List at least three factors that influenced population trends in Grenada in the past 10 years. Explain the role of each factor in the population trends of Grenada.

Growth of a population is the change in population over time, and can be quantified as the change in the number of individuals in a particular area. There are certain factors that significantly influence the population, especially in the Caribbean. These are called population trends; there are certain population trends that are prevalent in Grenada. Three will be highlighted in this essay.

1.Migration – This is when a person leaves their own home to go to a new place or residence with different reasons and also different effects. Within the past 10 years (1998-2008) Grenada has seen a fluctuation in relation to the migration rate. This is due to certain factors that occur in Grenada, and in other countries around the world as a whole. Because of the economic situation in countries in South America such as, Guyana, and Venezuela (and other regions as well E.G Cuba) many citizens of these countries found it fit to find a better life for themselves and their families by adapting a new residence somewhere else.

The Population Growth Cycle

Population Growth Rate by Continent Chart

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According to the Pan Health Organization, “the net migration rate in the Caribbean region is one of the highest in the world with great variation within the region…” and this can be easily proven by the dense culture variations, ethnicities, and races in the Caribbean and more specifically, Grenada. For example, Grenada has a high number of Guyanese workers, especially in the Education area, working in the country. Also there are many Cuban’s, and Venezuelans working in the health sector of the Islands. On the other hand however, Grenada has more than 80% of its tertiary-educated skilled labour migrating, with increased migration to the United States, Canada and the UK.

Some factors influencing migration to and from Grenada are; (1)Proximity to the Caribbean – This is why some individuals migrate within the Caribbean e.g. moving from St .Lucia to Grenada, instead of going to the US. (2) Wages and increased earning capacity – Some islands/ countries are in a worse off economic condition that Grenada, and then some countries are better off. The population will move to where it is better off. E.g. the economic situation is at a low in Cuba, but a chance of a better life is higher in Grenada (3) Language - Immigrants will try to go to a country that speaks there language officially, or if they are able to speak the language that is used there. This makes it easier for them to cope and adapt to the environment. And finally,(4) Social and family networks resident the destination country. However migration has had some positive effects on the Grenadian population. Some are; Return or transfer of knowledge, for example the strengthening of health and education facilities through partnerships and contribute to country level development and remittances and economic investments. However there are also negative effects on Grenada’s population because of migration. These are; Loss of human capital•Reduced productivity•Loss of financial investments borne by countriesBecause of the constant incoming and exiting individuals over the past 10 years, Grenada’s population trend (in accordance to migration) has remained constant because there are as many citizens leaving, as there’re coming in.

2. Age - The definition of age is the length of time that one has existed; duration of life. In Grenada the population for 2008 is an average of 90,000. According to demographic statistics there are 19 births per 1000 population and 7 deaths per 1000 population. The projected population for 2025 is 100,000. However within all of this, a surprising 32% of the entire population is made up of individuals under the age of 15, while senior citizens over the age of 65 make up only 5% of the overall population. The life expectancy in Grenada for males is 63 and females are 66 and total life expectancy is 65. In accordance to age and family planning 54% of the population use contraceptive use among women from the age’s of 15-49% and 49% for the males. Because there’s still such a large part of the population now using contraceptive in the childbearing years, this causes a greater chance for teenage pregnancies, which can increase the population once again. However, because of increasing technology and medical improvements, it is quite likely that the life expectancy can increase, which would raise the population. Because around ¼ of the population is under the age of 15, this also raises the likeliness of increasing the population because of they are at their height of their sexual activity. Because of this, the population according to age will always be increasing, especially as the life expectancy since the past 10 years is increasing, this mean people are living longer and therefore will remain to main or increase Grenada’s population.

3. Health and gender - In Grenada, for the past 10 years and even before that, the women have been outliving the men. And this is shown in the age statistics highlighted previously as the women’s life expectancy in Grenada is 66 where as the men’s life expectancy is 63. Health can be blamed for the difference in life expectancy as well as lifestyle. Men have been known to live a more active and risk taken lifestyle, being the bread winner in families ( in most cases) and having to live up to the expectations of society of just being a man, and being a strong individual. Because of this, the males take most of the risks in Grenada. They do the more dangerous jobs (e.g. construction, quarrying) and get involved in more dangerous activities e.g. gang violence and car racing. Also, women have been known in Grenada to take better care of themselves health wise. They visit the doctor regularly, eat better, take better care of their children etc. Because ladies tend to live longer, and take better care of themselves, it is likely that they will continue to bear children up to the point where they can, therefore increasing the population. Also, ladies are predominant in Grenada.

BibliographyMinistry of affairsgooglesociology for Caribbean students

Current World Population Growth Rate

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Devastation caused by Hurricane Ivan in Grenada