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Difficulty: HardPopulation Distribution, Density, and Migration in Africa

A demographic survey of a rural sub-county in East Africa with a total population of 500000500{}000 records 180000180{}000 children aged 0–140\text{--}14, 2000020{}000 elderly persons aged 6565 and above, and 300000300{}000 adults in the 15–6415\text{--}64 age bracket. Following a severe environmental drought, many residents move toward urban centers while remaining farmsteads cluster tightly along the main arterial road. Which of the following statements correctly evaluates the demographic metrics or population dynamics of this sub-county?

  1. The demographic dependency ratio of the sub-county is approximately 66.7%66.7\%, indicating roughly two dependents for every three working-age individuals.Answer
  2. B
    The demographic dependency ratio of the sub-county is 150.0%150.0\%, calculated by placing the economically active population in the numerator over the dependent population.
  3. C
    The environmental drought and subsequent crop failures act as primary pull factors driving rural outflow toward neighboring cities.
  4. D
    The linear concentration of farmsteads along the main arterial highway represents a nucleated settlement pattern.

Answer

The demographic dependency ratio of the sub-county is approximately 66.7%66.7\%, representing two dependents for every three working-age individuals.
The demographic dependency ratio measures the ratio of non-working age dependents (0–140\text{--}14 and 65+65+) to the economically active population (15–6415\text{--}64). Summing the children (180000180{}000) and elderly (2000020{}000) yields 200000200{}000 total dependents. Dividing 200000200{}000 by the 300000300{}000 working-age adults and multiplying by 100100 gives 66.7%66.7\%.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify dependent and working-age populations from given data
Dependent population = 180000 (children)+20000 (elderly)=200000180{}000\text{ (children)} + 20{}000\text{ (elderly)} = 200{}000. Working-age population (15–64 years)=30000015\text{--}64\text{ years}) = 300{}000.
The total dependent population includes both young dependents (0–140\text{--}14) and old dependents (65+65+).
2
Calculate the demographic dependency ratio
Dependency Ratio=(200000300000)×100=66.67%≈66.7%\text{Dependency Ratio} = \left(\frac{200{}000}{300{}000}\right) \times 100 = 66.67\% \approx 66.7\%.
The standard demographic formula expresses non-working dependents relative to 100 working-age individuals.
3
Evaluate geographic migration and settlement concepts
Drought is an origin-based hardship (push factor), and settlement along a highway is linear.
Push factors drive people away from origin areas, while linear settlements expand along linear infrastructure.

Key Concept

Demographic Dependency Ratio and Settlement Dynamics in Africa
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Topics

Population Distribution, Density, and Migration in Africa

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