Demographic Revolution Population Growth War and Birth Rates Demographic Transition Model Family Planning

Population Growth Before the 1700s, the population grew slowly because death rates were very high, particularly amoung infants and the elderly Life expectancy was just above 30 Families had many children to ensure a few survived Why were death rates high? Unsanitary living conditions Poor medical care and nutrition disease

Population on the Rise After 1750 The rising population after 1750 was mainly due to falling death rates while birth rates remained high Why Better diets from increased food production and more variety Access to clean drinking water Vaccination against infectious disease

Birth Rates and National Stability The Great Depression and WWII kept birth rates low in most Western countries most people wanted to avoid having children due to economic instability and men being sent overseas After WWII, there was the Baby Boom due to economic and political stability Most western countries today have a low birth rate

Demographic Transition Model A model that shows changes in a population’s birth and death rates and growth based upon technological developments Based on what has happened in developed countries which means it assumes that countries will go through periods of industrialization and urbanization on the way to reduced birth and death rates This transition period unlikely in Africa See page 366 for an example

Stage 1 Pre-Transition High birth rates and high fluctuating death rates result in small population growth Plagues, disease, and poor nutrition keep mortality high Little to no industrial / urban development

Stage 2 Early Transition Improved health care, sanitation, and increased food supplies lead to a rapid fall in death rates. Birth rates are still high, so there is a rapid increase in population numbers Begin transition to industrialization / urbanization

Stage 3 Late Transition Birth rates begin to fall so population growth begins to decline Industrialization / urbanization and improved living standards lead to less desire for large families

Stage 4 Post-Transition The transition is complete. There is a stable or slow population increase with low birth and death rates The birth rate may fluctuate in special circumstances such as post war baby boom

Stage 5 Declining population Birth rates drop below death rates. Many older people are in the population Happening in some European countries and Japan Concerns over ability to provide for elderly

Family Planning The concept of limiting the size of families Reinforced through sexual education Helps to combat overpopulation, poverty, teenage pregnancy, or unplanned pregnancy Techniques Contraception Abstinence Vasectomy or Tubal ligation Rhythm method

Problematic Family Planning Techniques 1. Abstinence This requires partners to just say no to sex which many teens and adults find it difficult to do 2. Rhythm Method A method of birth control in which the couple does not have sex during fertile or ovulation times Hard to calculate even with technology like a phone app to track period, ovulation, and fertile times

Government mandated Family Planning In 2008, China and India had a combined population of more than 2.5 billion (37% of the world) could reach 3 billion by 2050 Governments had to formulate plans to limit population growth, but political and social issues were not considered enough In China males are the preferred gender Sons will take care of their parents while girls would live with and care for their in-laws

Consequences of Strict Government Enforced Family Planning Many couples were strategic to have a son for their one child which caused many issues Gender selection became popular and is now illegal Issue of infanticide for baby girls Families punished and forced to abort second baby in some cases 2009 china has 32 million more men aged under 20 than women 119 male births to 100 female- number gap greater in provinces that allow a second child if the first is a girl