Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Annamite coast continues to press southward into the
lower Mekong delta. Population processes and patterns
are constantly changing in light of social and environ-
mental circumstances.
labor, income, military duties, parental care, and the like.
However, quality of life improvements can induce reduc-
tion in family size. Provision of family planning has also
helped to reduce family size.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHILDREN
The key dynamic of population growth is the fact that
people have children. This reality draws much comment
and criticism, especially when the child-bearers appear
not to be able to support their offspring. The necessity
for having children does not rest solely on the concept of
societal reproduction. Children are the core of Asian
family-group culture. Children are essential for the re-
spect and continuity of family lineage. With strong
bonds between people and their lands, children (usually
sons) receive and are entrusted with guardianship of
family property through generations. Children sustain
the group, becoming a source of pride. Men and women
are truly worthy when they produce children, more so
with sons. Not having children is inconceivable to the
majority of Asians.
There are also practical reasons for having chil-
dren. In traditional societies, children contribute their
services and labor very early . Four-year-olds look after
two-year-olds. Seven-year-olds work at farm tasks or
help in the family business. Children make important
contributions toward their own and their families' sur-
vival. They are also expected to take care of their par-
ents. Both boys and girls expect to look after their aged
parents or parents-in-law , especially where there are no
old-age insurance programs or care facilities (as in
most places).
But why do people have so many children? History
demonstrates that life is uncertain. Natural disasters can
strike at any time. Famine can quickly decimate a popu-
lation. North Korea suffered a severe famine in 1998,
although the extent of the famine' s impact remains dis-
puted. War has been all too common in the twentieth
century , and millions continue to experience fighting as
a way of life. Health care is available only to some and
limited for just about everybody . In other words, if a
family has only one or two children, the chances are
not good that any will survive to carry out family re-
sponsibilities.
In the War Museum of Hanoi, there is a picture of a
woman who lost nine sons in wars fought in Vietnam
from the 1950s to the 1970s. Who will care for her in her
old age? People cannot be expected to have fewer chil-
dren if many are needed to ensure an ongoing supply for
REGIONAL DYNAMICS
Table 3-1 lists statistical data used in traditional geo-
demographic analysis. T Traditional assessment of popula-
tion trends is based on information about growth and
change, density and distribution, and population compo-
sition. This information is gathered by various organiza-
tions from official sources based on censuses in individual
countries.
Data are not necessarily reliable. Counts fre-
quently are not accurate, in part because not all people
are easily accessed. Moreover, people may lie about the
number of children they have or the number of indi-
viduals in their household to avoid taxes, prohibitions
on family size, or residency rules. Governments might
skew figures for economic and political purposes. An-
other important point about statistics is that there are
vast regional differences within countries. For exam-
ple, areas that are not near centers of development,
such as major cities, typically have higher birth and
death rates. It is important to look at these figures, not
as absolute facts, but rather as
indicators
of conditions
and trends.
GROWTH AND CHANGE
T To understand population growth and change, we look at
several statistical measures.
•
Birth Rate (BR):
Number of births per 1,000
people in a population per year.
•
Death Rate (DR):
Number of deaths per 1,000
people in a population per year.
•
Natural Increase Rate (NIR):
Births per 1.000
minus deaths per 1,000 per year, usually expressed
in percent. For example, Laos: BR = 28/1,000 minus
DR = 7/1,000 = an NIC of 21/1,000 = 2.1%.
•
T Total Fertility Rate (TFR):
The average number of
children a woman would have, assuming BRs
remain constant throughout her childbearing years
(usually considered to be ages 15-49).
V ariation
is a key word for understanding population
dynamics in Asia. Table 3-1 demonstrates that some
countries have relatively high birth rates (BRs). Nepal,
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