- Importance of knowing the absolute population figures
- Fight overpopulation
- Poverty, low birth rate and mortality
- References
The absolute population is the total number of counted inhabitants of a given area to which their birth rate is added and then their death rate is subtracted to obtain a more exact figure.
The absolute population number can be statistically calculated to determine the number of individuals living in a region and even a country, including its rural and urban areas, in order to predict behaviors.
To carry out this operation, data on the selected population are required, generally collected through censuses carried out by relevant institutions, which include other related data such as the distribution and growth of inhabitants of the sector in which they are carried out.
With these data, it is possible to make graphs, calculations and metrics with future projections, which allow a nation to attack or prevent social, economic, poverty or health problems, among others.
To obtain the significant figure of the absolute population, 4 vital statistics must be taken into account apart from the population census. These are the increase due to births and the decrease due to death, in annual proportion, and the two types of migratory flows.
The countries with the most absolute population in the world are China with almost 1,400 million inhabitants, and India with more than 1,200 million. It is followed by the United States and Indonesia with a population of around 300 million inhabitants each.
Importance of knowing the absolute population figures
Fight overpopulation
Knowing the absolute population of a country is an essential tool to attack overpopulation problems in the next 20, 30 and 50 years, since it gives accurate figures based on the population of the moment that are compared with those of previous years.
With this, the rates of increase of inhabitants and speed of population growth can be obtained. When comparing birth rates with mortality and if there is a flow of births that exceeds that of deaths, the factor called "natural increase" is obtained.
Combined with other demographic data such as the density of inhabitants, the administration of a country can plan - with a medium and long-term projection - the implementation of everything necessary to meet the demand of this new wave of inhabitants.
The effect of overcrowding is not only perceived by the volume of people in a certain area. The most important thing is to achieve an efficient distribution of the population in urban and rural territories, condition the spaces with everything necessary and develop an infrastructure and logistics that provide quality of life equally.
As an example we have the construction of new houses with all the necessary basic services: electricity, water, communication and cleaning, among others.
Additionally, the relevant roads will be needed for the mobilization of people, for access to services such as health, education, infrastructure and entertainment, and for the provision and transportation of goods.
Furthermore, to more efficiently meet the needs of the growing population, existing structures are not enough. The construction of new health care centers, educational institutions, power plants, water distribution and treatment plants and other services could be very necessary.
It is also important to know how and how much to increase food production, import and distribution in order to supply the entire growing population. Historically it is recognized that a poorly monitored population will always grow faster than the livelihoods to sustain it.
Countries with significant overpopulation figures, such as China and India, spend valuable time in this kind of study to develop social initiatives and promote technological advances, which could be benefits based on absolute population figures.
Poverty, low birth rate and mortality
Knowing the figures of the absolute population for consecutive years allows us to analyze and provide solutions to existing problems such as the poverty rate, a decrease in the birth rate, if applicable, or the drop in life expectancy.
Sectorized absolute population data play an indispensable role, for example, for countries that import most of the goods and basic products it needs. Indicators such as shortages would lead to a socio-economic imbalance and an internal crisis.
In this way, especially a nation, identifies the possible causes of poverty and can plan how and when to address them, implementing changes in social and economic policies in time to help improve the quality of life of the population.
With regard to the indicators of low birth rates in the absolute population, there is, for example, the advanced age of women in the region or low numbers of young women. It can also affect socio-economic status, educational level, and most notably, medical and health reasons.
Implementing strategies to motivate the migration to the area of younger inhabitants is part of the planning resulting from the studies of the absolute population sectorized. Generating stable jobs, quality educational institutions, housing opportunities and promoting tourism are some of the mechanisms used.
A high mortality rate is closely related to the health of the population. Ensuring access to clean water, adequate sanitation and a good diet are important aspects to guarantee general health.
It is also very important, both to reduce the death rate and to increase the birth rate, the development of a functional health and social assistance system and that medical services are available to the entire population.
References
- Ellen M. Gee. Population Growth. Encyclopedia of Death and Dying. Recovered from deathreference.com.
- Emily Morash. Population. Global Geography. Recovered from emilymorash07.tripod.com.
- Monica Sánchez (2016). What is the Absolute Population? Culture 10. cultura10.com.
- Wunsch, G. Caselli, J.Vallin (2005). Demography - Analysis and Synthesis: A Treatise in Population (Online book). Academic Press. Recovered from books.google.co.ve.
- The World Bank (2016). Understanding Poverty The World Bank Group. Recovered from worldbank.org.
- Business Dictionary. Demography. Web Finance Inc. Recovered from.businessdictionary.com.
- World Health Organization. Global Health Observatory (GHO) data. Retrieved from who.int.