When looking at demographic data, we can see how different
countries develop and change over time. The Population Reference Bureau (PRB)
gives us important measures such as crude birth rate, death rate, rate of
natural increase, life expectancy, total fertility rate (TFR), and Gross
National Income (GNI) per capita. These measures help us compare countries that
are more developed to those that are less developed. For this assignment, I
chose Qatar as a more developed country and Yemen as a less developed country,
then compared them to the world averages.
Qatar is one of the richest countries in the world, with a GNI
per capita of about $116,870. Its crude birth rate is only 9 per 1,000
population, and the death rate is just 1 per 1,000. That leaves a rate of
natural increase of 0.8%, meaning Qatar’s population is growing, but slowly.
Its TFR is 1.4, which is well below replacement fertility (about 2.1). That
means families in Qatar are having fewer children on average. Life expectancy
is very high at 82 years overall, with 80 years for males and 83 years for
females, showing advanced healthcare and good living conditions in their
country.
Unfortunately, Yemen tells a very different story. Its GNI
per capita is only about $2,350, putting it among the least developed. The crude
birth rate is 35 per 1,000, much higher than Qatar and the world average. The death
rate is 7 per 1,000, giving it a rate of natural increase of 2.8%, which is a very
rapid growth country. Its TFR is 4.6, meaning women on average are having many
children. Life expectancy is much lower than Qatar’s, at only 65 years total,
with 64 years for males and 66 years for females. This lower life expectancy
reflects problems like limited healthcare and higher infant mortality rates.
Looking at the world data, the global averages fall between
Qatar and Yemen. The world crude birth rate is 16, the death rate is 8, and the
rate of natural increase is 0.9%. The global TFR is 2.2, close to replacement
fertility, and life expectancy worldwide is 73 years (71 for males, 76 for
females). The world GNI per capita is about $22,855, far higher than Yemen’s
but nowhere near Qatar’s.
In comparison, Qatar is an outlier on the high-income,
low-birth side, while Yemen is on the opposite extreme with high fertility and
rapid growth but very low income. The world averages sit in the middle, but
closer to Yemen’s side when it comes to fertility and life expectancy. These
differences show how economic development, healthcare, and education strongly
shape demographic outcomes.
References:
Mutiti, S., Mutiti, C., Manoylov, K., VandeVoort, A., &
Bennett, D. (2018). Introduction to environmental science (3rd ed.).
Biological Science Open Textbooks. University System of Georgia.
Population Reference Bureau. (2024). 2024 world
population data sheet. https://2024-wpds.prb.org/data-sheet-download/
No comments:
Post a Comment