Factors affecting population growth
By Marjorie Henry, Contributor

Huddled under a tree, fourth-form Montego Bay High School students do a last-minute review of their Spanish notes on September 27, 2005. - Claudine Housen/staff photographer

I had promised that I would discuss the factors affecting population growth in today's lesson, and I will still keep that promise. However, before I do so, here are two short questions on population distribution and density, the topic I concluded in the last lessons. They are intended for a quick review of the topic.

(i) Define the term 'population distribution'.

(ii) For a named Caribbean country, explain how EACH of the following factors influences the distribution of population:

• Relief
• Communication
• Economic activity

Here are the expected responses.

(i) Population distribution refers to the way in which human settlements are spread within a given place or country.

(ii) The named Caribbean country is Jamaica. Each factor will be discussed separately in point form.

RELIEF

• Most of the population live in the low, alluvial plains in the south of the island. Many towns are located on the plains, the largest centre being the capital city, Kingston.
  
  
• Few people live in the mountainous interior as the steep slopes and generally rugged terrain limit agricultural activities, among other things. In addition, the steep slopes are often susceptible to slope failure and other forms of mass movement. People are, therefore, not encouraged to live in such areas.

COMMUNICATION

• A road network that spans the island connects the towns found on the coastal lowlands. The availability of transportation routes encourages a dense population on these lowlands.
  
  
• The rugged terrain of the interior of the Blue Mountains and the Cockpit Country are not so easily traversed by roads and remain sparsely populated.

ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

• Jobs are available mainly in urban areas where there are industries and services. Kingston has a large population since these employment opportunities are there.
  
  
• The major economic activity on the north coast is tourism. This has encouraged settlements outside the main tourist centres such as Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Negril and Port Antonio.
  
  
• Mining activity, particularly bauxite, has led to an increase in population in several areas, for example, Ewarton in St. Catherine, Mandeville in Manchester, and May Pen in Clarendon.

I now wish to turn your attention to population growth. As mentioned in a previous lesson, the factors affecting this are births, deaths and migration. The population grows when the number of babies born each year is greater than the number of infants and adults who die.

On the other hand, if the number of deaths were to be greater than the number of births, then the population would fall. In summary then, the rate of population growth in any country is determined by the birth rate and the death rate. The birth rate is the number of babies born per thousand people in the country. The death rate is the number of deaths per thousand people in the country. The birth rate minus the death rate gives the natural increase.

Migration brings about changes in the size of the population in any one country. It affects the distribution of people over a given area as well as affecting the total population of a region and the population structure of a country or city.

What is migration? It is movement from one place to another. In human terms, it usually refers to a permanent change of home. What are the different forms of migration? Why do people move? Try to find answers to these questions as you read on the topic.

Marjorie Henry is a vice-principal at Glenmuir High School and is head of the Geography Department. She teaches the subject at the CSEC Level.