Theory question 103
Population(a) What is birth rate? (b) Outline three factors that affect birth rate in Tropical Africa. (c) Highlight three advantages of over-population in Tropical Africa. (d) Identify three problems created by over-population in Tropical Africa.
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(a) Birth rate is the number of live births per 1,000 people in a population in one year.
(b) Early marriage; polygamy; desire for many children (labour, prestige, security in old age); low use of family planning; religious and cultural beliefs; low level of female education; improved health care for mothers.
(c) Large labour force; large market for goods; manpower for defence; more taxpayers; encourages investment and full use of resources.
(d) Unemployment; food shortage and malnutrition; housing shortage and slums; pressure on social amenities; high crime rate; environmental degradation; high dependency ratio.
Define birth rate per 1,000.