CHAPTER 13
POPULATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT
A population is a collection of people in a country. In sociology, population refers to a collection of humans.
Demography is a social science which entails the statistical study of populations. Population, in simpler terms, is the
number of people in a city or town, region, country or world; population is usually determined by a process called
census (a process of collecting, analyzing, compiling and publishing data).
The human population of a country plays a dynamic role in the development of any country. The population
provides labour to produce different goods and services, the same population provides the domestic market for
goods and services produced in the country. The size of population of a country is very important, because a very
large population can create serious economic and social problems. Similarly, if the population is to small then the
resources of the country cannot be used properly and it slows down the development process.
The population size must be ideal and well balanced according to the resources of a country, it should neither be too
large nor to small.
Population growth is the increase in the number of individuals in a population. Global human population growth
amounts to around 83 million annually, or 1.1% per year. The global population has grown from 1 billion in 1800 to
7.774 billion in 2020. It is expected to keep growing, and estimates have put the total population at 8.6 billion by
mid-2030, 9.8 billion by mid-2050 and 11.2 billion by 2100. Many nations with rapid population growth have low
standards of living, whereas many nations with low rates of population growth have high standards of living
Three important characteristics of population are:
its geographic distribution
density and
growth rate.
Geographic distribution, or range, is a term that describes the area inhabited by a population and can vary from a
few cubic centimeters to millions of square kilometers.
Population density - the number of individuals in a population in a given area at a given time. The more individuals
in a given space, the more dense that population. To calculate density, determine area and count the Number of
organisms living in that area; divide the population number by the Area; this gives you the population per unit of
area. ( D = N/A )
Population growth - populations can stay the same size, grow larger or decline in numbers over a period of time.
Three factors can affect population size:
the number of births
the number of deaths, and
the number of individuals entering or leaving the area
1. Birth rate number of individuals born in an area over a given time period. If more are born than die, the birth
rate increases. If the birth rate equals the death rate, the population size stays the same over time.
2. Death rate number of individuals that die in an area over a given time period. If more die than are born, the
death rate increases, etc.
3. Immigration number of individuals moving into an area over a given period of time.
4. Emigration number of individuals moving out of an area over a given period of time.
Population Growth Rates:
Population growth rate means the rate at which population of a country increases every year. The difference between
birth rate and death rate shows the growth rate of population of any country.
The types of population growth rate include;
i). Exponential Growth occurs when the individuals of a population reproduce at a constant rate.
At first, the number of individuals in an exponentially growing population increases slowly.
Over time, populations double with each generation and the population grows rapidly until it approaches an
infinitely large size.
Under ideal conditions with unlimited resources, any population can grow exponentially. However, this is not
realistic. In reality, resources eventually run out and populations will crash!
ECONOMICS CHAPTER 13 POPULATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT NOTES PREPARED BY MR. ANTONY AMBIA Page 1
, Carrying capacity - the maximum number of individuals that an ecosystem is capable of supporting. As population
numbers increase, certain factors in the environment become limits to growth. All living things need food, water,
oxygen and a certain amount of space in which to live.
ii). Logistic Growth - this is known as a realistic growth curve that most populations exhibit because resources are
limited in any population and populations cannot just grow limitlessly as shown in the exponential model. Logistic
growth occurs when a population’s growth slows or stops following a period of exponential growth.
Factors the encourage population growth
a. Early marriages especially of girls at their teenage years
b. Improved standards of living with sufficient food and affordable medical care
c. Cultural beliefs that encourage bigger families
d. Positive Social beliefs that favour high birth rate
e. Available idle natural resources to support a large population
f. Lack of information about effective birth control measures
g. Lack of access to birth control medicines and methods especially to sexually active youth.
Limits to Population Growth
Because most populations do follow the logistic growth pattern and reach a carrying capacity, there are several
factors that can limit the growth of a population, called limiting factors. The limiting factors may reduce the birth
rate and / or increase the mortality rate.
Competition - for food, habitat, .
Migration to seek better opportunities
Parasitism, disease and pandemics
Drought, famine or other climate extremes
Human disturbances such violence and war
Effect of population on an economy
Optimum population
This is the level of population where national income per head of population is maximized. In case of optimum
population, the resources of a country can be utilized effectively and national income can maximized out available
resources.
If a country is over populated it means that there are too many people with too few resources to provide a level of
national income which maximizes national income per head.
If the country is under populated, it means that there are too few people to make use of the resources available to
increase national income and maximize national income per head..
The size of optimum population can increase or decrease if there is a change in the technology or resources
available. If technology improves or new resources are developed then the size of optimum population will increase.
The advantages of increasing population
a. If the existing population is below optimum size then an increase in population will have the advantage of
increasing national income and national income per head will increase. Thus, the standard of living will
improve
b. Large population are a source of market for agricultural and industrial products
c. The people provide labor locally and internationally hence a source foreign currency remittance to the local
economy
d. Division of labour when introduced to the large population then economies of large scale production can be
gained
e. Working population that increase in size are a source expertise labour and taxes to the government
The Disadvantages of increasing population
a. The country’ s standard of living is affected due to lower national incomes per person
b. Chronic overpopulation introduces severe hardships, poverty and malnutrition in a country
c. There is a strain on a country’s social, health and educational facilities
d. Higher dependence on those who have an income by those who do not
e. The country dependents on imports of commodities thus affecting balance of payments
ECONOMICS CHAPTER 13 POPULATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT NOTES PREPARED BY MR. ANTONY AMBIA Page 2
POPULATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT
A population is a collection of people in a country. In sociology, population refers to a collection of humans.
Demography is a social science which entails the statistical study of populations. Population, in simpler terms, is the
number of people in a city or town, region, country or world; population is usually determined by a process called
census (a process of collecting, analyzing, compiling and publishing data).
The human population of a country plays a dynamic role in the development of any country. The population
provides labour to produce different goods and services, the same population provides the domestic market for
goods and services produced in the country. The size of population of a country is very important, because a very
large population can create serious economic and social problems. Similarly, if the population is to small then the
resources of the country cannot be used properly and it slows down the development process.
The population size must be ideal and well balanced according to the resources of a country, it should neither be too
large nor to small.
Population growth is the increase in the number of individuals in a population. Global human population growth
amounts to around 83 million annually, or 1.1% per year. The global population has grown from 1 billion in 1800 to
7.774 billion in 2020. It is expected to keep growing, and estimates have put the total population at 8.6 billion by
mid-2030, 9.8 billion by mid-2050 and 11.2 billion by 2100. Many nations with rapid population growth have low
standards of living, whereas many nations with low rates of population growth have high standards of living
Three important characteristics of population are:
its geographic distribution
density and
growth rate.
Geographic distribution, or range, is a term that describes the area inhabited by a population and can vary from a
few cubic centimeters to millions of square kilometers.
Population density - the number of individuals in a population in a given area at a given time. The more individuals
in a given space, the more dense that population. To calculate density, determine area and count the Number of
organisms living in that area; divide the population number by the Area; this gives you the population per unit of
area. ( D = N/A )
Population growth - populations can stay the same size, grow larger or decline in numbers over a period of time.
Three factors can affect population size:
the number of births
the number of deaths, and
the number of individuals entering or leaving the area
1. Birth rate number of individuals born in an area over a given time period. If more are born than die, the birth
rate increases. If the birth rate equals the death rate, the population size stays the same over time.
2. Death rate number of individuals that die in an area over a given time period. If more die than are born, the
death rate increases, etc.
3. Immigration number of individuals moving into an area over a given period of time.
4. Emigration number of individuals moving out of an area over a given period of time.
Population Growth Rates:
Population growth rate means the rate at which population of a country increases every year. The difference between
birth rate and death rate shows the growth rate of population of any country.
The types of population growth rate include;
i). Exponential Growth occurs when the individuals of a population reproduce at a constant rate.
At first, the number of individuals in an exponentially growing population increases slowly.
Over time, populations double with each generation and the population grows rapidly until it approaches an
infinitely large size.
Under ideal conditions with unlimited resources, any population can grow exponentially. However, this is not
realistic. In reality, resources eventually run out and populations will crash!
ECONOMICS CHAPTER 13 POPULATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT NOTES PREPARED BY MR. ANTONY AMBIA Page 1
, Carrying capacity - the maximum number of individuals that an ecosystem is capable of supporting. As population
numbers increase, certain factors in the environment become limits to growth. All living things need food, water,
oxygen and a certain amount of space in which to live.
ii). Logistic Growth - this is known as a realistic growth curve that most populations exhibit because resources are
limited in any population and populations cannot just grow limitlessly as shown in the exponential model. Logistic
growth occurs when a population’s growth slows or stops following a period of exponential growth.
Factors the encourage population growth
a. Early marriages especially of girls at their teenage years
b. Improved standards of living with sufficient food and affordable medical care
c. Cultural beliefs that encourage bigger families
d. Positive Social beliefs that favour high birth rate
e. Available idle natural resources to support a large population
f. Lack of information about effective birth control measures
g. Lack of access to birth control medicines and methods especially to sexually active youth.
Limits to Population Growth
Because most populations do follow the logistic growth pattern and reach a carrying capacity, there are several
factors that can limit the growth of a population, called limiting factors. The limiting factors may reduce the birth
rate and / or increase the mortality rate.
Competition - for food, habitat, .
Migration to seek better opportunities
Parasitism, disease and pandemics
Drought, famine or other climate extremes
Human disturbances such violence and war
Effect of population on an economy
Optimum population
This is the level of population where national income per head of population is maximized. In case of optimum
population, the resources of a country can be utilized effectively and national income can maximized out available
resources.
If a country is over populated it means that there are too many people with too few resources to provide a level of
national income which maximizes national income per head.
If the country is under populated, it means that there are too few people to make use of the resources available to
increase national income and maximize national income per head..
The size of optimum population can increase or decrease if there is a change in the technology or resources
available. If technology improves or new resources are developed then the size of optimum population will increase.
The advantages of increasing population
a. If the existing population is below optimum size then an increase in population will have the advantage of
increasing national income and national income per head will increase. Thus, the standard of living will
improve
b. Large population are a source of market for agricultural and industrial products
c. The people provide labor locally and internationally hence a source foreign currency remittance to the local
economy
d. Division of labour when introduced to the large population then economies of large scale production can be
gained
e. Working population that increase in size are a source expertise labour and taxes to the government
The Disadvantages of increasing population
a. The country’ s standard of living is affected due to lower national incomes per person
b. Chronic overpopulation introduces severe hardships, poverty and malnutrition in a country
c. There is a strain on a country’s social, health and educational facilities
d. Higher dependence on those who have an income by those who do not
e. The country dependents on imports of commodities thus affecting balance of payments
ECONOMICS CHAPTER 13 POPULATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT NOTES PREPARED BY MR. ANTONY AMBIA Page 2
