Difference Between Population Growth and Population Change

Population Growth is the actual addition or increase in the existing population during a specific period. It refers to the change in population size in a given period. Simply put, it is the increase in the total number of humans on this planet.

We all know that the world population is not stationary; it changes every minute. As of now, 278 people take birth every minute, whereas 106 people die every minute. So, there is a constant change in population due to various reasons, including birth rate, death rate and relocation of people for various reasons like generating better income or better lifestyle.

What is Population?

Population is the total number of people in a particular area or region. One widely used way of determining the population is conducting the census.

In this post, we are going to discuss the differences between population growth and population change.

Content: Population Growth Vs Population Change

1. Comparison Chart
2. What is Population Growth?
   • Factors Affecting
   • What is Population Growth Rate?
   • Types
3. What is Population Change?
   • Components
   • What is Positive Population Change?
4. Key Differences
5. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

Basis for Comparison	Population Growth	Population Change
Meaning	Population Growth refers to the rise in the total number of individuals in the population.	Population Change refers to the change in total number of people in a country during a specific period.
What does it depict?	Increase in the number of people, in the region, in a given period.	Increase or decrease in the number of people in the region in a given period.
Expressed in	Absolute and Percentage terms	Addition in the total number of people
Reflects	Rise in population over time.	Changes in the composition of the population like age structure, sex ratio, literacy rate and occupational structure.
Results from	Natural Increase and Immigration	Natural Increase, Immigration and Emigration

What is Population Growth?

Population Growth refers to the growth in the number of residents of a country during a particular period. The reason for the rise in population is not just because of the increasing birth rate but also because of a decreasing death rate. It can be measured at:

• Neighbourhood level
• Country level
• Global level

Further, the population growth can be:

Positive Population Growth

The positive growth rate is when measuring between the two points in time; the birth rate is more than the death rate, and also when people migrate permanently to a country from another country.

Negative Population Growth

Sometimes there is a decrease in population when measured between two points in time. This happens when the birth rate falls even below the death rate. Also, people start moving to other countries.

Factors Affecting Population Growth

Three important factors affecting population growth are:

1. Fertility Rate: Total Number of births per thousand women are expected to undergo in their whole life.
2. Life Expectancy: It is the average length of time that a human being survives.
3. Net Immigration Level: The actual change in population from people moving in and out of the nation.

What is Population Growth Rate?

It is the rate at which the number of new individuals increases in a population in a certain period. It can be presented in absolute terms or percentage terms.

Absolute numbers can be obtained by deducting the earlier year population from the later year. This number will tell you the exact rise in the population over the years.

On the other hand, the percentage change in population, for example, a rate of increase of 1 per cent per annum, indicates an increase of 1 person per 100 persons in the base population. This is what we call the annual growth rate. The three main reasons behind population change are higher fertility rates, a growing older population and migration.

Types

• Exponential Growth: When the growth in population occurs rapidly with the passage of time.
• Logistic Growth: A type of growth in population that slows down with time.

Also Read: Difference Between Economic Growth and Economic Development

What is Population Change?

Population Change is the difference in the population size between the beginning and the end of a given period in a specific area. It indicates the difference in population size between two consecutive years. It is based on the following:

1. Natural population change: The total number of live births less the total number of deaths.
2. Net migration: Difference between immigrants less emigrants. Immigrants are those who move to live permanently in a foreign nation, whereas emigrants are those who leave their own country permanently to settle in another. This means that an emigrant in one country is an immigrant in another.

Further, population change in a specific region or country indicates economic development, social well-being and historical and cultural background.

Components

The three components that cause the population change are:

• Birth Rate: Birth Rate can be calculated as the number of live births that occur in a year per thousand of the population. It is the primary reason for the growing population.
• Death Rate: The death rate is the number of deaths in a country in a year per thousand of the population. The decline in growth rate also leads to growth in population.
• Migration: People shifting or moving from one place to another also leads to change in population. It is the movement of population across regions and territories. The place of origin, i.e., where they come from and the place of destination, i.e., where they move. It can be permanent or temporary migration.

Also Read: Difference Between Birth Rate and Death Rate

What is Positive Population Change?

If the outcome of net migration plus live births less death is positive, then there is positive population change.

Rate of Population Change

The rate of change in population is based on the rate at which births and deaths occur, the availability of resources and potential competition for these resources. Hence, the population changes constantly because of the environment, food sources, disease and migration.

There are times when the population changes slowly when the environmental factors are stable. While other times there is an increase or decrease in population over a short period. The rate of population change explains how fast the population is increasing or decreasing in a country over a given period.

Conclusion

Above all, one must note that without population change, population growth is not possible. Also, population growth is always due to the change in population size. Further, the economic growth of a country is directly associated with the population growth.