DEMOGRAPHY AND POPULATION

As people enter into marriage and produce new lives, so do people wear down and pass away.
The community health nurse should have an idea on the type of population he/she operates in,
whether it is the young/old majority or the youth majority gives an overview of the dependency
ratio and why community members should plan their reproductive goals within the nation’s
resources.

Demography is “the scientific study of human populations, including their size, composition,
distribution, density, growth, and other demographic and socio-economic characteristics and the
causes and consequences of changes in these factors” (Haupt & Kane, 1986). Demography also
tries to explain why the changes have taken place, and attempts to predict future events.

Famous among the personalities who studied population were Thomas Malthus and Dennis
Meadow. Thomas Malthus, a British clergyman and Economist who studied the rates of
population increase reported that population increase was geometrical, while food production
was arithmetical, thus population increase would outstrip the increase in food supply. He
explains that unless fertility is controlled (by late marriage or celibacy), famine, disease, vice and
war must serve as natural population restrictions (Haupt & Kane, 1986). Dennis Meado however,
believed that population itself will check its growth. He said every living organism requires
energy to live and when population grows, environmental conditions would be influenced to kill
the organisms to decrease the population naturally.
Malthus and Meadow both however, focused on the effects of population growth on agriculture
and as a vicious cycle.
- Most arable or fertile land would be utilized to deplete its fertility.
- The lands which are no more fertile will be applied with fertilizer.
- During rainfall, the fertilizers are washed and drain into rivers to pollute them causing
extinction of living life in the rivers.
- The dead animals and plants will produce gases and the decomposition of dead weed will
deplete minerals.
- Minerals are being removed from the soil and this also pose problems to the land.
- Deforestation due to human activities will also lead to poor rainfall and poor food
production which will lead to starvation.

Demographic Transition
It is a series of demographic changes which have occurred from the Agrigarian period through
the great industrial era, to the present technologically advanced time.
During the Agrigarian period (agricultural age) when people had to produce more children to
help on the farms, there was population increase. Thus birth rate was high but death rate was also
high due to wars, disease and inadequate health care. During the industrial era, birth rates were
still high but death rate was how due to availability of drugs to cure diseases.

Profile of population Growth

1. Expansive or Rapid growth – when there is larger number of people in the younger ages.
2. Constrictive or slow Growth – when smaller numbers of the people are in the young ages.
3. Stationary or Near Zero Growth – when roughly equal numbers of people in all age ranges,
tapering off gradually at the older ages.

The Demographic Characteristics of Ghana

 Population size.
 Population distribution.
 Age composition.
 Sex composition.

Ghana’s population has been growing rapidly since 1921 to date. Growth rate has been as
follows:
1931 – 1960 3.8%
1960 – 1970 2.7%
1970 – 1982 3.0%
1982 – 1992 3.2%
1992 – 2002 2.6%
2002 – 2007 3.2%

1. Fertility
This refers to the actual reproductive performance of a population. It differs from fecundity
which is the physiological capability of couples to reproduce. Fertility is the number of live
births occurring in a population which is affected by fecundity and also by the age at marriage,
the availability and use of family planning, the status of women and the age – sex structure.

a) Birth Rate: The birth rate (also known as crude birth rate) indicates the number of live
births per 1,000 populations in a given year. Births are only one component of population
change and the birth rate should not be confused with the growth rate, which includes all
components of change.

Crude Birth Rate (CBR) = Number of births × 1,000

Total population
b) General Fertility Rate: The general fertility rate (also called fertility rate) is the number of
live births per 1,000 women aged 15 – 49 years in a given year.
The general fertility rate is a somewhat more refined measure than the crude birth rate
because it relates births more nearly to age-sex group at risk of giving birth. Thus it is
more indicative of changes in fertility behaviour than is the crude birth rate.

General Fertility Rate (GFR) = Number of births × 1,000

Number of women aged 15-49
c) Child–Women Ratio: This is the number of children under 5years of age per 1,000
women of childbearing age in a given year. This measure is used as a rough fertility
indicator, especially when detailed data on birth are lacking
d) Abortion Ratio: This is the estimated number of abortions per 1,000 births in a given
year. This ratio should not be confused with the abortion rate.

Abortion Ratio = Number of Abortions × 1,000

 Number of live births
e) Abortion Rate: This is the estimated number of abortions per 1,000 women aged 15 –
44years in a given year. This rate should not be confused with the abortion ratio.

2. Nuptiality
This refers to marriage as a population phenomenon, including the rate at which it occurs, the
characteristic of persons united in marriage, and the dissolution of such unions.

 Marriage Rate: Refers to the number of marriages per 1,000 total populations in a given
year. This rate is calculated using the number of marriages and not the number of people
getting married and includes both first marriage and remarriages.

Marriage Rate = Number of Marriages × 1,000

Total Population
 Divorce Rate: Indicates the number of divorces per 1,000 populations in a given year.
This rate is calculated using the number of divorces and not the number of people being
divorced.
Divorce Rate = Number of Divorces × 1,000
Total population

3. Migration: Migration is the movement of people across a specific boundary for the purpose of
residing. It is another component of population changes.
Immigration refers to movement into another country and emigration is movement out of a
country (international migration). The terms in–migration and out-migration are used for
internal movement between different areas within a country (internal migration).
I. Immigration Rate: This refers to the number of immigrants arriving at a destination
per 1,000 populations at the destination in given year.

Immigration Rate = Number of immigrants× 1000

Total population at destination
II. Emigration Rate: Is the number of emigrants departing an area of origin per 1,000
populations at that area of origin in a given year.

Emigration Rate = Number of emigrants × 1,000

Total population
III. Net Migration Rate: Shows the net effect of immigration and emigration on an area’s
population, expressed as increase or decrease per 1,000 population of the area in
given year.
IV. Net Migration Rate = Number of immigrants – Number of emigrants × 1,000
Total Population
4. Population Change
Population change has three components: births, deaths and migration. As people are born, die or
move their total members in an area change.
Natural Increase: Is the surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths in a population in a given time
period.
Rate of Natural Increase: Is the rate at which a population is increasing or decreasing in a given
year due to a surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths, expressed as a percentage of the base
population. This rate does not include the effects of immigration or emigration.

Rate of Natural Increase = Birth – Deaths × 1,000

Total “mid period” population

Growth Rate: It is the rate at which a population is increasing or decreasing in a given year due
to natural increase and net migration, expressed as a percentage of the base population. The
growth rate takes into account all components of population growth; births, deaths and
migration.

Grow Rate: Birth – Deaths+ Net migration × 1, 000

Total “Mid Period” Population

Sources of Information for Vital Statistics and Demography

 Monthly, quarterly and Annual Activity Reporting Forms.
 Disease Surveillance Reporting Forms.
 Midwives Monthly Activity Forms.
 Mortality Forms.
 Births and Deaths Reports.
 Data on marriages from the courts and churches.
 Accidents Reports from police stations.
 Reports from police stations.
 Reports from Statistical Department.
 Reports from National Census.
 Special Researches by Universities and NGOs.

Post Independence Census show the following details.

Census Year Annual Growth Rate Population
1960 2.4 6.7 million
1979 3.0 8.5 million
1984 2.6 12.6 million
Projection 1987 2.8 13.9 million
1988 2.8 14.3 million
1989 2.8 14.7 million
1990 3-3.2 15.1 million
2000 2.6 18,912,079
Projected
2007 32 22 million

The Tools of Demography

 Count: The absolute number of a population or any demographic event occurring in a
specified area in a specified time period.
 Rate: The frequency of demographic events in a population in a specified time period e.g.
infant mortality rate. Rates tell how frequently an event is occurring and how common it
is. Crude rates are the rates computed for an entire population.
 Specific rates are rates computed for a specific subgroup; usually the population at risk
for example general fertility rate is birth per 1,000 women aged 15-49years. Thus, rate
can be age-specific, sex-specific occupation specific etc.
 Ratio: The relation of one population subgroup to another sub-group in the same
population, that is, one subgroup divided by another.
 Proportion: The relation of a population subgroup divided by the entire population, that
is, a population subgroup divided by the entire population e.g. the proportion of urban
population to rural population.
 Constant: An unchanging, arbitrary number e.g. 100 or 100, 000 by which rates, ratios or
proportion can be multiplied to express these measures in more understandable fashion
e.g. Deaths in infants per 1000 life births.
 Cohort Measures: Statistics that measure events occurring to cohort. Cohort is a group of
people sharing a common demographic experience who are observed through time. The
most commonly used cohort is the birth cohort that is people born in the same year or
period.
 Period Measure: Statistic that measure events occurring to all or part of a population
during one period of time e.g. death rate of a country in a particular year.
 Sex Ration: The sex ratio is the ratio of males to females in a given population usually the
number of males in 100 females.
 Age Dependency Ratio: Is the ratio of persons in the dependent ages which is under 15
and over 64years to those in the economically productive ages (15-64years) in a
population.
 Birth rate: The birth rate also called crude birth rate indicates the number of live birth per
1,000 populations in a given year.
 General Fertility Rate: The general fertility rate is also known as fertility rate is the
number of live birth per 1,000 women aged 15-49years in a given year.
 Total Fertility Rate: Is the average number of children that would be born alive to a
woman or a group of a women during their lifetime if she were to pass through all her
child bearing years conforming to the age-specific fertility rate of a given years.
 Child-Woman Rate: The child – woman ratio is the number of children under 5years of
age per 1,000 women of child bearing age in a given year. This measure is used as a
rough fertility indicator, especially when detailed data on birth are lacking.
 Abortion Ratio: Is the estimated number of abortion per 1,000 live births in a given year.
 Abortion Rate: is the estimated number of abortion per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years in
a given year.
 Death Rate: This is also called crude death rate, is the number of death per 1,000
populations in a given year.
 Infant Mortality Rate: Is the number of deaths to infants under 1year of age per 1,000 live
births in a given year. The infant mortality rate is considered a good indictor of the health
status of any given area. In many less developed countries infant mortality and fertility
rate are high.
  Maternal Mortality Rate: Is the number of women who die as a result of childbearing in a
given year per 100,000 births in that year. Maternal deaths are those deaths caused by
complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
 Life Expectancy: Is an estimate of the average number of addition years a person can
expect to live, based on the age-specific death rates for a given year.

The major focus of demography is to measure certain attributes of the population like age, sex,
occupation, and ethnicity among others to help in planning. For example, the population of
children under one year and women in reproductive age is used in requesting for vaccines. Age is
used in assessing the dependency ratio so that government can put in measures to provide them
with their basic needs, occupation because some jobs expose workers to certain risks and
measures can put in place to prevent these.

Population is the term used when the community being talked about is capable of reproducing or
inter breeding that is population is the number of organisms found in place capable of inter
breeding.
Population Change: Is an increase or decrease in the size of a population.
Components of Population include: migration, births and death.

UN definition for birth state that birth is an extraction or expulsion from its mother the product
of conception.
UN further defined death as the permanent disappearance of all evidence of life, for example
ceasation of heart beat and all senses.
Migration therefore is the change in geographic location for a period of 6 months. Migration can
be temporary when one goes on relieving duty, it can be permanent when one is transferred and
has to work in an area for years, it can also be seasonal, some farmers and fishermen move to
areas because of their activities. Migration can be force or involuntary. Force migration occurs
when people change location because of war, involuntary, people change location out of their
own accord.
Population census by United Nation is the collection, complication and publishing of social,
economic and demographic data pertaining to all persons in a place at a specified time or times.

Uses of Census Data

 Resources Allocation: Trapping the target age group make it possible for their needs to be met,
children under one year can be fully protected from the children preventable disease when the
correct quantity is estimated.
 Planning: Estimating the teen’s population today will make it possible for measures like
family life educators be trained to take up task.
 Intervention Purpose: Knowing the population can facilitate the institution of measures to
forestall any danger. For example, programmes to check drug abuse.
 Projection: Population can be projected and the current figure used to work for the interest of
the nation.

Population Structure
 Age-sex can be used to structure the population of a nation. Age –sex structure is divided into
three:
 0 – 14years; which is the young population and is referred to as pre-reproductive population.
 15 – 64years; this is the Active Population.
 65+; this is the old or retired or the Aged Population and referred to as the Post Reproductive
Population.

Uses of Age-sex structure

 To determine the needs of the population.
 To determine the dependency burden, people within 15 to 64years work to cater for the young
and old population.
 To give a picture about mortality pattern.
It describes the population. The population of Ghana has a big base which means Ghana