Demographics Online Lab

1. What was your high fertility rate country and what was its fertility rate?

My country was Laos in Asia. The fertility rate was 6.30.

2. What was your low fertility rate country and what was its fertility rate?

My low fertility rate country was Canada with a rate of 1.80 children.

3. The initial demographic "shape" of your high fertility rate country should have been a pyramid, with high population in young age groups. Explain why high fertility rate results in a high percentage of young people in the population. How does this affect future population growth?

Often in less developed countries where there is not access to birth control there are high fertility rates. The life expectancy is also lower, as in Laos, the life expectancy is only 50 years. Because of a lack of good medical care, nutrition etc, the older and more frail die. The younger and stronger live and upon reaching reproductive age have more children, resulting in a younger population.

4. Your low fertility rate country might have had a more oval-shaped curve with high population in middle age groups. This is especially exaggerated if the fertility rate is below 2.00. Explain why low fertility rate leads to lots of middle-aged people.

There is a higher standard of living in these countries with access to better nutrition and medical care. People live longer.

5. Write ten adjectives or descriptive phrases for what you might expect life, people's attitudes, conditions on the streets, etc. will be like in each of those situations. Imagine a situation with lots of middle-aged and older people in the population and write ten quick "brain-storm" descriptors for you think it would be like (Prescott, Arizona?). Then do the same for a situation with lots of children in the population.

Lots of Middle aged older people:

1. Materialistic

2. Individualistic

3. Emphasis on heritage

4. Rich history

5. More sedentary society

6. Xenophobic

7. Less diversity

8. Educated

9. Wealthy

10. Resistant to change

Lots of Children:

1. Diverse

2, energized

3. Innovation and creativity are prevalent

4. Crime and death rates are higher

5. Scarcity

6. Unemployment

7. Emphasis on family

8. Pollution

9. Emphasis on religion and spirituality

10. Accidents