OPPapers.com

Population Growth In Underdeveloped Countries:

Population Growth in Underdeveloped Countries:

European population have never grown at anything like the rate pertaining in many underdeveloped countries, the peak of the natural increase of England and Wales was only 14 per thousand, and in Scandinavia it was .13. In many underdeveloped countries today it is aver twice as large and, moreover, these countries are at a lower - stages of economic development than Britain was at her Peak of natural increase. The main reason is the dramatic reduction in mortality. In Mauritius for example the average life expectancy increased from 33-51 in an 8 year period after the second world war progress which Sweden took 130 years to achieve. And in Sri Lanka campaign against malaria reduced the death rate from 22 to 10 per thousand in the period 1945- 1952


Most people are inclined to attribute the abrupt declines in mortality to modern medicine and public health measures, but some believe that economic progress is largely responsible, or that population growth has stimulated economic progress. However, there are few clear correlation’s between economic and demographic growth and some of the highest rates of population growth (e.g. Latin America) are in areas which demonstrate no comparable economic advance. In fact, population growth seems to be delaying economic development (e.g. mechanization) and ensuring continued poverty. The gap between the rich and poor nations is growing. The only large country outside the European tradition which has managed to pass through the same stages of demographic growth is Japan. An industrial nation, it has reacted in the same way as European countries faced with rapid population growth : it curtailed the growth for the benefit of all. .

The rates of population increase are so high in the poor countries that there can be no quick economic solution. As Mount joy states : “The whole problem of development, and particularly the furthering of industrialization, becomes mare and...