Friday, July 18, 2008

Demographics Online Lab




These images show a human population simulation. The time frame for this simulation extends to the year 2050. The first simulation shows the world population versus that of Yemen. The second simulation shows the world population versus that of the United States.

1. My high fertility rate country was Yemen. The fertility rate for this country is 7.3 children.

2. My low fertility country was the United States. The fertility rate for this country is 2 children.

3. High fertility rate results in a high number of young people in a population. In Yemen for instance, the fertility rate is 7.3. If each family has seven children, there is a good possibility that many of those children are young in age. Also, the life expectancy is not that high in Yemen (only to the average age of 50). The pyramid shape results because there are many more young people than old people. As far as future population growth--there will be a substancial increase in population. (If each of those 7 children reproduce even one child there will be a dramatic increase in population).

4. Low fertility rate leads to a lot of middle aged people. If the fertility rate is low, people are not reproducing at a high level of frequency so the youngest demographic will taper off. Also, the oldest generation will be smaller in number because of natural death. The result of the two will be a more in-between population demographic.

5.

Middle Aged/Older: quiet, reserved, calm, organized, efficient, scheduled, maintained, orderly, strict, understimulated

Children: loud, chaotic, overstimulated, reckless, unorganized, unscheduled, disorder, free-spirited, mess, fun

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