Components of Population Change

Population change occurs as growth or decline. Sociologists enumerate three variables or components: fertility (births), mortality (deaths) and migration (immigration and emigration). The combination of these variables has resulted in changes in the demographic structure, influencing the social, economic, and political structure of the society.

Demographers often employ the analogy of the bathtub in explaining how these three variables affect population size. Water enters the tub through two faucets analogous to births and immigration (movement to an area). The water leaves through two drains, analogous to deaths and emigration (movement out of an area). Let us consider each of these variables:

1. Fertility – refers to the actual number of children born to a woman or group of women. A simple way to measure fertility is to get the crude birth rate: the number of registered births per 1,000 of the population in a given area at a specified time. In equation form,

CBR = Registered number of births in a year x 1,000/ Total mid-year population

The population of the Philippines has been described as possessing a remarkably high fertility brought about by several factors like social and cultural values, Filipino customs, traditions and beliefs. These include:

  1. Having a large family is traditional to us
  2. Perpetuation of the family name and surname
  3. Support or security during old age
  4. Additional child means an additional help in the farm
  5. Traditional values of fatalism and “talaga ng Diyos”
  6. An additional child is God-sent, a manna from heaven
  7. Belief that God will provide in all our needs
  8. Belief that a large family is a happy family; the bigger, the merrier
  9. Macho image, or image of virility of fathers having big family
  10. Help in housework and earning a living.
  11. Early marriages
  12. Lack of knowledge of and/or indifference to family
  13. Lack of motivation to limit family size
  14. Permissive atmosphere which is conducive to premarital sexual relationship
  15. Adherence to the pro-life advocacy of one’s religion
  16. Roman Catholic Church’s disagreement
  17. Blind adherence to the biblical passage. “Go forth and multiply”
  18. Belief that children are priceless and wealth by themselves
  19. Negative perception of many parents in the family planning program
  20. Desire for a balance in the sexes
  21. Tax deductions for additional dependents
  22. Bigger income tax on single individuals
  23. Wedding leave and honeymoon leave with pay
  24. Maternity leave with pay and paternity leave

2. Mortality – refers to the number of deaths per 1,000 of the total mid-year population in a particular place at a specified time, and is measured by the crude death rate. In equation form,

CDR = Registered number of deaths a year x 1,000/ Total mid-year population

The most dramatic factor in the explosive rise in population is a worldwide decline in mortality brought about by the following:

  1. Advance science and technology
  2. Intensified nutrition or diet
  3. Hygiene and sanitation
  4. Introduction of sale water supply
  5. Improved ways of sewage waste
  6. New medical discoveries
  7. Improved medical services
  8. Extension of vaccination and inoculation
  9. Adoption of public health services
  10. Use of antibiotics

With the improvement of mortality conditions, life expectancy naturally increases.

Life expectancy refers to the average number of years a person can expect to live at the time of birth.

The life expectancy of the Filipinos increased from a low figure of about 12 years in 1902 to about 64 in 1990.

Life expectancy in other parts of the world is also increasing. Life expectancy for North America is 75 years; for Europe, 73 years; and for the USSR, 71 years (NSO, 1990)

3. Migration – another factor which affects population change. Migration refers to the spatial movements of a person or group of persons from one place to another, more or less for permanent residency.

People migrate for a variety of reasons: economic, political, social, psychological, religious, educational, or medical. Overpopulation and resource pressure, differential technology, and great opportunities offered by a more developed society may impel one to move to a new area whether within a territory or from one country to another.

The push and pull factors are set of forces involved in any migration. Push refers to the unfavorable or unattractive conditions which impel a person or group of persons to move out of an area. These include natural disasters, such as famines, floods, or volcanic eruptions; political repressions; religious or racial discrimination or persecution; or internal disorders, such as war and other forms of conflict. Pull refers to the favorable conditions or attractions of a locality which lure a person or group or persons to move into that area. Among these are a favorable climate, employment opportunities, peace and order, political and religious freedoms, respect for human rights, better recreational and cultural facilities.

Migration may be internal or international. Internal migration is the spatial movement of a person or groups of persons within a country or specified territory, more or less for permanent residency. International migration is the spatial movement of a person or groups of person from one country to another, more or less for permanent settlement.

When one enters the country of destination, this is called immigration. When one leaves one’s country in order to move into another, this is called emigration.

Filipino migration to U.S., Europe and other foreign countries has brought about the “brain drain” and the “brawn drain” in the Philippines. The Philippines is said to be losing professionals and skilled workers due to the attractive incentives and favorable conditions offered by these countries like high pay, professional growth, high quality of jobs, and excellent working conditions.