How does human population achieve zero population growth? What would the birth rate need to be?
1 Answer
For the human population to achieve zero growth, the birth rate could be anything, but the death rate and/or the emigration rate would need to be the same.
Explanation:
For the human population to achieve zero growth, the birth rate could be anything, but this rate needs to be balanced by the rate at which the area is losing people. Remember, when we discuss the growth rate, we're discussing the change in population.
For example, if ten babies are born in your town this year but ten people die, your total population actually remains the same. You've gained ten people but you also lost ten people. Your growth rate remains at zero.
If we take into consideration immigration and emigration, the idea remains the same. If you have a population of 500, and 15 people are added to your population over three years, but 5 people die and 10 people leave your population to join another one, the total population after three years remains at 500. Your growth rate remains at zero.
