Activity 3.1 - Human Population

Singapore

Birth Rate: 9

Death Rate: 5

Population Growth Rate: 0.3%

Life Expectancy (Male): 81 years

Life Expectancy (Female): 86 years

Fertility Rate: 1.1

Gross National Income: 86,480 PPP

Chad

Birth Rate: 47

Death Rate: 10

Population Growth Rate: 3.7%

Life Expectancy (Male): 57 years

Life Expectancy (Female): 60 years

Fertility Rate: 6.4

Gross National Income: 1,580 PPP

    The life expectancies of males and females are close in proximity in both countries, indicating humans have a type I survivorship curve. This curve means the population has a dramatic increase in the chance of dying once a certain older age range is reached. (Mutiti et al. 2018). The birth rate is higher in the country of Chad than it is in Singapore. Note that deaths in Chad are also higher than deaths in Singapore. Both of these statistics point to Chad being in stage II of the demographic transition model, also known as the industrializing/urbanizing stage (Mutiti et al. 2018). This indicates the country likely has high childhood and infant mortality rates due to a lack in healthcare. Because of the high death rate, families have more children to increase the likelihood of having a child survive into adulthood. The high amount of births are also in response to poverty, supplying families with more workers. The fertility rate is also high due to the amount of children each individual bares on average (Mutiti et al. 2018). If Chad's population were shown in an age structure diagram, it would likely have a wide bottom and a narrow top, indicating an increasing population size Having a higher birth rate than death rate leads to an increasing population. In contrast, Singapore's low birth rate and even lower death rate indicate a population in stage IV of the demographic transition model (Mutiti et al. 2018). Populations in this stage likely have extensive access to healthcare leading to lower birth and death rates. This also indicates an almost stable population growth. Chad's low life expectancy and and Singapore's high life expectancy are reflected in their position in the the demographic transition model. The further a population is in the model, the higher their life expectancy (Mutiti et al. 2018). This trend, much like the high infant and child mortality rates, is likely due to a lack in healthcare. 

    All populations included in the data set have similar life expectances between the males and females, further emphasizing humans having a type I survivorship curve. In comparison to the rest of the world, Singapore has a very high gross national income (GNI). Chad has a very low GNI. However, Chad's GNI is closer to the world's average than Singapore. Singapore has a birth rate that matches that of other more developed countries in the world and an extremely low death rate. Both Chad's birth rate and death rate is higher than the average of the least developed countries. Chad's life expectancy is slightly lower than the average life expectancy of the least developed countries. Singapore's life expectancy is higher than the average of more developed countries. Overall, more developed countries have a higher GNI and lower birth and death rates. All over the world, birth and death rates reflect the lack of wealth and healthcare access. For example, women in more developed countries likely have better access to birth control and therefore have fewer children. Poor countries have high infant mortality rates likely due to a lack in access to vaccines, medications, and affordable healthcare. In both countries, women live longer than men on average. This trend is replicated around the world regardless of development. This likely points to a biological influence. All of this evidences a wide variety of factors affecting populations around the world.

References

Mutiti, S., Mutiti, C., Manoylov, K., VandeVoort, A., & Bennett, D. (2018). Introduction to environmental science (3rd ed.). Biological Science Open Textbooks. University System of Georgia. 

Population Reference Bureau. (2021). 2021 world population data sheet.