The Contemporary World

Chapter 2: Covid-19 Pandemic and Global Demography Handout

Mary Claudine N. Pineda, RPm

“There is no such thing as destiny. We shape our own lives.”

Global demography

For much of human history, demographic patterns were reasonably stable; human populations
grew slowly, and the age structures, birth rates, and death rates of populations changed only
gradually. Epidemics and pandemics had huge effects on populations, but these effects were short-
lived and had little bearing on long term trends.
- David E Bloom

Two main points to remember

Demography - is the science of population. Demographers work to understand population dynamics

by investigating the three main demographic processes which are: birth, migration and aging
(including death)

Population - in simple term is the number of people in a city or town, region, country or world.
Population is usually determined by a process called census. It is a process of collecting, analyzing,
compiling and publishing data.

Global demography is the study of population globally based on factors such as: age, race, sex,
and a study how birth rates and death rates change. The word global demography was coined by
John Graunt. It also means the statistical and mathematical study of size compositional and spatial
distribution of human populations and the changes over time in these aspects through the operation
of the five (5) processes.

Nine (9) Important Terms to Remember

1. Dependency ratio- the number of people who are too young or too old to enter the workforce.
Often dependent on the working forces.
2. Mortality decline-countries suffer a small growth rate, caused by cleanliness, hygienic
surroundings, population control, balanced food and health consciousness.
3. Population explosion-the result of improved nutrition, public health infrastructure and medical
care.
4. Working age- if these people are huge numbers in a country, savings per capita will be bigger.
5. Life expectancy- the average period that a person may expect to live.
6. Birth rate- the total number of live births per 1000 of population in a year.
7. Death rate- the total number of deaths per 1000 of population in a year.
8. Fertility rate- the number of offspring both per mating pair, individual, or population.
9. Morbidity- condition of being diseased. Amount of disease within a population.
The Demographic Transition Model

The Demographic Transition Model (DTM) was initially proposed in 1929 by demographer Warren
Thompson. The model has four stages: pre-industrial, urbanizing/industrializing, mature industrial,
and post-industrial.
The Demographic Transition Model (DTM) is based on historical population trends of two
demographic characteristics – birth rate and death rate – to suggest that a country’s total population
growth rate cycles through stages as that country develops economically.

Within the model, a country will progress over time from one stage to the next as certain social
and economic forces act upon the birth and death rates. Every country can be placed within the
DTM, but not every stage of the model has a country that meets its specific definition.

Five stages of demographic transition model

Stage 1: High Stationary

Pre-industrial society, death rates and birth rates are high and roughly in balance, and population
growth is typically very slow and constrained by the available food supply. The majority of people
are concentrated in rural regions, primarily focusing on agriculture.
This agricultural focus means that having more children is an economic benefit as well as a status
symbol, further contributing to high birth rates and efforts to have larger families.

Stage 2: Early Expanding

The death rates drop rapidly due to improvements in food supply and sanitation, which increase
life spans and reduce disease. The improvements specific to food supply typically include selective
breeding and crop rotation and farming techniques. Other improvements generally include access to
technology, basic health care and education. Many of the least developed countries today are in
Stage 2

Stage 3: Late Expanding

Birth rates fall due to access to contraception, increase in wages, urbanization, increase in status,
education of women and increase investment in education. Population growth begins to level off. It
is important to note that birth rate decline is caused also by a transition in values not just because of
contraceptives. Most developing countries are in Stage 3
Stage 4: Low Stationary

Birth rates and death rates are both low. The large group born during two stages; it creates an
economic burden on the shrinking population. Little growth in population. The population age
structure has become older. People born during stage 2 are now beginning to age. Birth rates are
low as the society is advanced and therefore, women choose for careers and smaller families to
ensure that they have a better quality of life. Most developed countries are in Stage 4

Stage 5: Declining

Fertility rates transition to either below replacement or above replacement. Some believed that
the world population will be forced to stabilized. Perhaps the world will run out of resources or food
shortage due to population growth. Decline birth rate may result because of rising individualism, one
child policy, many decide not to have children at all by being sterilized.

Reproductive health law

The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, known as the RH Law, is a
groundbreaking law that guarantees universal and free access to nearly all modern contraceptives
for all citizens, including impoverished communities, at government health centers.

The law also mandates reproductive health education in government schools and recognizes a
woman’s right to post-abortion care as part of the right to reproductive healthcare.

Student Notes
WHAT I HAVE LEARNED?

WHAT I SHOULD INVESTIGATE FURTHER?

DIFFICULTIES?