Does it disturb you to know that powerful forces are in the process of changing your life right now? Most people don’t see what is directing their futures. In this blog, you will.
What Are Demographics?
Demography is the study of populations and how they change. “Demo-” comes from the Ancient Greek word for “populace” or “citizenry.” As you might guess, “-graphy” comes from the Ancient Greek word for “writing” or “drawing.”
Demographics describe the specific statistics — try to say that three times fast — of a population. The “Big Five” statistical groups focus on age, gender, income, occupation/education, and family structure/marital status. Other demographic features include things like ethnicity, native language, sexual orientation, religion, and pet ownership.
The Instability of Life
Think back over your own life. What’s changed and what has stayed the same? Individuals are changed by society, but individuals also have the power to change society. It’s a dynamic cycle.
Researchers define the Three Fundamental Pillars of Demography that influence population change as mortality (death rate), fertility (birth rate), and migration (movement). Consider how the following factors affect mortality, fertility, and migration:
- War: Infrastructure destruction, disruption of workforce, economic collapse, food shortages, loss of social supports
- Disease: Disruption of workforce, food shortages, loss of social supports, economic collapse
- Climate and natural disasters: Infrastructure destruction, disruption of workforce, food shortages, economic collapse, loss of social supports
- Education, industrialization, and technology: Redistribution of workforce, redistribution of population, redistribution of food resources, redistribution of wealth, polarization of social groups
Do you see a pattern here? Every change creates more change. To our list of demographics, we might add unemployed workers, billionaires, enslaved persons, people with college degrees, refugees, people living off the grid, conscripted soldiers, orphans, homeless families, and senior citizen communities.
Why Is Demography Important?
It took more than 50,000 years for the world population to reach one billion in 1804. Before then, most people lived in small communities with limited communication. Today the population exceeds eight billion. The power of internet connectivity and artificial intelligence has changed the speed at which policy decisions affect local and global populations. Regardless, the Three Pillars of Demography still stand.
Policymakers are power brokers. To make the most beneficial decisions, policymakers must observe patterns and trends. That means studying history to learn what motivated people to take action in the past. Informed decisions ensure the best outcomes in business investments, scientific development, public welfare, resource allocation, and military strategies.
How Does Demographic Change Affect You?
“Demography is destiny” is a common saying among observers of societal change. Think of shooting an arrow and watching its trajectory while it soars. How predictable is the outcome? A trajectory is a guesstimate based on skill as well as interaction with outside forces. Demographic trajectories respond to economic changes, institutional reforms, new developments in technology, and political disruptions from factions using violence and coercion. Cultural norms, meaning social behaviors, are affected by access to news and social media as well as propaganda. To answer the question of how demographic change affects you personally, pay attention to the daily news as it swirls around you like debris from a tornado.
Projections
Based on current research, here’s what you can expect:
In the next decade, India is expected to overtake China as the world’s most populous country. Nigeria will replace the United States in third position.
The most notable demographic trend this century is the increase in people over the age of 60. Not only are people living longer, but birth rates are declining worldwide. Until now, Japan was the country with the highest percentage of seniors, but soon South Korea will lead with more than 38%.
The demand for affordable, safe housing will continue to rise as homelessness increases.
Governments will be under pressure to provide for rising healthcare issues including chronic diseases, cancer, and malnutrition.
The increasing use of sustainable energy sources will improve general health, but will continue to meet with resistance from large corporations providing oil, gas, and coal.
Reductions in the global workforce can be met by allowing more open immigration laws, promoting more community-centric living, and welcoming more teens and senior citizens’ contributions.
Enforcement of women’s rights will bring access to education, freedom to manage their own bodies, and more protection against violence. Women will make their voices heard more than ever!
As literacy and education become more widespread, healthcare will improve globally. The spread of technology will enable more people to improve their economic status, giving them more freedom in their occupations.
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between immigration and emigration?
Immigration describes the flow of people into a region; think IMM = IN. Emigration describes the flow of people out of a region; think EM = EXit.
What’s the difference between epidemics and pandemics?
An epidemic is a localized outbreak of an infectious disease. A pandemic spreads across one or more countries.
What are nutraceuticals?
Foods are used medicinally by animals as well as humans in rural areas. Scientific advances and insurance corporations, however, have pushed laboratory-created pharmaceuticals to the forefront of modern medicine. With skyrocketing healthcare prices, the return to natural remedies from nutritious foods is on the rise.
What Should We Do?
Everyone wants a simple answer, but the truth isn’t simple. You’re already helping by reading this blog. The more you know, the more power you have to make a difference. Learning about complex issues like demographic change puts your brain to work. Take the next step by sharing your thoughts with other people.
Even when problems aren’t easy to solve, they can be managed.