WAEC Economics 2019 Theory — Question 7

Model answer

(a)(i) A growing population is one that continues to increase year-in, year-out, while a declining population is one in which a country continues to experience a decreasing population year-in, year-out. (ii) Overpopulation is a situation in which the available population is greater than the available resources in the economy, while underpopulation is a situation in which the total population is less than the available resources. (b) Disadvantages of a rapidly growing population (any four): (i) It disrupts economic planning, making the economy backward. (ii) It causes urban congestion, as a result of rural-urban migration. (iii) It places too much pressure on the (already inadequate) available social infrastructure. (iv) It leads to a high rate of crime, as a result of the resulting unemployment.