Populations in Developed / Less

Populations in Developed / Less Developed Nations

Developed Nations (DN) have more stable populations and grow at a much more moderate rate when compared to Less Developed Nations (LDN). DNs are predicted to grow about 3% between the years 2005 and 2050 while LDNs are predicted to grow about 52% between those two years (p. 147). This is quite a shocking fact and if the population growth goes as predicted, this means that by the year 2050, the LDN will possess over 86% of the world's people (p. 147). This will have major effects on not only the environment but also the quality of life for those living in LDNs.

What are the reasons for the differences in population growth in LDNs vs. DNs? By looking at the United States, an obvious DN, and Bangladesh, a LDN, this paper will try to point out some of the differences in social, economic, and cultural factors that may lead to higher population growth / fertility rates.

Population growth and economic development go hand in hand and they both lead to environmental issues (p. 147). One of the major problems in LDNs with high population growth rates is that there isn't enough food being produced to keep up with all of the people. This is why there have been LDNs that have experienced famine in ways that DNs would find hard to imagine.

The United States, as of 2005, had a population of 296.5 million people with about 14 births per 1000 individuals. The fertility rate for woman in the United States is about 2 children per woman per lifetime. Bangladesh, as of 2005, had a population of 144.2 million people and about 27 births per 1000 individuals -- almost double that of the United States. The total fertility rate is 3 children per woman per lifetime (p. 149).

There are social factors that need to be considered when thinking about why LDNs have higher population / versatility growth rates. One reason is that while people in DNs may know be knowledgeable about the environmental impact and thus choose to not have as many children, people in LDNs may not be aware of the environmental risks that come with population growth. There may be other reasons that have to do with cultural implications as well when it comes to population / fertility growth. Some people in LDNs may have religious reasons for not wanting to use birth control and may have major issues with abortion. In DNs, most women go to college, they have a career, they put off marriage, and when they do decide to get married, they may have one or two children. However, in LDNs, women may marry quite early, sometimes as early as fourteen, and may believe that having as many children as possible is what life is about. There are so many cultural factors in LDNs that people in DNs are unaware of.

It's interesting to note that in some countries in Europe especially, the government is actually trying to promote pregnancies because of the slow population growth rate. While this hasn't happened in the United States, as the population seems to be growing steadily, it is interesting to consider. However, in 2010, Bangladesh was estimated to be on of the ten most highly estimated countries in the world, just under 160 million (Asian Info 2011) and this is a country that is half the size of Italy (FAO 2011).