Question 4: The table below indicates the percentage of world population per some continents, comment the population trends of these continents.
Region
1900
2000
2050
Africa
Europe
Oceania
8,1
24,6
0,4
13,5
11,8
0,5
21,8
6,9
0,5
Total population (x106)
1.650
6.168
9.857
Q uestion 5. The 2012 Rwanda General Census found that the Rwandan population was 10.500.000 people. Assume that, in order to accelerate development, the government decides that the population should not exceed 16 million in 2050. A) At which population growth should the population grow at? B) If the population growth remains at the current level of 2.4%, how many people will be in 2050?
A) In order for the population to reach 16 million in 2050, the population growth rate should be calculated as follows:
Population in 2050 = Population in 2012 * (1 + growth rate)^38
16,000,000 = 10,500,000 * (1 + growth rate)^38
1.52381 = (1 + growth rate)^38
(1 + growth rate) = 1.0124
Growth rate = 1.0124 - 1 = 0.0124 or 1.24%
Therefore, the population should grow at a rate of 1.24% in order to reach 16 million in 2050.
B) If the population growth remains at the current level of 2.4%, we can calculate the population in 2050 as follows:
Population in 2050 = Population in 2012 * (1 + growth rate)^38
Population in 2050 = 10,500,000 * (1 + 0.024)^38
Population in 2050 = 10,500,000 * (1.024)^38
Population in 2050 = 10,500,000 * 2.13159
Population in 2050 = 22,369,474
Therefore, if the population growth remains at 2.4%, there will be approximately 22,369,474 people in Rwanda in 2050.