Page 212 - Social Studies 7

results in population growth which is the rate at which population changes in
size. Thus, birth and immigration add individuals to a population whereas deaths
and emigration remove individuals from a particular.

Factor Affecting Population Growth

Population growth is the increase in the number of individuals in a population.
Global human population growth amounts to around 83 million annually or 1.1%
per year. The global population has grown from 1 billion in 1800 to 7.616 billion
in 2018. In Nepal as well population is growing rapidly.
The increase of population can be a threat to a country. There are many reasons
of population growth some of them are mentioned below:

1. Illiteracy

Illiterate people think that children are the gifts of god. They also think
more children more money. If they give birth to more children, each of them can
earn money. This results in high population growth. Because of lack of education
female give birth to more number of children and even early marriage occurs due
to lack of education which results in high number of population.

2. Economic Condition

Most of the people are poor in Nepal. They consider the child as the source of
income and want to have more number of children. People do not know about the
negative consequences of having more number of children. It becomes difficult for
the poor family (especially) to raise high number of children. They become poorer
and poorer as well.

3. Social Customs and Tradition

Our country has varieties of social customs and tradition. The custom of
believing to have more number of children in a family is wrong. Some give birth
to the children until they get a son. Some think there should be more number of
children or member in a family. This leads to the increase of population. Females
of the ages between 15 and 49 years have the capacity to reproduce children.
Because of early marriage females keep producing more children. As a result the
population is increased.

4. Religious Norms and Beliefs

In Nepal, there is strong belief that each couple should have a son otherwise
they would go to hell after their death. It is also believed that the birth of a son is
essential to perform death rituals as well as to continue the clan and even support
in old age. So, they keep on producing children till they got a son. Some people

Dynamic Social Studies and Population Education - Book VII 212