HUMAN POPULATION 3.
It is used in formulation of economic policy
Population can be defined as the total number of and programmes: The statistics collected from the
people residing in a nation over a given period of population census of a nation can be used by the
time. public authorities to formulate any policy or
TYPES OF POPULATION programme that will arrest any problem discovered
1. Optimum Population: It refers to the population from the population statistics.
size that when it is engaged with the limited 4. It is used in measuring population density:
available resources, it will yield the highest per The knowledge of population census of a nation
capita income in the nation. It is the ideal helps in the determination of the population density
population of balance between the number of of the nation.
people and available resources in a nation. Problems Associated With Population Census
Examples of that are close to having optimum 1. Issue of cost involved: Many countries do not
population are Sweden, Australia, Finland, New regularly conduct the population census of their
Zealand, Switzerland, Norway, etc. nations because of huge amount of money that will
2. Over Population: It refers to the population size be incurred in the exercise.
that is more than the limited available resources, 2. Issue of Illiteracy: Population census is not
which will yield low per capita income in the usually successful as expected in many nations of
nation. the world because many people have difficulties in
However, there is opportunity for improvement in filling census forms as well communicating
per capita income if the population drops effectively with enumerators, which affect the
significantly. Examples are China, Nigeria, Japan, accuracy of the statistics from the exercise.
India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, etc. 3. Issue of political influence: Many politicians do
3. Under Population: It refers to the population inflate the census figures for their own political
size that is less than the limited available resources, benefits, which leads to inaccuracy in the census
which will yield less per capita income in the statistics.
nation. 4. Issue of inadequate skilled personnel: The
However, there is opportunity for increase in per success of population census in a nation is
capita income if the population rises more negatively affected where the number of skilled
moderately. Examples are Brazil, Canada, Russia, enumerators expected to be involved in the conduct
Argentina, etc. of the exercise is not adequate, which leads to some
Methods of Population Determination areas not being reached.
A. Sample Survey: This involves using a POPULATION DISTRIBUTION
representative group of people in certain parts of a It can be defined as the process of dividing the
nation to estimate the population size of the nation. population of a nation into different components. It
B. Census: Census can be defined as the regular, is otherwise known as population structure or
official head-count or proxy-count of people characteristics of population.
residing in a nation over a given period of time. Types of Population Distribution
This is usually conducted in every ten years. I. Age Distribution: This is the component of the
Systems of Population Census population structure, which indicates the number of
1. De Jure: This involves proxy-counting of people people in different age groups in the nation.
residing in a nation over a given period of time. Typical Age Structure
2. De Facto: This involves physical head-count of 0-14 (Young children)
people residing in a nation over a given period of 15-64 (Working Age Population)
time. 65 and above (Old population)
Importance of Population Census Concept of Dependency Ratio
1. It guides governments in their revenue It is the ratio of dependent population to working
allocation: The statistics of the population census age population.
guides the government of a nation about the Mathematically,
amount of money to be allocated from its revenue Dependent Population
to different geo political zones in the nation. Dependency Ratio =
Independent Population
2. It is used to estimate the standard of living:
The standard of living in a nation is usually Dependent population = Young Children + Old
estimated from the per capita income, which is people
usually estimated from measuring the ratio of the Independent Population = Working age
national income to population of the nation. population
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NOTE: When the percentage of dependent NOTE: The employed are those who fall within the
population is lower than the percentage of working age group, able to work, and they are
independent population, it is known as low actively engaged in economic activities without
dependency ratio, if otherwise, it is known as high actively seeking for any better employment. The
dependency ratio. unemployed are those who fall within the working
Implications of High Dependency Ratio age group, able to work, but they are not actively
1. It will raise the spending of government: engaged in economic activities, but actively
When there are significant large percentage of searching for employment. The out of labour force
dependents in a nation, the government will be are those who fall within the working age group,
forced to provide health care facilities, educational but they are neither employed nor unemployed,
institutions, and social securities in order to cater such as students in higher institutions, full time
for them, which will raise its spending. housewives, retirees, disabled, discouraged job
2. It will reduce the amount of government tax seekers, etc.
revenue: The amount of personal income tax Concept of labour force
revenue that the government will generate will drop Labour force can be defined as the number of
as dependents do not pay personal income tax when people who fall within the working age group, both
there are large percentage of them in the population actively engaged and not actively engaged, but
of a nation. actively seeking for employment at the given wage
3. It will reduce economic growth: The rate of rate. It is sometimes referred to as working
growth in the level of output of a nation will drop if population.
there are large percentage of dependents in the Mathematically,
population of the nation because they are not Labour force = Employed + Unemployed
economically active to contributing to generation of Concept of Labour Force Participation Rate
goods and services. It is the percentage of working age group that is
4. It raises pressure on independent population: economically active.
The larger the percentage of dependents in the Mathematically,
population of a nation, the more the pressure on the Labour Force Participation Rate
independent population because of the need to care Labbour force 100 %
for them from their incomes. = ×
Workingage population 1
Factors Affecting Dependency Ratio Factors Affecting Labour Force
1. Issue of medical facilities: The better the state 1. Issue of age structure: If the age structure of a
of medical facilities available in a nation, the nation favours higher number of young adults in
longer the possibility of life expectancy in the the population of working age group, it will likely
nation, which will raise the dependency ratio in the raise the labour force of the nation.
nation, and vice versa. 2. Issue of official school leaving age: When the
2. Issue of rate of fertility: When the rate of official age of leaving secondary schools in a
fertility among the women in a nation is high, more nation becomes higher, it will raise the number of
number of children will be born, which will raise people in the secondary education, which will
the dependency ratio in the nation, and vice versa. reduce the number of people in the working age
3. Issue of official retirement age: If the group and the labour force, and vice versa.
retirement age declared by the government 3. Issue of official retirement age: If the official
becomes higher, more number of people will be in retirement age in a nation is low, it will reduce the
the working age population, which will reduce the population of working age group, which will
dependency ration, and vice versa. reduce the labour force, and vice versa.
4. Issue of migration: The larger the number of 4. Issue of migration: When the number of
young adults immigrating to a nation, the more the immigrants is more than the number of emigrants,
population of the working age group, which will the labour force of the nation will likely be raised,
reduce the dependency ratio, and vice versa. and vice versa.
Concept of Working Age Population II. Gender Distribution: It is the component of the
This involves those people who fall into the population of a nation, which indicates the number
categories of the employed, unemployed and out of of male and female people in the population of the
labour force. nation. It is also called sex structure.
Mathematically, Implications of Gender Distribution
Working Age Population = Employed + 1. It affects the labour force: If there are larger
Unemployed + Out of labour force percentage of male population in a nation, there is
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possibility of having a large labour force in the 2. Issue of social amenities: The more the
nation, if otherwise, less number of people will availability of social amenities in a geographical
likely be in the labour force. area of a nation, the more the number of people
2. It affects birth rate: When the number of who will likely be residing there, else, less will
female population is large in a nation, there is likely be the number of people residing there.
possibility of raising the rate at which children will 3. Issue of political factor: If a territory in a nation
be born in the nation, and vice versa. is ridden with crises, wars and riots, many people
3. It affects migration: The larger the number of will likely move away from the area, which will
male population in a nation, the larger the reduce the number of people living in the area, if
possibility of increase in the number of male otherwise, more people will likely be residing
emigrants in search of greener pasture so as to take there.
a better care of members of their families, and vice 4. Issue of natural disasters: When a geographical
versa. area experiences incessant earthquakes, flooding,
4. It promotes early or late marriages: When we etc.; the number of people residing in the territory
have a large number of female population in a will decline, if otherwise, more people will be
nation, it will likely promote early marriages, and living there.
more number of children will be born and this will Concept of Population Density
contribute to over population in the nation, and vice Population density can be defined as the average
versa. number of people residing in a geographical area
III. Occupational Distribution: This is a per square mile.
component of population distribution, which Mathematically,
indicates the number of people in different Population Density
productive economic sectors of the nation. Total population of the territory
Factors Influencing Occupational Distribution =
Total area of the territory
1. Issue of belief system: If the religious, cultural NOTE: If the population density is less than fifty
and traditional beliefs in a nation do not support persons per square mile, it indicates low population
people engaging in manufacturing activities, the density or the territory is thinly or sparsely
number of people engaging in such sector will populated. Also, if it is greater than one hundred
likely drop, if otherwise, more people will engage persons per square mile or kilometre, it is called
in the sector. high population density or the territory is densely
2. Nature of technology: The higher the level of populated. However, if it is in between fifty and
technology available in a nation, the more the hundred persons, it is called an ideal population
possibility of engagement of many people in density.
secondary sector of the economy, if otherwise, less Factors Influencing Population Density
number of people will be involved. 1. Issue of weather and climate
3. Nature of natural endowment: If a nation is 2. Issue of social amenities
naturally endowed with fertile land, sea and ocean, 3. Issue of political factor
there is possibility of many people in the nation 4. Issue of natural disasters
engaging in primary sector, if otherwise, less HOMEWORK
number will likely be involved. 1. Given the table below for the population of a
4. Issue of wage rate: If tertiary sector of a nation nation:
promises highest wage rate, there is possibility that Age Group No of persons No of persons
many people will be engaged in the sector, if in thousands in thousands
otherwise, less number of people will be involved. 1995 1960
IV. Geographical Distribution: This is a 0-16 150 143
component of population distribution, which 17-45 51 107
indicates the number of people in different 46-60 29 33
territories of the nation. Above 60 15 17
Factors Influencing Geographical Distribution a. What is the percentage increase in the working
1. Issue of weather and climate: If the population between 1955 and 1960?
atmospheric and environmental conditions of a b. Calculate the ratio of dependent population to
geographical area in a nation are favourable for the working population in 1955.
different economic activities, large number of c. Calculate the ratio of dependent population to the
people will likely be residing there, if otherwise, working population in 1960.
less number of people will be residing there. d. Has the dependency ratio increased or decreased
between 1955 and 1960.
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( 20 marks)
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