(a) Explain two physical and two human factors which may favour a rapid growth of population (b) Outline five problems that may arise from the rapid growth ...

Answer Details

(a) Factors favouring rapid growth of population

Two physical factors:

• Favourable climate: a moderate, healthy climate (neither too hot, cold nor too wet) encourages settlement and reduces death from harsh conditions.
• Fertile soils and adequate water: productive land and reliable water supply provide abundant food, supporting a large and growing population (e.g. river valleys and lowlands).

Two human factors:

• Improved medical services: better health care, immunisation and control of disease lower the death rate, especially infant mortality, so population grows.
• High birth rate and immigration: early marriage, large-family customs and religious/social attitudes keep the birth rate high, while good economic opportunities (jobs, industry) attract in-migrants.

(b) Five problems arising from rapid population growth

• Pressure on food supply, leading to food shortage, high prices and possible famine.
• Unemployment and underemployment, as jobs cannot grow as fast as the labour force.
• Shortage of housing, giving rise to overcrowding and slums.
• Strain on social services and infrastructure (schools, hospitals, water, electricity, roads, transport), which become inadequate.
• Environmental problems and pressure on land, including deforestation, over-farming, pollution, waste disposal problems and rural-urban migration/congestion.

Also acceptable: increased crime rate and social vices; low per-capita income and poverty.