GEOGRAPHY
IGCSE
CASE
STUDIES
1
, THEME I
Overpopulation - Nigeria
Causes
The lack of availability of contraceptives is a cause of overpopulation in Nigeria.
Contraceptives tend to be expensive and hard to find. Most contraceptive users in
Nigeria rely on modern methods (10% of married women), 5% use traditional methods,
3% use injectables and 2% use male condoms or pills.
Moreover, the education on preventative measures is not very adequate in Nigeria.
Contraceptive education aims to provide people with information they need to make
informed decisions about contraceptive use. Only 15% of Nigerian women at the age of
15-49 years use contraceptives to limit childbirth.
In addition, there is a big fertility rate in Nigeria. The fertility rate is the average number
of children that a woman gives birth to. In 2019, the birth rate in Nigeria was 5.32
children per woman. Ranking fertility wise, Nigeria has now one of the highest fertility
rates in the world.
Effects
One socio-economic problem which can be caused by overpopulation is poverty.
Over-populated areas, especially in LEDCs such as Nigeria, are characterised by high
unemployment rates as there are not enough jobs for the population to fill, and as a
result, the majority of the population live under the poverty line. Unemployment rates
are as high as 50% in Yobe and Imo.
Food shortages are another problem caused by overpopulation in Nigeria. Particularly in
times of drought or inflation (rising prices), there is not enough food in Nigeria to feed its
population so, as a result, malnutrition is rife in Nigeria. Nigeria has the second highest
burden of stunted children in the world, with a national prevalence rate of 32 percent of
children under five. An estimated 2 million children in Nigeria suffer from severe acute
malnutrition.
Another social problem caused by overpopulation is related to the provision of
education. Within Nigeria’s overpopulation is a large and growing young dependent
population. Nigeria is an LEDC, the government does not have large cash reserves to
allocate to provision of education/school (it often relies on help/aid from NGOs). This
means that, throughout Nigeria, there are not enough schools. As a result, many
children do not attend school and/or receive good-quality education which means they
are likely to get trapped in the cycle of poverty when they reach adulthood and suffer
from poor quality of life.
2
, Underpopulation - Australia
Causes
In Australia there are low birth rates as contraception is more easily accessible and
more affordable. Oral contraceptive pills, used by 33.6% of women, are the most used
procedure, followed by female sterilisation (22.5%), condoms (21.4%) and vasectomy
(19.3%).
Moreover, there are low death rates in Australia as they have a good healthcare system,
medicine has been discovered, people are more careful with their diet, etc. In 2020,
Australia's death rate was 6.64 deaths per 1,000 inhabitants. It has slowly decreased
from 8.46 deaths (per 1000) in 1971 to 6.64 deaths (per 1000) in 2020.
Furthermore, the education on preventative measures is very adequate in Australia.
Contraceptive education aims to provide people with information they need to make
informed decisions about contraceptive use. Now, 95% of fertile women and 70% of
adult women use some form of contraception.
Effects
Due to under-population, Australia has a shortage of workers. This means than
brain-power and innovation are limited and the full economic potential cannot be
exploited due to the relatively low productivity.
Due to under-population in Australia, the government has been forced to cut down on
government spending because of lack of revenue generated from taxes. Decreased
spending has negatively impacted on important public services such as public transport
and hospitals, with 1 in 4 rural hospitals in risk of closure in the country.
Due to under-population, the Australian government doesn’t generate enough money
from taxes, meaning it has to increase taxes for residents (a negative socio-economic
effect). This lowers the disposable income of locals, which can reduce their standard of
living.
3
IGCSE
CASE
STUDIES
1
, THEME I
Overpopulation - Nigeria
Causes
The lack of availability of contraceptives is a cause of overpopulation in Nigeria.
Contraceptives tend to be expensive and hard to find. Most contraceptive users in
Nigeria rely on modern methods (10% of married women), 5% use traditional methods,
3% use injectables and 2% use male condoms or pills.
Moreover, the education on preventative measures is not very adequate in Nigeria.
Contraceptive education aims to provide people with information they need to make
informed decisions about contraceptive use. Only 15% of Nigerian women at the age of
15-49 years use contraceptives to limit childbirth.
In addition, there is a big fertility rate in Nigeria. The fertility rate is the average number
of children that a woman gives birth to. In 2019, the birth rate in Nigeria was 5.32
children per woman. Ranking fertility wise, Nigeria has now one of the highest fertility
rates in the world.
Effects
One socio-economic problem which can be caused by overpopulation is poverty.
Over-populated areas, especially in LEDCs such as Nigeria, are characterised by high
unemployment rates as there are not enough jobs for the population to fill, and as a
result, the majority of the population live under the poverty line. Unemployment rates
are as high as 50% in Yobe and Imo.
Food shortages are another problem caused by overpopulation in Nigeria. Particularly in
times of drought or inflation (rising prices), there is not enough food in Nigeria to feed its
population so, as a result, malnutrition is rife in Nigeria. Nigeria has the second highest
burden of stunted children in the world, with a national prevalence rate of 32 percent of
children under five. An estimated 2 million children in Nigeria suffer from severe acute
malnutrition.
Another social problem caused by overpopulation is related to the provision of
education. Within Nigeria’s overpopulation is a large and growing young dependent
population. Nigeria is an LEDC, the government does not have large cash reserves to
allocate to provision of education/school (it often relies on help/aid from NGOs). This
means that, throughout Nigeria, there are not enough schools. As a result, many
children do not attend school and/or receive good-quality education which means they
are likely to get trapped in the cycle of poverty when they reach adulthood and suffer
from poor quality of life.
2
, Underpopulation - Australia
Causes
In Australia there are low birth rates as contraception is more easily accessible and
more affordable. Oral contraceptive pills, used by 33.6% of women, are the most used
procedure, followed by female sterilisation (22.5%), condoms (21.4%) and vasectomy
(19.3%).
Moreover, there are low death rates in Australia as they have a good healthcare system,
medicine has been discovered, people are more careful with their diet, etc. In 2020,
Australia's death rate was 6.64 deaths per 1,000 inhabitants. It has slowly decreased
from 8.46 deaths (per 1000) in 1971 to 6.64 deaths (per 1000) in 2020.
Furthermore, the education on preventative measures is very adequate in Australia.
Contraceptive education aims to provide people with information they need to make
informed decisions about contraceptive use. Now, 95% of fertile women and 70% of
adult women use some form of contraception.
Effects
Due to under-population, Australia has a shortage of workers. This means than
brain-power and innovation are limited and the full economic potential cannot be
exploited due to the relatively low productivity.
Due to under-population in Australia, the government has been forced to cut down on
government spending because of lack of revenue generated from taxes. Decreased
spending has negatively impacted on important public services such as public transport
and hospitals, with 1 in 4 rural hospitals in risk of closure in the country.
Due to under-population, the Australian government doesn’t generate enough money
from taxes, meaning it has to increase taxes for residents (a negative socio-economic
effect). This lowers the disposable income of locals, which can reduce their standard of
living.
3
