Attempts to solve population Attempts to solve population problems in an LEDCproblems in an LEDC

Case Study: BangladeshCase Study: Bangladesh

Bangladesh is at stage 2 of the Bangladesh is at stage 2 of the Demographic Transition Model.Demographic Transition Model.

What does this mean?What does this mean?

• High birth rate

• Falling death rate

Why is there a high birth rate?Why is there a high birth rate?

Why is there a falling death rate?Why is there a falling death rate?

What is Bangladesh like?What is Bangladesh like?

• Bangladesh is in South East Asia and about the same size as England and Wales. However its population is more than double (120 million). 90% of Bangladeshis work in agriculture and are very poor. Because Bangladesh lies close to the sea devastating floods hit the country every year.

Is Bangladesh Is Bangladesh overpopulated?overpopulated?

The population of Bangladesh has The population of Bangladesh has grown very rapidly since 1950.grown very rapidly since 1950.

In 1975 the government adopted a In 1975 the government adopted a policy of family planning. policy of family planning.

Write down 4 ways the government Write down 4 ways the government tried to slow down this pop growth.tried to slow down this pop growth.

Government policy...Government policy...

• Raising the age of marriage (18 f, 21 m)

• Improving health of mothers and babies

• Improving women’s education

• Providing contraception for field workers

Were they successful?Were they successful?

• Mostly YES!

• In 1981 18% practiced family planning

• In 1995 45% practiced family planning

• Average number of children per woman was 6 in 1981 and 4.3 in 1995

• There is a definite decrease in the rate of growth since 1990

What were the problemsWhat were the problems

• Women cannot leave their homes without permission (called Purdah in Islam) so it is difficult to give advice about family planning

• Even though age of marriage has been raised, some women consider to be married much earlier. Some girls are married at 13 and have their first baby a year later