Population of any country/region may be ageing due to ______

The correct answer is Option (3) → Increase in life expectancy and reduction in birth rate

Population ageing means that the share of older people in the population becomes larger. This happens when people live longer and fewer children are born.

Option (1) Increase in life expectancy and increase in death rate — Incorrect. A rising death rate means fewer people live to old age. It works against ageing.

Option (2) Increase in birth rate and decrease in death rate — Incorrect. A higher birth rate adds more children, so the share of young people grows, not of the old.

Option (3) Increase in life expectancy and reduction in birth rate — Correct. Longer life increases the number of old people, and fewer births reduce the proportion of children. Both make the population older.

Option (4) Increase in life expectancy and increase in Mortality — Incorrect. Higher mortality is the same as a higher death rate. It reduces the number of people reaching old age.

Note: This question is taken from the pre-rationalised NCERT book. The latest edition (2026-27) does not have this part. An extract of the pre-rationalised NCERT book is given below for the benefit of students.