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Question 1
1.1 Describe the causes of population growth.
The primary causes of population growth are indirectly referenced through the concept of the
demographic transition. This transition describes the shift from high mortality and fertility rates to
low mortality and fertility rates, which is often accompanied by population growth.
Countries undergo economic development and experience a demographic transition, the following
changes occur:
Decline in Mortality Rates: Mortality rates, particularly child and maternal mortality, decline
due to improvements in health services, nutrition, and public health measures (Siddiqi et al.,
2023, p. 243). This means more people are living longer, contributing to population growth.
Persistent High Fertility Rates: While mortality rates fall, fertility rates often remain high for a
period. This is a key driver of population growth.
Epidemiological Transition: This transition, which is related to the demographic transition, is
characterized by a shift from communicable diseases to noncommunicable diseases as the
primary causes of morbidity and mortality (Siddiqi et al., 2023, p. 243). While this is more of
an effect of changing population structures, it is part of the broader demographic and
epidemiological shifts that influence population size and age structure.
In essence, a society moves from high death and birth rates to low death and birth rates. The growth
occurs during the transitional phase when the death rate has dropped significantly, but the birth rate
has not yet fallen to the same low level, resulting in a net increase in the population.
Question 1
1.1 Describe the causes of population growth.
The primary causes of population growth are indirectly referenced through the concept of the
demographic transition. This transition describes the shift from high mortality and fertility rates to
low mortality and fertility rates, which is often accompanied by population growth.
Countries undergo economic development and experience a demographic transition, the following
changes occur:
Decline in Mortality Rates: Mortality rates, particularly child and maternal mortality, decline
due to improvements in health services, nutrition, and public health measures (Siddiqi et al.,
2023, p. 243). This means more people are living longer, contributing to population growth.
Persistent High Fertility Rates: While mortality rates fall, fertility rates often remain high for a
period. This is a key driver of population growth.
Epidemiological Transition: This transition, which is related to the demographic transition, is
characterized by a shift from communicable diseases to noncommunicable diseases as the
primary causes of morbidity and mortality (Siddiqi et al., 2023, p. 243). While this is more of
an effect of changing population structures, it is part of the broader demographic and
epidemiological shifts that influence population size and age structure.
In essence, a society moves from high death and birth rates to low death and birth rates. The growth
occurs during the transitional phase when the death rate has dropped significantly, but the birth rate
has not yet fallen to the same low level, resulting in a net increase in the population.
