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Birth and Death Rates, Natural Increase

Birth Rate is the term used to define the number of babies born every year per 1000 people in a population.

Death Rate is the term used to define the number of deaths every year per 1000 people in a population.

Natural increase in a population occurs where Birth rate is greater than death rate. That is, that there are more births than deaths in that population ion a year.

Natural decrease occurs when death rate is greater than birth rate. This means that more deaths occur in a population than babies are born so population numbers decline.

How is the natural increase found?
 Natural Increase (per cent) =

Birth rate - death rate

10

 Death rate is higher than birth rate =  Smaller Population or a natural decrease in the population If birth rate is higher than death rate =  Larger Population or a Natural increase in the population size

LEDC'S are more likely to have a higher death rate than MEDC'S due to illnesses and lack of medical treatment.

Of course, this balance is changed by Migration. If people move into a country (Immigrants) the population will increase. If people leave a country (emigrate) the population could decrease.

Activities

1) Take a bytesize test bite on this topic after reading their revision notes

2a) Draw line graphs of the birth and death rate data on this excel file.

b) Describe and explain how the birth and death rates for those countries change.

3a) Calculate the natural increase for the following countries

Country Birth Rate Death Rate Natural Increase
Mauritius (2007) 15.3 6.9  
Mauritius (1970) 25.1 8.1  
UK (2007) 10.7 10.1  
UK (1970) 12.5 11.9  


Infoplease

b) What do these figures reveal?
c) What are implications of these figures for the governments of these countries?

Migration can alter this balance - find out about the past 200 years of migration to the UK.