Question

Referring to the concept of Demographic Dividend(s) and the mechanisms of delivery of Demographic Dividend(s), discuss how demographic factors contributes to economic growth in China and India.

Answer 1

Demographic factors contribute to economic growth.

CASE 1: CHINA

• Population: China is the most populous country in the world with around 1,371 million population in 2015.
• Growth Rate of Population: The annual growth rate of the population is low i.e 0.5% in 2015. China adopted the one-child policy which resulted in the low annual growth rate of the population. This policy has resulted in better health facilities and reduced risk of death.  
• The density of Population: The density of the population is 146 persons per sq km. It is low in the case of China as compared to India. (2015)
• Sex-ratio: The sex-ratio is low in the case of China i.e 941 females per 1000 males. (2015)
• Fertility Rate: It is defined as the number of children born by a woman in the reproductive age. In the case of China, the fertility rate is 1.5 births as per the year 2015.

CASE-2: INDIA

• Population: India is the second most populated country with a population of 1,311 million people
• The growth rate of Population: The growth rate of the population in case of India was 1.2 % in 2015.
• The density of Population: In case of India it is 441 persons per sq km.
• Sex-ratio: Sex ratio is low in case of India i.e 929 females per 1000 males.
• Fertility Rate: In case of India, it is 2.3 births per woman.

The above-listed factors also contributed to the growth of GDP in China and India. In China, it was 7.9% in 2011-2015. In India, it was 6.7% in 2011-2015.