Organisation at Population Level 47
18–20‰ in 1900, while in Sweden, Denmark and Norway it fell from 20‰
in 1850 to 16‰ in 1900. In Western and Northern Europe, the population
increase led to mass immigration.
Around the end of the 19th century, a new significant trend appeared in
some European countries and in the United States, namely the diminution
of natality. It was the beginning of the so-called demographic transition,
ity, and which constitutes a phenomenon that accompanies industrialization, although significant deviations are observed. Generally, demographic
transition is associated with a diminution of natality because as a society
becomes industrialized and agriculture is automatized, a child ceases to be
an economic gift for the family, especially after the prohibition of work for
minors and the institutionalization of compulsory education. Moreover, a
large family does not favour the accumulation of capital. Significant factors
are the woman’s education and work as well as the weakening of the traditional religious influence. In some countries, e.g. Hungary, the diminution
try where diminution of natality was observed (circa 1800), while its industrialization was delayed in comparison to its neighbours. Demographic
transition continued in the developed countries during the 20th century.
Nevertheless, their population significantly increased during the period
1850–1950. After World War II, a natality increase (baby boom) was initially observed in the developed countries, and subsequently a decrease
that reached a zero or negative population change. In many countries, the
Welfare State took measures in order to boost natality.
In non-developed countries, especially after World War II, a rapid change
in the dynamics of human population—the post-war population explosion—took place. With the introduction of medicines and public health
measures a dramatic decrease of mortality was realized. For example, life
expectancy at the moment of birth increased from 41 years in 1950 to
63 years in 2000 in the less developed countries. This decrease, however,
was not accompanied by an immediate natality decrease, given that socioeconomic and educational conditions did not change significantly during
the same period in most of the non-developed countries. It is characteristically reported that the birth rate in India in the years 1891 and 1931 was
49/1000 and 46/1000 respectively.
In the 20th century, a great improvement in the sector of human health
was achieved, with the result that the population of developed countries
more than doubled and that of the developing countries quadrupled and
came close to five billion. At the same time, a natality decrease is observed,
which spreads to many developing countries and is mainly due to the spreading of women’s education and work (Figure 3.12), as well as to the success
of family planning programmes. Such programmes began to develop, for
example, in India, since 1952, but it took approximately three decades in
18–20‰ in 1900, while in Sweden, Denmark and Norway it fell from 20‰
in 1850 to 16‰ in 1900. In Western and Northern Europe, the population
increase led to mass immigration.
Around the end of the 19th century, a new significant trend appeared in
some European countries and in the United States, namely the diminution
of natality. It was the beginning of the so-called demographic transition,
ity, and which constitutes a phenomenon that accompanies industrialization, although significant deviations are observed. Generally, demographic
transition is associated with a diminution of natality because as a society
becomes industrialized and agriculture is automatized, a child ceases to be
an economic gift for the family, especially after the prohibition of work for
minors and the institutionalization of compulsory education. Moreover, a
large family does not favour the accumulation of capital. Significant factors
are the woman’s education and work as well as the weakening of the traditional religious influence. In some countries, e.g. Hungary, the diminution
try where diminution of natality was observed (circa 1800), while its industrialization was delayed in comparison to its neighbours. Demographic
transition continued in the developed countries during the 20th century.
Nevertheless, their population significantly increased during the period
1850–1950. After World War II, a natality increase (baby boom) was initially observed in the developed countries, and subsequently a decrease
that reached a zero or negative population change. In many countries, the
Welfare State took measures in order to boost natality.
In non-developed countries, especially after World War II, a rapid change
in the dynamics of human population—the post-war population explosion—took place. With the introduction of medicines and public health
measures a dramatic decrease of mortality was realized. For example, life
expectancy at the moment of birth increased from 41 years in 1950 to
63 years in 2000 in the less developed countries. This decrease, however,
was not accompanied by an immediate natality decrease, given that socioeconomic and educational conditions did not change significantly during
the same period in most of the non-developed countries. It is characteristically reported that the birth rate in India in the years 1891 and 1931 was
49/1000 and 46/1000 respectively.
In the 20th century, a great improvement in the sector of human health
was achieved, with the result that the population of developed countries
more than doubled and that of the developing countries quadrupled and
came close to five billion. At the same time, a natality decrease is observed,
which spreads to many developing countries and is mainly due to the spreading of women’s education and work (Figure 3.12), as well as to the success
of family planning programmes. Such programmes began to develop, for
example, in India, since 1952, but it took approximately three decades in