Women in two developed countries have identical total fertility rates of 3.5. However, women in country A typically have their children about 2 years earlier than women in country B. How will the populations of the two countries compare?
The population of country A will increase faster than that of country B. The population of country A will increase, but the population of country B will decline. The population of country B will increase faster than that of country A. The populations of both countries will be stable, with similar totals and little increase or decrease.
To analyze the population growth of the two countries, we need to consider the total fertility rate (TFR) and the timing of childbirth.
Both countries have a TFR of 3.5, which indicates that, on average, women in both countries are having enough children to replace the population. However, the key difference is that women in country A have their children about 2 years earlier than women in country B.
Having children earlier can lead to several demographic advantages:
Longer Reproductive Window: Women in country A may have more children over their reproductive years because they start having children earlier. This can lead to a higher number of births over time, even if the TFR is the same.
Population Momentum: If women in country A are having children earlier, they may also contribute to a larger base of the population in the younger age groups, which can lead to a faster population growth rate.
Given these factors, we can conclude that:
Therefore, the correct answer is:
The population of country A will increase faster than that of country B.