demography

• demography is the study of the population

  • size
  • age structure
• factors affecting the population size

  • births
  • deaths
  • emigration
  • immigration
• birth rate: the number of live births per 1000 people per year
• total fertility rate is the average number of children women have during their fertile years (15-44)
• reasons for declining birth rate: changes in position of women

  • education
  • legal reforms
  • divorce
  • abortion and contraception


  Sarah Harper states that education is the most important factor for the fall. it changes their attitudes, activities and mindset.

  harper also notes that once there is a pattern of low fertility, it lasts for more than one generation. Cultural norms change Smaller families become the norm
• infant mortality measures the number of infants who die before the age of one, per 1000 babies born alive per year
• reasons for declining birth rate: decline in infant mortality

  parents do not have many children as they do not replace the ones they have lost