Doverlan is a developing country with a mid-year population of 8,000,000. During the year: - There were 240,000 live births and 96,000 deaths. - 30,000 people immigrated into Doverlan and 10,000 people emigrated from Doverlan. (a) Calculate Doverlan's birth rate and death rate,…

Answer: ((a)) Birth rate = 240,0008,000,000×1,000=30 per 1,000; death rate = 96,0008,000,000×1,000=12 per 1,000 ((b)) Rate of natural increase =30-12=18 per 1,000, which is 1.8% of the population ((c)) Net migration =30,000-10,000=20,000 people; net migration rate = 20,0008,000,000×1,000=2.5 per 1,000; since this is positive, Doverlan experienced net IMMIGRATION ((d)) A developing country can still attract net immigration if it offers relatively better opportunities than its neighbours. For example, a resource discovery (such as new mineral deposits) creating jobs and investment can pull in migrant workers from even poorer neighbouring countr…. Part (a): Birth rate and death rate Both rates are expressed per 1,000 of the mid-year population (8,000,000): Birth rate = 240,0008,000,000×1,000 = 30 per 1,000 Death rate = 96,0008,000,000×1,000 = 12 per 1,000 Part (b): Rate of natural i…

A2 Economics 9708: Birth Rate, Death Rate and Net Migration Calculations

Doverlan is a developing country with a mid-year population of 8,000,000. During the year:

There were 240,000 live births and 96,000 deaths.
30,000 people immigrated into Doverlan and 10,000 people emigrated from Doverlan.

(a) Calculate Doverlan's birth rate and death rate, each expressed per 1,000 of the population. [2]

(b) Calculate Doverlan's rate of natural increase, expressed as a percentage of the population. [2]

(c) Calculate Doverlan's net migration (in people) and net migration rate (per 1,000 of the population), and state whether Doverlan experienced net immigration or net emigration this year. [3]

(d) Explain ONE reason why a developing country such as Doverlan might experience net immigration rather than net emigration. [2]

Part (a): Birth rate and death rate

Both rates are expressed per 1,000 of the mid-year population (8,000,000):

$\text{Birth rate} = \frac{240{,}000}{8{,}000{,}000}\times1{,}000 = 30 \text{ per } 1{,}000$

$\text{Death rate} = \frac{96{,}000}{8{,}000{,}000}\times1{,}000 = 12 \text{ per } 1{,}000$

Part (b): Rate of natural increase

The rate of natural increase measures population growth from births and deaths alone (ignoring migration):

$\text{Rate of natural increase} = 30 - 12 = 18 \text{ per } 1{,}000$

Expressed as a percentage of the population:

$\frac{18}{1{,}000}\times100 = 1.8\%$

Part (c): Net migration and net migration rate

Net migration is the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants:

$\text{Net migration} = 30{,}000 - 10{,}000 = 20{,}000 \text{ people}$

Expressed as a rate per 1,000 of the population:

$\text{Net migration rate} = \frac{20{,}000}{8{,}000{,}000}\times1{,}000 = 2.5 \text{ per } 1{,}000$

Since net migration is positive (more people entered Doverlan than left), Doverlan experienced net immigration this year.

Part (d): Why a developing country might see net immigration

It is a common misconception that migration always flows from poorer to richer countries. In practice, migration responds to relative differences in opportunity, not just a country’s overall level of development. If Doverlan has recently discovered valuable natural resources (for example, new mineral deposits), the resulting investment and jobs could make it relatively more attractive than its neighbouring countries. Even if those neighbours are also developing economies. Workers from poorer neighbouring countries may then migrate to Doverlan in search of the new employment opportunities, producing net immigration despite Doverlan’s own developing-country status.

Final answers

(a) Birth rate $=$ 30 per 1,000; death rate $=$ 12 per 1,000
(b) Rate of natural increase $=$ 1.8%
(c) Net migration $=$ 20,000 people (rate $=2.5$ per 1,000), net immigration
(d) Relatively better local opportunities (e.g. a resource-driven jobs boom) can attract net immigration even to a developing country