Mortality (Life Expectancy at Birth)
Q2. What was the life expectancy of each of your selected countries in the following time periods?
Country
1950
1970
1990
2010
2020
Italy
65.72
71.63
76.99
82.14
82.40
Greece
66.45
72.82
77.30
80.51
80.91
France
66.38
72.09
76.83
81.43
82.50
Switzerla
nd
68.91
73.12
77.38
82.28
83.07
Ukraine
62.23
69.32
69.80
70.62
72.57
Madagas
car
39.65
47.51
51.70
62.87
65.18
Q3. Describe some of the general patterns/trends that you observe about the fertility and mortality rates of your selected countries and explain how you think this impacts the total population of each country.
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It seems as though the countries who are more developed, such as France, Greece, Italy, Ukraine, Switzerland, have a much more stable and seemingly slowly growing birth rate as well as mortality rate which align with their lifestyles and economies. However, the country Madagascar who is less developed and thus may not have readily access to contraceptives seem to have a rapidly changing
yet high birth rate and mortality rate as well. Q4. Based on your observations of fertility and mortality, speculate (predict/guess) what the population for
your selected countries will look like (i.e. expanding, diminishing, or stable) in 2050 and 2100, and briefly explain your reasoning.
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I think for the developed countries, the mortality rate and fertility rate will continue to grow in a stable manner. By 2050, the more developed countries might double their growth rate while the less developed countries will lag behind and widen the gap. This will be more apparent by 2100.
Q5.
Based on your findings, what similarities/differences are there between your six countries?
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Mostly their lifestyles are different, and thus reflect different rates. For example in Ukraine, the birth rate is high compared to the rest due to their current situation and political conflicts as well as
their economic situation. The same can be said for Madagascar. The opposite is seen in the other, more developed countries.
Q6.
In a couple of short paragraphs explain/describe what you think the future of each country looks like with respect to population.
-
I believe in places like Italy, Greece, France, etc. we might see a more stagnant population growth due to the nature of their economies and lifestyle. I think in the long distant future, the countries will almost “switch places” in terms of mortality rate, but not fertility rate. As long as the country is still lagging behind compared to the rest, the fertility rate will remain high. -
However mortality rates may stagnant for more developed countries as we continue to progress and eventually hit a “wall” that does not allow us to go any further in increasing our life expectancy. This will allow time for the less developed countries to continue catching up in terms of
their economy, lifestyle, and mortality rates, to which then once they’ve caught up, it will begin to flat-line as well.
