Theme 1:
Overpopulation and Rapid Population Growth – Nigeria:
- In West Africa, Nigeria population of 213 million
- Fertility rate of 5.5 children per woman
- Lagos has population of 21m, population density of 6870 per km2
Causes:
- Stage 3 country, large families sign of wealth and fertility
- Subsistence farming in countryside, more workers
- Polygamy accepted, seen as cultural traditions, 53.5% Muslim
Impacts:
- 1950 population was 40m, infrastructure has not kept up
- Sanitation problem, person to toilet ratio of 50:1
- Youth unemployment 50%, extremist groups such as Boko Haram
- Reach population of US by 2050, but Texas Sized
Government Intervention:
- Contraception free, but not easily accessible in rural areas, religious barriers
- Government investing in clean water programmes, address high IMR 100/1000
- National population policy introduced in 2008
Underpopulation and Sparsely Populated – Australian Outback
- Size of US but has a population of 26m
- Southern Outback population density of 0.015, Roxby Down pop of 4055
- Part of the outback are of religious importance to the aboriginals
Causes:
- Aboriginal Treaty Protection, limits natural resource extraction
- Hot climate, lack of school, healthcare, leisure puts off families
- Bridge light syndrome for people who live there
Impacts:
- Timebomb, 43% of population to retire in 20 years, higher tax
- Closure of schools and hospitals, Alice Springs School of the Air, internet schooling
- Australian outback has a high import rate
Government Responses:
- Subsidies accommodation in cities e.g. Sydney for families of workers in the outback
- Australian immigration system is points based, working in outback gains points
Population Decline – Singapore:
- Population of 5.8 million, 40% immigrants
- 1.1 Fertility Rate
- -0.3% Yearly Growth Rate 2020
Causes:
- Unique Culture, parents nurture children and parents
- Women working more, limit fertile years “take your time to say yes” campaign and low
tuition fee
- 1972-1987 anti-natal policy “stop at 2” in 1970 low-educated women offered $10000 to
sterilise
- No maternity leaves for 3rd or subsequent children, housing priorities favoured small
families
Impacts:
- Parents are content with just one child
, - 1977 first year below replacement fertility, pioneer generation becoming retired,
demographic timebomb
- Old age support ratio expected to go from 5.9-2.1 workers per retired by 2030
- Total births fell from 50000 in 1985 to 37000 in 2015
Government Responses:
- “Have three or more, if you can afford it.” from 1987
- $20,000 tax rebate for mothers having a second child before 28, $750 child relief for
every child past 2
- Discouraged abortion and abolished family planning board
- Maternity leave to 12 weeks
- Baby bonus introduced in 2001 as part of the ‘make love, not money’ campaign
High Dependency Ratio – Singapore:
- 3rd longest life expectancy in the world, expected to reach 85.5 by 2040
- Number of people over 65 is expected to almost double from 500,000 in 2018 to
900,000 in 2030
- Fertility of 1.1 per women and 0.79% yearly growth rate
Causes:
- 1972 “stop at 2” policy, 1970 low-education women offered 10000 to sterilise
- No maternity leaves for 3rd or subsequent children, housing priorities for smaller
families
- Unique culture, women care for own parents and children, women work more, low
tuition
Impacts + Government Responses:
- GST increase from 8-9% in 2024, so more money is made to spend on pension and
social services
- Retirement age gradually increasing until 2030, where it will be 65
- 12% of population is over 65, 2010 was 9%, pension fund has increased to $360 billion
- Government tripled social spending 2008-2018 to $34 billion
Pro-Natalist Policy – Singapore:
- Population of 5.5 million
- 1.1 Fertility Rate
- -0.3% Yearly Growth Rate 2020
Incentives:
- Cash sum of $3000 for first to third child
- 3-month Maternity Leave, 5 Days childcare leave a year
- Extra months’ salary yearly until child is 14
Disincentives:
- Lower number of children disentitles you for larger house
- Higher school fees if you only have one child
Success/Failure:
- Implemented in 1987, from 2005, births declined by 4 per 1000
- 2020, BR is 8.5 per 1000, fluctuated about 9 for 10-15 years
- ‘Have three or more, if you can afford’ did not work
Anti-Natalist Policy – China:
- Oldest Continuous major world Civilization, 3500 years
- Population of 1.412 billion
- One child policy from 1980 to 2015
Incentives:
Overpopulation and Rapid Population Growth – Nigeria:
- In West Africa, Nigeria population of 213 million
- Fertility rate of 5.5 children per woman
- Lagos has population of 21m, population density of 6870 per km2
Causes:
- Stage 3 country, large families sign of wealth and fertility
- Subsistence farming in countryside, more workers
- Polygamy accepted, seen as cultural traditions, 53.5% Muslim
Impacts:
- 1950 population was 40m, infrastructure has not kept up
- Sanitation problem, person to toilet ratio of 50:1
- Youth unemployment 50%, extremist groups such as Boko Haram
- Reach population of US by 2050, but Texas Sized
Government Intervention:
- Contraception free, but not easily accessible in rural areas, religious barriers
- Government investing in clean water programmes, address high IMR 100/1000
- National population policy introduced in 2008
Underpopulation and Sparsely Populated – Australian Outback
- Size of US but has a population of 26m
- Southern Outback population density of 0.015, Roxby Down pop of 4055
- Part of the outback are of religious importance to the aboriginals
Causes:
- Aboriginal Treaty Protection, limits natural resource extraction
- Hot climate, lack of school, healthcare, leisure puts off families
- Bridge light syndrome for people who live there
Impacts:
- Timebomb, 43% of population to retire in 20 years, higher tax
- Closure of schools and hospitals, Alice Springs School of the Air, internet schooling
- Australian outback has a high import rate
Government Responses:
- Subsidies accommodation in cities e.g. Sydney for families of workers in the outback
- Australian immigration system is points based, working in outback gains points
Population Decline – Singapore:
- Population of 5.8 million, 40% immigrants
- 1.1 Fertility Rate
- -0.3% Yearly Growth Rate 2020
Causes:
- Unique Culture, parents nurture children and parents
- Women working more, limit fertile years “take your time to say yes” campaign and low
tuition fee
- 1972-1987 anti-natal policy “stop at 2” in 1970 low-educated women offered $10000 to
sterilise
- No maternity leaves for 3rd or subsequent children, housing priorities favoured small
families
Impacts:
- Parents are content with just one child
, - 1977 first year below replacement fertility, pioneer generation becoming retired,
demographic timebomb
- Old age support ratio expected to go from 5.9-2.1 workers per retired by 2030
- Total births fell from 50000 in 1985 to 37000 in 2015
Government Responses:
- “Have three or more, if you can afford it.” from 1987
- $20,000 tax rebate for mothers having a second child before 28, $750 child relief for
every child past 2
- Discouraged abortion and abolished family planning board
- Maternity leave to 12 weeks
- Baby bonus introduced in 2001 as part of the ‘make love, not money’ campaign
High Dependency Ratio – Singapore:
- 3rd longest life expectancy in the world, expected to reach 85.5 by 2040
- Number of people over 65 is expected to almost double from 500,000 in 2018 to
900,000 in 2030
- Fertility of 1.1 per women and 0.79% yearly growth rate
Causes:
- 1972 “stop at 2” policy, 1970 low-education women offered 10000 to sterilise
- No maternity leaves for 3rd or subsequent children, housing priorities for smaller
families
- Unique culture, women care for own parents and children, women work more, low
tuition
Impacts + Government Responses:
- GST increase from 8-9% in 2024, so more money is made to spend on pension and
social services
- Retirement age gradually increasing until 2030, where it will be 65
- 12% of population is over 65, 2010 was 9%, pension fund has increased to $360 billion
- Government tripled social spending 2008-2018 to $34 billion
Pro-Natalist Policy – Singapore:
- Population of 5.5 million
- 1.1 Fertility Rate
- -0.3% Yearly Growth Rate 2020
Incentives:
- Cash sum of $3000 for first to third child
- 3-month Maternity Leave, 5 Days childcare leave a year
- Extra months’ salary yearly until child is 14
Disincentives:
- Lower number of children disentitles you for larger house
- Higher school fees if you only have one child
Success/Failure:
- Implemented in 1987, from 2005, births declined by 4 per 1000
- 2020, BR is 8.5 per 1000, fluctuated about 9 for 10-15 years
- ‘Have three or more, if you can afford’ did not work
Anti-Natalist Policy – China:
- Oldest Continuous major world Civilization, 3500 years
- Population of 1.412 billion
- One child policy from 1980 to 2015
Incentives:
