Which of the following is likely to happen in a population with a large percentage of people over age 65?
a. The population will have demographic momentum.
b. The population will remain stable at its current size.
c. The population will overshoot its carrying capacity.
d. The population will increase.
e. The population will soon decline.
e. The population will soon decline.
The likely scenario in a population with a large percentage of people over age 65 is that the population will soon decline (option e). As the older population increases in proportion to the younger population, the overall population size will likely decrease over time. This is because there will be fewer individuals of reproductive age to replace or exceed the number of older individuals who pass away.
The likely scenario in a population with a large percentage of people over age 65 is that the population will soon decline (option e). This is because an aging population typically indicates a lower birth rate and, consequently, a decrease in population size over time.
To determine this answer, we need to understand the relationship between age demographics and population growth. One way to do this is by looking at the demographic transition theory.
According to the demographic transition theory, societies tend to go through different stages of development in terms of population growth. These stages can be broadly classified as pre-industrial, transitional, and post-industrial.
In the pre-industrial stage, both birth rates and death rates are high, resulting in a relatively stable population size. However, with improvements in healthcare and living conditions, the death rate tends to decline first, leading to a population increase.
During the transitional stage, fertility rates also start to decline, usually due to factors like urbanization, education, and changing societal norms. However, the decline in birth rates may not be immediately offset by the decline in death rates, leading to a period of rapid population growth. This is known as demographic momentum (option a) and is typically observed in populations during this stage.
In the post-industrial stage, both birth rates and death rates are low, resulting in a stable population size or even a population decline. This is often associated with an aging population, as the proportion of elderly individuals increases while the proportion of young people decreases.
Given that the question states a large percentage of people over age 65, we can assume that the population is in the post-industrial stage. Therefore, option e, the population will soon decline, is the most likely outcome.