The Causes and Effects of Rapid Population Growth in Third World Countries - Essay Example

The causes and effects of rapid population growth in third world countries Human population has been expanding at a rate that has changed the social and economic fabric of many countries with the world’s population reaching six billion in 1999. Unfortunately, third world countries have been burdened with this problem for many years and they continue to struggle with the consequences of a rapid population growth. This essay examines the main causes of population growth in developing countries. The paper examines a number of causes such as cultural traditions in parts of Africa. The paper also shows that there are far reaching consequences that are preventing these countries from developing to a point where they can eliminate or minimize some of their problems. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA 1999) the world population is expected to reach a total of 9.1 billion in 2050 and all of the growth will take place in the less developed countries. This means that there will be significant increases in the populations of countries of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, parts of Asia and Eastern Europe. Overpopulation results from a lower death rate and a higher birth rate. One of the major causes of rapid population growth is attributed to the discoveries and improvements in science and technology. With the improvement in medical technology and the discoveries of vaccines, new medicines and the extinction of many childhood diseases, many persons have a longer life span and even if they are faced with multiple diseases medicines and foods have helped in the cure and the possibility of living longer. With the implementation of public health programs many governments have been instrumental in containing infectious diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis. More people have access to a cleaner, safer supply of drinking water. The population of most developing countries increases at two percent to four percent per year (Stanton, 2003). They hold eighty percent of the world’s population. The forty nine least developed countries in the world have the fastest growth rate. These countries include Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Mali, Yemen, Malawi. The three projected possibilities indicate a large increase when compared with the population explosion of the 1950’s. It also shows an increasing trend that may continue to grow well beyond the year 2050. TABLE I.1. POPULATION, BY DEVELOPMENT GROUP AND MAJOR AREA, ESTIMATES AND MEDIUM VARIANT, 1950, 2005 AND 2050 Population (millions) Percentage distribution Development group or major area 1950 2005 2050 1950 2005 2050 World ............................................................................. 2 519 6 465 9 076 100.0 100.0 100.0 More developed regions................................................... 813 1211 1236 32.3 18.7 13.6 Less developed regions.................................................... 1707 5253 7840 67.7 81.3 86.4 Least developed countries ............................................ 201 759 1735 8.0 11.7 19.1 Other less developed countries ..................................... 1506 4494 6104 59.8 69.5 67.3 Africa ............................................................................. 224 906 1937 8.9 14.0 21.3 Asia ................................................................................ 1396 3905 5217 55.4 60.4 57.5 Europe ............................................................................ 547 728 653 21.7 11.3 7.2 Latin America and the Caribbean..................................... 167 561 783 6.6 8.7 8.6 Northern America............................................................ 172 331 438 6.8 5.1 4.8 Oceania........................................................................... 13 33 48 0.5 0.5 0.5 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs/Population Division World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision, Volume III: Analytical Report The least developed countries make up for the larger portion of the world’s population up to the projection of 2050. Many families in developing countries, although they have access to family planning advice and methods still prefer to have large families which may be due to traditional or religious reasons or a combination of reasons. Some families also choose to have many children because there is a high risk of some of them dying at a young age. Although pre-natal care has helped to reduce infant mortality rates there are some countries where the rate is still relatively high. According to United Nations Children’s Fund (Mason, 2008) the five countries with the highest rate of infant mortality are Sierra Leone, with 270 deaths per 1,000 live births; Angola with 260; Afghanistan with 257; Niger with 253; and Liberia with 235. In cases like these families tend to reproduce at a faster rate. Cultural norms also dictate the number of children for many families in developing countries. In many parts of Africa and Asia sons are still the authority figures. It is therefore seen as logical for the mother to have a certain number of children to ensure that enough sons will be born in the family. The sons continue the lineage of the family. “Hence the search for sons make many couples, including the highly educated ones end up with larger families than initially desired (United Nations, 2001). There are also high fertility rates in some countries. In many countries such as Uganda, it is embarrassing for a woman to die without being married or ever having given birth. Many women in some societies such as these try to have as many children as possible even if they remain unmarried. Having child will rid them of any stigma that is attached to them such as being called infertile or even cursed. Another cause for the rapid population growth in developing countries is that in many developing countries children are viewed as sources of labour, prestige, power, security and insurance. In some societies assistance in emergencies such as funerals, sickness, organizing wedding parties was dependent on the size of the nuclear and extended family (United Nations Report, 2001). Many developing countries are predominantly agricultural societies and children contribute to the livelihood of families on a daily basis. They help to sustain the family’s income. ‘The number of working children between the ages of five and fourteen is at least 120 million. As may be expected given the prevailing economic conditions the overwhelming majority of these are in developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America’ (International Labour Office, 1996). The number of children the family determines the financial rewards. Illiteracy and unemployment also lead to a rapid population growth. Compared to their counterparts in developed countries many women in third world countries have no careers and believe that rearing children is their gender responsibilities that they should adhere to. Many of them pay scant regard to contraceptive measures. In many countries in Africa for example, the male has a dominant role in childbearing and many of them are opposed to the use of contraceptives. Family planning programs in sub-Saharan Africa haven’t succeeded in reducing population growth as elsewhere in the world. The marriage process itself in which men give gifts and money to their future wives through bride wealth payments, fundamentally shape gender norms and determines power relations between men and women (Frost,1999, 44). Many of these women are living in rural societies and feel contented with their way of life. For them, producing many children gives them a sense of security and fulfilment. In Kenya there has been diminishing response to the benefits of family planning. The estimated total of population for 2050 is estimated to be approximately eighty three million. One of the major effects of rapid population growth in developing countries is poverty. Population growth rate is almost synonymous with poverty. When the growth of population is faster than the growth of the economy there will be negative consequences. The greater majority of the population of third world countries lives in rural areas where there are limited resources and little scope for development. Rising out of poverty is more difficult for larger than for smaller families (UNFP, 2009). The very poor have little or no access to improved medical facilities therefore the spread of diseases among the poor happens at a faster rate. The inability of many governments to cope with the rapid growth rate increases the chances for the very poor to use desperate attempt in trying to survive. Thus most of these countries also have a very high crime rate. Many families live in a vicious cycle with their children and grandchildren experiencing the same fate. Many of these countries have a youthful population with a high fertility rate. Another effect of rapid population growth comes in the form of environmental degradation. The overpopulation puts a strain on the environment on the maintenance and care of the environment. As people search for housing lands become deforested and the methods of removing plants lack the technology that could minimize the depletion of soil. Soil erosion can trigger other problems that are both disastrous for humans as well as the natural environment. The depletion of trees can change the weather pattern. Soil erosion also leads to floods and landslides. Environmental pollution is a great problem in India. In 1997 the World Development Indicators reported that 1.5 billion people lived exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution, 1 billion live without clean water and 2 billion live without sanitation (Nagdeve, 2002). With the fast population growth expected to reach 1363 millions in 2025 the impact on the environment will be at crisis level. The environment becomes polluted mainly through using natural resources and also waste production. This can result in water pollution. The use of transportation and building and use of factories and other buildings add to air pollution as well. It is reported that India is the world’s sixth largest and second fastest growing producer of greenwood gases (Nagdeve). Poor drainage and garbage accumulation also add to pollution of the environment. Environmental pollution increases the incidence of diseases such as respiratory and water borne diseases. In search for shelter there has been rapid growth of urban ghettos and slums. In the least developed countries forty three percent of the population lives in slums with three or four out of every ten non-permanent houses in cities in developing countries are located in areas prone to floods, landslides and other natural disasters (Habitat for Humanity, 2007). As the birth rate increase and people are living longer the demand for food is even greater. This high demand increases the cost for food and also increases the number of victims of hunger and food deprivation. According to a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) report, the aid agency Oxfam said that more than nine hundred million people faced starvation because of soaring food prices (BBC, 2008). It further reported that the increasing cost of basic food items such as rice and cereals had pushed an extra 119 million people into hunger in 2008. Many countries such as Ethiopia and Sudan have been experiencing drastic food shortages. The tables show the direct correlation between the price of food and the world’s hunger. It is significant to note that all of the countries shown on the chart are third world countries. Hunger as well as other problems in third world countries also exists in developed countries but they have the necessary social facilities as well as the economic means to deal effectively with the problems. The population growth will prevent the countries from becoming economically independent. There are not enough resources to maintain their growing populations. They remain a burden on other more developed countries as well as international agencies. Another consequence is migration. Urban migration increases the chances for underdevelopment of some areas. There is also in some cases mass migration to developed countries. Sometimes these journeys can be hazardous as, for example, the journey by sea from Africa to Spain. The stress that the population puts on the urban facilities causes many problems for the different governments. A BBC news report of June 13, 2006 stated that Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest has the world highest rate of urban migration. The migration to the cities has far outpaced the economic development of the area. The Un-Habitat refers to the problem as ‘premature urbanization. Population growth can bring pressure on the infrastructure and services. In many developing countries, the government health and social programs are not improved or increased at the same speed as that of the growth of the population. Consequently, the quality of life deteriorates rapidly and the standard of living for many reaches disproportionate levels. In many developing countries women, children and the elderly are often the first ones to feel the effects of rapid population growth. Cultural and social norms prevent many women from being gainfully employed and are unable to maximise their potential. There are not enough facilities for the elderly and many become street dwellers. Many children who live in improper housing conditions or who have lost their parents to diseases, migration or civil disturbances also fall victims to abuse and degradable living conditions. Population growth in developing countries has put many persons in danger of natural disasters. Poor housing and lack of proper living conditions cause much suffering for many persons as they lack proper security and financing to protect themselves against natural disasters. They are more vulnerable to the dangers of these disasters. Over the years hurricanes have killed many persons and left many homeless in countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. A United States Aid for Development (USAID, 2001) report of 2001 stated that the hurricanes that struck Latin America in 2000 were the worst crisis to strike the region in a century. Similarly, floods and cyclones in Asia have also impacted the population in a negative way. The international aid agencies sometimes encounter problems with the distribution of foods and medicines because of the large number of persons who are affected. The problems of population growth, however, can be minimized if successive governments put plans that will counteract the present crises and make strategic changes for the future generation. While the causes are varied and unique in each country, efforts have to be made at a global level to curb the level of human suffering that is being experienced. Bibliography Birdall, Nancy et al.(2001) Population matters: demographic change, economic growth, and poverty in the developing world. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Easterlin, Richard. (1980) Population and Economic Change in Developing Countries. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Stanton, William. (2003) The rapid growth of Human Populations: 1750-2000, consequences, issues, nation by nation. London: Multi science Publishing Company Ltd. World Population to exceed 9 billion by 2050 http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wpp2008/pressrelease.pdf Date accesses 30/11/09. Montgomery, Mark. (2009).Urban Poverty and Health in Developing Countries. Population Bulletin 2, 2, 64   Kinder, Carolyn. The Population Explosion: Causes and Consequences. Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1998/7/98.07.02.x.html Date accesses 30/11/09 State of World Population 1999 http://www.unfpa.org/swp Mason, Barry. (2008) Infant mortality rates still high.unfp.org. Date accessed 30/11/09 ILO Calls for Immediate Action Against Intolerable Forms of Child Labour. www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/.../index.ht Date accessed 30/11/09. The Numbers of Need 2007 www.habitat.org/hw/december_2007/feature5.html. Date accessed 30/11/09. High food cost a global burden. http://www. BBC.co.uk. Date accessed 30/11/09 http://www.worldbank.org Latin America and the Caribbean Overview http://www.usaid.gov. Date accessed 30/11/09 Nagdeve Dewaram.(2002) Environment and Health in India. Mumbai: International Institute for Population Sciences. www.fao.org/english/newsroom/news/2003/15254-en.html Frost, Ashley. (2009) Men are missing from African family planning. Caliber Journal of University of California , 8, 1, 44–49. UNFP FACT SHEET: Population Growth and Poverty. www.unfp.org Read More