Natural Growth of Population:
Natural growth of population refers to the change in the population of a region due to the difference between the birth rate and the death rate. It is calculated as the difference between the number of births and the number of deaths in a given period, without accounting for migration. If the birth rate is higher than the death rate, the population increases, while a higher death rate leads to population decline. This process represents the natural increase or decrease in the population.
Impact of Migration on Changing Population:
Migration plays a significant role in shaping the population dynamics of a region. There are two main types of migration: immigration (movement into an area) and emigration (movement out of an area). The impact of migration on changing population includes:
- Population Growth in Receiving Areas: Countries or regions that receive large numbers of immigrants often experience an increase in population. This can lead to the development of urban areas, increased demand for resources, and diversification of the local culture and workforce.
- Population Decline in Sending Areas: Areas experiencing high levels of emigration may face a reduction in population, often affecting the workforce, especially if the migrants are young or skilled workers. This can lead to challenges in economic productivity and can exacerbate issues like aging populations.
- Cultural and Demographic Shifts: Migration can result in changes in the demographic structure, introducing new languages, religions, and cultural practices. It can also impact the labor market, with migrants contributing to both skilled and unskilled job sectors. Migration, therefore, is an important factor in the overall growth and distribution of populations, as it can influence both the size and structure of populations in various regions of the world.
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Hunting and Food Gathering
The earliest human beings depended on their immediate environment for their sustenance. They subsisted on: (a) animals which they hunted; and (b) the edible plants which they gathered from forests in the vicinity. Primitive societies depended on wild animals. People located in very cold and extremely hot climates survived on hunting. The people in the coastal areas still catch fish though fishing has experienced modernisation due to technological development. Many species, now have become extinct or endangered due to illegal hunting (poaching). The early hunters used primitive tools made of stones, twigs or arrows so the number of animals killed was limited. Gathering and hunting are the oldest economic activity known. These are carried out at different levels with different orientations. Gathering is practised in regions with harsh climatic conditions. It often involves primitive societies, who extract both plants and animals to satisfy their needs for food, shelter and clothing. This type of activity requires a small amount of capital investment and operates at very low levels of technology. The yield per person is very low and little or no surplus is produced.
