Introduction
Fertility, mortality, and migration are three essential factors influencing a country’s natural
population change. In the Indian scenario, migration is not a significant determinant of population
change. As a result, in the context of India, a close look at fertility and mortality rates becomes
essential. Let’s take a look at all determinants of population change.
Fertility
The primary determinants of fertility are as follows.
Demographic Determinants
Age composition: When a country’s population is young, it is more likely to contribute to global
population growth. The category comprises many Asian, African, and Latin American countries.
Duration of marriage: There is a link between fertility and the period of a practical marriage. For
example, in India, early marriage is a typical occurrence, and as a result, the fertility rate is high.
Balanced sex composition: The demographic factor of fertility is a balanced sex composition. As
opposed to rural areas, male-dominated urban areas, for instance, have a lower birth rate.
Level of urbanisation: Various socio-economic elements have been identified to produce an
atmosphere for lower fertility rates in urban areas.
Women’s involvement in economically profitable activities: Compared to non-working females,
the contribution of working women to human fertility has already been found to be minimal.
Working women have become more economically and socially awakened due to their exposure
to the outside world, influencing fertility behaviour.
Determinants of Socio-Cultural Change
Religious background: Almost every religion in the world, except for Buddhism, opposes the
deliberate control of human fertility. However, the level of regulation differs. For example,
according to Kingsley Davis’ research, Muslim birth rates in India are much higher than Hindu
birth rates in similar surroundings.
Level of education: The level of education, especially among girls, has significantly impacted
fertility rates. Education helps to reduce the birth rate in general.
Age at the time of marriage: It has long been known that the birth rate and the age at which a
person marries have an inverse relationship. In the Indian context, it is anticipated that if all
women in the country marry after 19, it will reduce the birth rate by about one-third.
Customs and traditions: Society’s that allow polygamy, polyandry, loose marriage bonds, and
permissive sexual behaviour have proven to lower fertility rates due to a higher prevalence of
venereal diseases.
Individual priority: The status of the father, wife and even the child has a significant impact on the
size of a family. In India, women’s poor status substantially contributes to increased fertility.
Policies of the government: The fertility rates in different countries are directly influenced by the
population strategies undertaken by those countries. For example, China’s strict population
policy has helped lower the country’s birth rate.
Economic Determinants
Family’s gross income: It has been discovered that a negative relationship exists between a
family’s financial level and its size. People in the middle-income group appear to have the
tightest control. On the other hand, when children are seen as a possible source of revenue
among lower-income families, family size is restricted to a minimum.
Standard of living: Poor people worldwide have high birth rates overall. Rich people, on the other
hand, have low birth rates.
Dietary habits: Animal study shows that even a higher protein consumption reduces fertility.
Other Causes
Family System Type: People who live in a joint family arrangement are more likely to have
children. The family elders assist and support new spouses in raising their children in the joint
family system.
Factors that contribute to Indian women’s higher fertility rates
The universality of marriage: Marriage is seen as a requirement for women in India.
Environmental considerations: Compared to other nations with a cold temperature, countries with
a hot climate have a higher fertility rate. As a result, India has a high fertility rate.
Mortality
The primary causes of mortality are as follows:
Demographic Structure
Age Structure: The incidence of death is influenced by age structure, a significant demographic
determinant. Mortality rates tend to decrease as a youngster grows older, but they tend to rise as
a person approaches middle age. As a result, countries with a significant population of middleaged and older people have high death rates.
Composition of sex: Females and males mortality rates have been discovered to vary due to the
difference in resistance power between the sexes. Female death rates rise for several reasons,
including hunger, a high maternal mortality rate, women’s poor status, and the neglect of female
children.
Phase of urbanisation: It has been found that perhaps the death rate in urban regions was higher
than in rural ones. However, this disparity is currently narrowing, and in some situations, the
positions are being reversed. The urban mortality rate is lower than the rural mortality rate in
LDCs. In developed nations, however, the reverse is increasingly true. In principle, variables
such as high per capita income, high literacy, and increased disease awareness have
contributed to reduced death rates in metropolitan regions.
Social Factors

Infanticide prevalence: The prevalence of infanticide raises a society’s death rate.

Medical facility accessibility: The number of people per physician correlates positively
with mortality rates.

Nutritional, housing, and sanitation conditions in general

The population’s literacy level: The mortality rate is inversely connected to literacy
standards.

Religious ideas.
Economic Development
Standard of living: Rich folks eat a well-balanced diet and have the financial means to access
medical care. It will reduce inequalities in mortality rates as medical facilities are made
universally available.
Migration:
When people move from one place to another in search of employment and better opportunities,
it is termed as migration. This has been in existence since the early ages when people used to
relocate in search of proper food and housing. It is an important part of determinants as it not
only changes the size of population but also the composition in various aspects.
There are two types of migration:

Internal : When people migrate from one place to another but within the boundaries of the
country, it is known as internal migration.

International: When people migrate between other countries, it is termed as international
migration.
What are the streams in migration?
The streams in migration are as follows:

Rural to Rural (R-R)

Rural to Urban (R-U)

Urban to Urban (U-U)

Urban to Rural (U-R)
However, it is found that migration also leads to uneven population distribution as well.
Conclusion:
The main determinants of population growth are fertility, mortality, and migration. Natural
increases influence population change in birth rates and migratory patterns. Changes in fertility
(births), mortality (deaths), and migration rates can all be used to determine changing population
size. It will grow exponentially if you provide a population with limitless food, moisture, oxygen,
and other environmental conditions.