Population growth rates

• Population growth rates refers to the rate at which the size of the population increases over time
• Growth rates are subject to momentum – they start slow, and build up over time. Also it is difficult to decrease the growth rate rapidly.
  • This is because growth rate is influence by various factors such as age distribution, marriage rates, social and cultural factors
• The population doubling rate is dependent on growth rate
  • when the growth rate is 0.5 %, population doubles in about 140 years
  • whereas with a growth rate of 3 %, population doubles in about 20-25 years
• Developed countries have a much lesser growth rate compared to developing countries
• About 95 % of the population growth presently occur in the developing countries
• The UNFPA estimates the world population to reach 10 billion by the year 2050

Importance of growth rates:

• A high growth rate implies a state of population explosion
• Growth rates indicate the state of development of a  country