rate (%) has decreased over the past 40 years for a number of reasons…

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) TFR = the average number of children born per female member of a population during her lifetime Replacement fertility = 2.1, keeps the population stable TFR has decreased due to…

Lower infant mortality rate lessens the need to have many children for some to survive Increased urbanization – no need for farm hands, urban price for a child is greater (schooling) Social security allows parents to sustain their old age without the help of their children Women are more active in the workforce with greater education and changing roles in society.

Family Planning Improved access to contraceptives and family planning education More power of women – intended pregnancies In 2001, the first act the George W. Bush enacted was canceling the funding through the United Nations to fund family planning efforts across the world.

Weighing the Issues: Population Growth and Reproductive Freedom It has been suggested that if human population growth remains unchecked, everyone will eventually begin to suffer a poorer quality of life. Would you be willing to make this sacrifice if it meant that people in other countries (such as China) could avoid government-imposed limitations on their reproductive freedom? If it came to the point that the United States government implemented a strict reproductive policy, how would you feel? Would you rather have your reproductive freedom limited by the government or your consumption limited by the government?