Definition: Ageing population is defined as a declining population with an increasing percentage of old people, while the relative percentage of children and workers are decreasing.
The term \”ageing population\” refers to a demographic phenomenon characterized by a significant increase in the proportion or number of elderly individuals within a population. This trend is primarily driven by two factors: declining birth rates and increasing life expectancy.
The ageing population is a global issue affecting many countries around the world, particularly in developed nations. It is the result of various social, economic, and healthcare advancements that have contributed to longer life spans. As a result, the proportion of elderly individuals (typically defined as those aged 65 and older) is growing relative to the working-age population (typically defined as those aged 15-64).
Several factors contribute to the ageing population:
- Declining birth rates: Many countries are experiencing declining birth rates, resulting in fewer children being born. This demographic shift leads to a smaller base of young individuals who will eventually support the older population.
- Increased life expectancy: Advances in healthcare, improved living conditions, and better access to medical services have led to increased life expectancy. People are living longer than ever before, which means there are more elderly individuals in the population.
The ageing population has significant implications for society, including:
- Healthcare and long-term care: As the elderly population grows, there is an increased demand for healthcare services and long-term care facilities. This places a strain on healthcare systems and requires adjustments in healthcare policies, infrastructure, and funding.
- Economic impact: An ageing population can have economic consequences, including a shrinking workforce and increased dependency ratios (the number of elderly individuals relative to the working-age population). This can lead to labour shortages, reduced productivity, and challenges in funding social security and pension systems.
Ageing or declining population is also known as a stationary or static population.
FACTORS RESPONSIBLE AGEING POPULATION
- Decrease in birth rate: A fall or decrease in birth rate generally let declining population. This might be to implementation of birth control marriages.
- Increase in death rate: A rise increase in the death rate of the young ones through epidemics or poor i facilities generally leads to a reduction the number of people in the country.
- Emigration: The movement of young men or youth out of a country can also lead to declining population.
- War: The existence of war also lead to declining population as able-bodies are lost during war.
- Diseases: The outbreak of disease also lead to decrease in population as this reduces the number of young ones are mostly the country.
- Natural disasters: Natural disasters flood and earthquakes can lead to declining population, especially w; young ones are mostly affected.
- Poor medical facilities:
ADVANTAGES OF DECLINING OR DECREASING POPULATION
- Reduction in government expenditure: A declining population have fewer people to cater for and as a result there will be a reduction in expenditure by government.
- High standard of living: Standard of living has something to do with the number of people and the available resources. With fewer people coupled with increasing resources, this will cause an increase in per capita income, which will result in higher standard of living.
- Reduction in congestion: As a result of decrease in the number of people, there will be a corresponding decrease in congestion in terms of human, accommodation and vehicular traffic.
- Creation of job: As a result of increase m the number of old people, there will be creation of more employment opportunities for the few labour force.
- Increase in savings: With decreasing copulation there is an increase in savings on the part of government.
- Increase in investment: As a result of the increase in savings, there will be enough capital for investment in important sectors of the economy.
IMPLICATION OR DISADVANTAGES OF DECLINING OR DECREASING POPULATION
- Reduction in labour force: As a result of the decrease in the number of working class citizens or increase in the number of old people, there will be a reduction in the number of the labour force.
- Fall in gross domestic product (GDP): The fall in the size of the labour force would result in a fall in the productive capacity of the country. The small labour force, combined with its in ability to make optimum use of available resources, results in low savings and a fall in gross domestic product.
- Less mobility of labour: As a result of the increasing number of old people, mobility of labour becomes difficult as old people may either stay at home or refuse to accept new ways of doing things.
- Risk of invasion: Due to the increase in the number of old people in a country, the risk of invasion by external forces is very high.
- It leads to under-population: A decreasing population in any nation can lead to under-population.
- High dependency ratio: When the population of the old people and the children are higher than that of the working class population, it will result in a high dependency ratio.
- Reduction in tax: As a result of the increase in the number of old people, who are not taxable, the tax expected from the few that are working will be reduced.
- Changes in pattern of demand: In a decreasing population, there will be a shift in demand in favour of goods and services used by old people.
- Lower reward for factors of production: There will be a fall in demand as a result of decrease in total demand for goods and services. Consequently, the amount of rewards associated with the factors of production will fall.
- Increase in government expenditure: As a result of increase in the number of old people, government would be required to spend more money in the provision of goods and services for the old people.
- 153. FUNGAL DISEASES
- PROTOZOAN DISEASES
155. TRYPONOSOMIASIS
159. TAPE WORM
160. ROUND WORM OF PIGS
161. LIVER FLUKE
162. ECTO PARASITES
163. TICK
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