Population : Part – 2
1. What is population composition?
Answer: Population composition refers to the structure of a population based on factors like age, sex, literacy, and occupation. It shows how these characteristics affect a region’s development. For example, age structure indicates the proportion of children, adults, and elderly.
2. How does age structure impact a country’s economy?
Answer: Age structure affects the economy by determining the working population size. A higher proportion of people aged 15-59 means more manpower, boosting economic growth. Too many children or elderly can increase dependency and strain resources.
3. What is a population pyramid used for?
Answer: A population pyramid shows the age and gender distribution of a population. It helps demographers understand birth rates, death rates, and dependency ratios. For example, a broad base indicates high birth rates.
4. What does an expansive population pyramid indicate?
Answer: An expansive pyramid has a broad base and narrow apex, showing high birth and death rates. It indicates a young population with many children, common in developing countries, leading to high dependency.
5. What is a constrictive population pyramid?
Answer: A constrictive pyramid has a narrow base and broader apex, indicating low birth and death rates. It shows an aging population with more elderly, typical in developed countries, increasing medical costs.
6. What does a stationary population pyramid show?
Answer: A stationary pyramid has similar percentages across all age groups, showing very low birth and death rates. It indicates stable population growth, often seen in highly developed countries with balanced economies.
7. How is sex ratio calculated in India?
Answer: In India, sex ratio is calculated as the number of females per 1000 males using the formula: (Total Female Population / Total Male Population) × 1000. It reflects gender distribution and women’s status in society.
8. What is the demographic dividend?
Answer: Demographic dividend is economic growth due to a higher working population compared to dependents. It occurs when birth and death rates decline, increasing per capita income if supported by good policies.
9. Why is literacy rate important for a country?
Answer: Literacy rate shows a country’s socio-economic development, reflecting living standards and education access. Higher literacy, especially among women, boosts economic growth and improves social conditions.
10. What does occupational structure indicate?
Answer: Occupational structure shows the proportion of people in primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors. A high percentage in secondary and tertiary sectors indicates a developed economy, while primary dominance suggests an agrarian economy.
11. How does migration affect population distribution?
Answer: Migration changes population distribution by increasing the recipient region’s population and decreasing the donor region’s. It affects density, age structure, and sex ratio, impacting resource use and development.
12. What are push factors in migration?
Answer: Push factors are reasons that force people to leave their region, like unemployment, wars, or natural disasters. For example, drought may push farmers to migrate to cities for better opportunities.
13. What are pull factors in migration?
Answer: Pull factors attract people to a new region, such as job opportunities, better education, or healthcare. For instance, cities like Mumbai pull migrants due to employment and improved living standards.
14. What is the difference between internal and external migration?
Answer: Internal migration is moving within a country, like from a village to a city. External migration is moving to another country, such as for education abroad. Both affect population structure differently.
15. How does an increase in retirement age impact the economy?
Answer: Increasing the retirement age keeps more people in the workforce, reducing pension costs and boosting economic productivity. It helps manage aging populations but requires policies to support older workers’ health and skills.
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