Activity 3.1 – Human Population

 Human Population Activity

Country Name: Central African Republic

Birth Rate: 46 per 1,000 People

Death Rate: 12 per 1,000 People

Population Growth Rate: 3.4%

Life Expectancy for Males and Females: 51 Years (M) 56 Years (F)

Fertility Rate: 6%

Gross National Income: $1,040

Country Name: Iceland

Birth Rate: 12 per 1,000 People

Death Rate: 6 per 1,000 People

Population Growth Rate:  .6%

Life Expectancy for Males and Females: 81 (M) 84 (F)

Fertility Rate: 1.7%

Gross National Income: $59,590

Compare & Contrast of Both Countries to Each Other: 

Both countries are very unique and distinct from each other which we can tell by their population statistics. As we can see in the information, the birth rate of the Central African Republic is 46 per 1,000 people, and Iceland is 12 per 1,000 people. With a birth rate of 34 more people than Iceland, people would think that the CAR (Central African Republic) would be better off and more advanced. This isn’t the case though, because if we look at the GNI of both countries, as well as the death rate, we can see how both countries differ. The GNI of Iceland is $59,590, while the GNI of the CAR is only $1,040. Through the difference in GNI, birth rate, and the death rate, we can see how ahead Iceland really is compared to the CAR. Iceland is able to take care of their people better than how CAR can, because of the ratio of birth to death rates. Along with their GNI we can infer that Iceland’s overall health within the country is a higher percent than the CAR’s. This could be due to better medicinal and technological practices, which springs from a higher overall income. This higher income gives reason to why Iceland, between the two countries, is statistically better and more advanced than the CAR. 

Comparison of Both Countries to the World:

In the overall scale of where both of these countries rate, the statistics given lean more towards Iceland being a higher, upper income country, and the Central African Republic being a less developed, low income country. Iceland is easily one of the top income earning countries, which is because of their tourism, as well as their industry works. Their life expectancy for both genders (Male and Female) is also very high, due to the fact that the GNI’s of the people can support better healthcare and health development. Since Iceland’s GNI is high and the birth to death ratio is lower than a lot of places, this shows how their people have enough resources and technology to improve their country. As long as there is enough country capacity to hold people comfortable and enough resources to let them function, a country will naturally grow on it’s own. The Central African Republic on the other hand is one of the lowest in the world population statistics. Their GNI is $1,040 and their rate of increase is 3.4% which signifies how their population is too much for the income that is being made. With so many people being born, there are less resources and help to go around, which is why the country is struggling to keep up with the rest of the world. As long as a country can keep up with how many people are being born and their economy, they will be fine like Iceland. If they can’t maintain a good balance within their population growth and their resources, they will crack under pressure just like the Central African Republic.

Sources Cited:

U.S. Census Bureau. (2018). International database. International Programs. https://www.census.gov/data-tools/demo/idb/informationGateway.php

Mutiti, S., Mutiti, C., Manoylov, K., VandeVoort, A., & Bennett, D. (2018). Introduction to environmental science (3rd ed.). Biological Science Open Textbooks. University System of Georgia.

Population Reference Bureau. (2021). 2021 world population data sheet.