Assignment 1

Countries differ with respect to population numbers, age structure, and fertility and mortality rates. These differences are caused by many factors, such as geographic size and location, level of economic development, government policies, and religious practices. The following exercises are designed to help you understand the influence of some of these factors on the size and growth of human populations.


1 .		Select the Population Structure view on the input screen of Demography Lab. Using the Country popup menu, examine the estimated 1998 population structure. Select the Fertility Rate view on the input screen of DemographyLab. Using the Country popup menu, examine the estimated 1998 fertility rates of each nation. (Try changing the scale to magnify these differences.) Do you see any trends for the fertility rates compared to the population structures? What are they?

2 .		Select the Mortality Rate view on the input screen of DemographyLab. Using the Country popup menu, examine the estimated 1998 mortality rates of each nation.

3 .		Select the Mortality Rate view on the input screen of DemographyLab. Using the Country popup menu, examine the estimated 1998 mortality rates of each nation. Do you see any trends for the mortality rates compared to the age structures? What are they? Which age groups show the biggest differences in mortality rate among nations?

4 .		Select the Mortality Rate view on the input screen of DemographyLab. Using the Country popup menu, examine the estimated 1998 mortality rates of each nation. Do you see any differences in the mortality rates of males compared with females for any of the countries? What are they? What might account for some of these differences?

5 .		Select the Fertility Rate view on the input screen of Demography Lab. Examine the fertility rates for Nigeria and India.

6 .		Select the Fertility Rate view on the input screen of Demography Lab. Examine the fertility rates for Nigeria and India.

7 .		Select the Fertility Rate view on the input screen of Demography Lab. Examine the fertility rates for Nigeria and India. Provide possible explanations for why it may be difficult to establish contraceptive techniques in these countries that would have a significant impact on population growth.