Given below are some statements regarding population change:
Statement I: A population may grow even when deaths exceed births.
Statement II: Migration can alter population size without affecting natural increase.
Statement III: A positive natural increase guarantees an increase in total population.
Statement IV: Births, deaths and migration are all demographic processes that affect population change.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option 1: Statement I, II and IV only.
Population change depends on births, deaths and migration. Therefore, a population can increase despite a negative natural increase if net migration is sufficiently positive. However, a positive natural increase does not guarantee population growth because out-migration may exceed natural increase.
Statement I: A population may grow even when deaths exceed births. Correct. Positive net migration can offset a natural decrease.
Statement II: Migration can alter population size without affecting natural increase. Correct. Natural increase depends only on births and deaths.
Statement III: A positive natural increase guarantees an increase in total population. Incorrect. Heavy out-migration can still reduce total population.
Statement IV: Births, deaths and migration are all demographic processes that affect population change. Correct. These are the three fundamental demographic processes.