Glossary
Anti-Natalist Policies
Government policies implemented to discourage or reduce the number of births, typically in countries experiencing high population growth and resource strain.
Example:
India's past efforts to promote voluntary sterilization were an anti-natalist policy aimed at curbing its rapid population increase.
China's One-Child Policy
A strict anti-natalist policy implemented in China from 1979 to 2015, which limited most families to having only one child to control rapid population growth.
Example:
The long-term effects of China's One-Child Policy included a significant gender imbalance and a rapidly aging population, leading to its eventual relaxation.
Demographic Transition Model (DTM)
A model that describes population change over time, showing how birth and death rates shift as a country develops economically and socially.
Example:
A country moving from Stage 2 to Stage 3 of the Demographic Transition Model would typically see its death rate decline significantly while its birth rate remains high, leading to rapid population growth.
Immigrant
A person who chooses to move to a new country, usually for economic opportunities, family reunification, or a better quality of life.
Example:
Someone moving from Mexico to the United States to pursue a job opportunity and send remittances back home is an immigrant.
Immigration Policies
Government regulations and laws that control the entry, stay, and departure of foreign nationals, influencing a country's population size and composition.
Example:
Germany's welcoming immigration policies in the late 20th century helped to offset its declining birth rates and boost its workforce.
Natural Increase Rate (NIR)
The percentage by which a population grows in a year, calculated as the difference between the crude birth rate and the crude death rate, excluding migration.
Example:
If a country has a crude birth rate of 20 per 1,000 and a crude death rate of 8 per 1,000, its Natural Increase Rate would be 1.2% (12 per 1,000).
Pro-Natalist Policies
Government policies designed to encourage citizens to have more children, often implemented in countries with low birth rates or declining populations.
Example:
Sweden's generous paid maternity leave and subsidized childcare are examples of pro-natalist policies aimed at supporting families and boosting birth rates.
Refugee
A person who has been forced to leave their country due to persecution, war, or violence, and who has a well-founded fear of persecution if they return.
Example:
A family fleeing civil war in their home country and seeking safety in a neighboring nation would be considered refugees under international law.