Age Structure and Fertility Rates: Managing Demographic Change in Developing Nations

Of all the demography characteristics, age and fertility influencing population development in developing nations are crucial factors.

Age Structure:
Youth Bulge: They are a resource that if given a large population of young people can cause fast overpopulation therefore a lot of demands on the available resources and development infrastructure.
-Aging Population: Few births you have correspond with higher level of dependency of the aged as people age thus implying a higher number of the aged and those who will be being supported by working population.
Demographic Dividend: The time when a majority of the population is in the working population. In such a case economic growth and development is possible if there is investment in education, health and employment.

Fertility Rates:

High Fertility Rates: Problem of providing basic needs such education, health and employment in areas of rapid population growth due to high fertility rates will arise.
One could slow the rate of growth of the population and leave it in its old age. It has advantages and disadvantages – on one hand less resources are being used, on the other hand – economic issues may arise.

It is influenced by fertility rate meaning it is associated with several effects that a country can go through on the social, economic and environmental front. For instance, high fertility population that happens within the youthful population may find it difficult to facilitate education and health facility while the aged people require much investment on the social security and health services.