Population Growth

                There are many way statistics, and ways to measure population. One way, that is described in the textbook Globalization and Diversity, is called The Rate of National Increase or RNI, “which provides the annual growth rate for a country or region as a percentage. This statistic is produced by subtracting the number of deaths from the number of births in a given year” (21). Another measurement that the textbook uses is called The Total Fertility Rate or the TFR. The (TFR) predicts future growth it is “ an artificial and synthetic number that measures the fertility of a statistically fictitious, yet average group of young women moving through their childbearing years” (22). Another measure that helps predicts population growth is called the Population Pyramid. The Pyramid is, “a graph that depicts the percentage of population that is male or female in different age classes, from young to old” (23). Another way of measuring population growth is by using something that is called a Demographic Transition Model. A Demographic Transition Model is, “ a conceptualization that tracked the changes in birthrates and death rates over time” (24).

            Belize seems to use the Rate of Natural Increase as their way of measuring the growth rate of their country. From the website “Trading Economics” I found that, “The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Belize expanded 9.94 percent in the second quarter of 2014 over the previous quarter. GDP Growth Rate in Belize averaged 1.26 percent from 1994 until 2014, reaching an all time high of 13.45 percent in the fourth quarter of 2000 and a record low of -10.63 percent in the first quarter of 2001. GDP Growth Rate in Belize is reported by the Statistical Institute of Belize” (Trading Economics).

Figure 1: pictured above is a graph that shows the GDP of Belize.

           

The U.S. also uses the Rate of Natural Increase method that Belize uses. Taken from the “U.S. Population Growth Slows to just 0.71%” is that, “the the Census Bureau projects the nation's population on New Year's Day will be 317,297,938, an increase of 2,218,622, or 0.7%, from New Year's Day 2013” (Population Growth).

Figure 2: Pictured above is a graph that shows the predictions of the U.S. population growth.

Works Cited:

"Belize Gdp Growth Rate 1994-2014 | Data | Chart | Calendar | Forecast."Belize Gdp Growth Rate. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.

Toppo, Greg, and Paul Overberg. "U.S. Population Growth Slows to Just 0.71%." USA Today. Gannett, 07 Oct. 2014. Web. 02 Dec. 2014.

Rowntree, Lester. Globalization and Diversity: Geography of a Changing World. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008. Print.

Figure sources:

Figure 1: "Belize Gdp Growth Rate 1994-2014 | Data | Chart | Calendar | Forecast."Belize Gdp Growth Rate. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.

Figure 2: https://www.google.com/search