Advantages and Disadvantages of Youthful PopulationsThis is a featured page

Aim of this page:

1. To understand the main advantages and disadvantages of youthful populations.

2. Take a look at the conditions in places with youthful populations like India and Gambia.

3. Interpret how some changes in the current political, social and cultural factors could affect the country's progress in future years.

Having a youthful population

* gives the country a chance to build an educated and civilized community,

* provides a growing market for the manufactured products ,

* and also provides a large tax base for the country.

Let us take India as an example.

This population pyramid shows youthful population of India in the present.
Image from http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb/country.php

In a country like India - where nearly 60 percent of its population being less than 30 years - gives it a distinct advantage in the global outsourcing market as it provides for a large, educated workforce capable of meeting the brainpower demand of the global economy.

Between the years 2010-2030, India will add 241 Million people in working-age population (and that means the children who are currently in our education system), Brazil will add around 18 million, while China will add a meager 10 million people during the same time. So even with all the drawbacks that these countries have, this particular aspect is going to prove pivotal in making countries like India the world leader in coming years.


This video features world famous Hans Rosling, who talks about how and when Asian Countries like India and China will become equivalent to countries like the US and UK in terms of economic conditions.











Articles discussing about the beneficial young population of India and China:

Article 1 and Article 2

************

Though having a youthful population has several advantages, it has many disadvantages too.
* It strains the education and health care services, food supplies and accommodation availabilities.

* Having a youthful population also means lack of availability of jobs in future.

* Sometimes, the present working population is unable to pay for the education of the youthful population, leading to early withdrawal from school.

* Infant mortality rate rises as the government is unable to afford medical treatment facilities.

* Rural-urban migration increases as rural areas are unable to sustain growing population. This could lead to shanty towns. This further leads to increased poverty and lower standards of living.

* There is also ecological destruction in order to create more space for the agriculture and accommodation.

* Unable to maintain and control the growing population, there is political instability in the country.

Situation grows worse as the now youthful population grows older and gives birth to more children.


Gambia, with one of the most youthful populations in the world, has been used as a case study. It covers all the issues and implications associated with managing a youthful and growing population. The role of contraception and family planning is looked at in detail, as are the pressures on resources and the environment. The programme then looks at how Governments and NGOs are working together to provide schools, housing and healthcare. a worthwhile investment for any school.

Here is an article that talks about the causes and effects of Gambia's youthful population.

After having read and watched the videos about the youthful populations, you now have an idea as to what are the benefits and drawbacks of having a youthful population.

Here is an article that discusses about the global youth populations.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Youthful population in LEDCs.







Glossary of Terms:

Dependency ratio: the ratio between those of working age and those of non-working age. This is calculated as:

((0-14+65+^)/(15-64)) x 100

Infant Mortality: the number of babies dying before their first birthday per 1000 live births.

Life Expectancy: the average number of years a person born in a particular country might be expected to live.

Population Pyramid: a graph which shows the age and sex structure of a place.

Working Population: people in employment who have to support the dependent population.

Youthful Population: in the population structure of LEDCs, there is often a higher proportion of young people due to high birth rates and a reduction in infant mortality due to better nutrition, education and medical care. This may create problems since the children need feeding, housing, education and eventually a job. Medical care and education has to be paid for by taxing a proportionally small number of workers.

Youthful Population Structure: seen as a wide base on population pyramids that reflect high birth rates in LEDCs.


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KavitaSrinivasan 		Latest page update: made by KavitaSrinivasan , Oct 9 2010, 9:09 PM EDT (about this update About This Update KavitaSrinivasan Edited by KavitaSrinivasan

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phadkes Feedback (page: 1 2) 26 Oct 15 2010, 9:37 AM EDT by Kimyj
Thread started: Oct 7 2010, 6:00 AM EDT  Watch
I like how you've used a lot of examples and numerical figures to support what you've said. It makes the page stronger and by providing examples allows for people (when reviewing for a test) to look these up and see what the advantages and disadvantages are for themselves. Rather than inferring the knowledge from what we know, this way we can actually see it. I would suggest adding links to the sites where more information on the countries cited can be found. Also I think you should use subheadings to show what each paragraph is talking about so that when studying, people can skim through and read specifically the information that they need. Otherwise, great job! =)
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concepcionr Feedback 0 Oct 14 2010, 7:46 AM EDT by concepcionr
Thread started: Oct 14 2010, 7:46 AM EDT  Watch
I like the way how you made your page so concise. Much of the details and information in your topic were pretty straight forward. You also used a lot of examples from other sources in the internet; this clearly enhances the stance you have in your topic and gives readers a better perspective. You could probably also strengthen your stance by comparing this type of situation to the Philippines and to that of European nations with low birth rates. You could probably utilize what you know in this topic and use it to explain the problems these nations are facing. You could state how overpopulation in the Philippines has a connection with the disadvantages of youthful populations.
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lichaucob Page Comment 0 Oct 11 2010, 6:31 AM EDT by lichaucob
Thread started: Oct 11 2010, 6:31 AM EDT  Watch
This is a very good page. I like how it has not only videos, but linked articles explaining further the disadvantages and advantage to a youthful population. I never even thought about the tax and how the population affects it. You should also add in how even though it may be difficult for them to look for jobs in the future, its gives companies an opportunity to plan ahead with trends, also they will always have a reliable workforce, especially factory jobs. Great work!
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