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UNIT 9:Population in Rwanda
Topic area: Human and Economic Geography
Sub-topic: area Population
Key unit competence
By the end of this unit, you should be able to research on demographic problems in Rwanda and evaluate their solutions
Unit objectives
By the end of the unit, you should be able to:
• Give the definition of different concepts of population.
• State the areas of high and low population densities in Rwanda.
• Show the population structure and growth in Rwanda.
• Identify the causes of rapid population growth and its effects in Rwanda.
• List types, causes and consequences of migration.
Definition of population concepts
Activity 9.1
1. How many learners are present in your class today?
2. Find out from other class records the number of students in each of the classes.
3. Give reasons why some classes have more students than others.
4. What name is given to the counting of people?
5. Write down your findings and share them in a class discussion.
In Senior One, you learnt about population and settlement in general. In Senior Four, you are going to study the population in Rwanda. Population is defined as the total number of people living in an area or region at a given time. In reference to Activity 9.1 above, the population of your class refers to the actual number of learners present at the time of counting.
Activity 9.2
Use the Internet and other Geographical sources of information.
1. Define the following terms and relate them to the population of Rwanda.
(i) Birth rate
(ii) Fertility rate
(iii) Death rate
(iv) Growth rate
(v) Natural increase
(vi) Natural decrease
In Senior One, you also learnt about some of the terms used in reference to population. They included terms such as population structure and composition, population distribution and density, population growth, birth rate, fertility rate, death rate, growth rate, natural increase, demography and natural decrease. In Senior Four, you are going to remind yourselves about some of the terms used and study them in detail.
(a) Birth rate
Case study
Country G has a total population of 5,469,085 people, in 2015. The registered new born babies were 356,437 babies.
(a) Using this data, determine the birth rate of country G.
(b) Present your work for assessment.
Birth rate refers to the number of new born babies per every 1000 people of the total population of a given place. The birth rate is determined by the following formula.
Task 9.1
1. Define the term birth rate. 2. Country X has a total population of 4,907,000 inhabitants. The new born registered babies are 4,865. Calculate the birth rate of country X.
(b) Death rate
Activity 9.3
1. Country X has a total population of 56,211 inhabitants. Last year it registered 467 death cases.
2. Calculate the death rate of this country. 3. Present your work for assessment.
Death rate refers to the number of people who lose lives per every 1000 people of the total population. It is determined using the following formula:
(c) Growth rate
Activity 9.4
Do this in pairs. Using the Internet, previous knowledge and other geographical sources of information; 1. Explain the meaning of growth rate.
2. Discuss factors that influence the population growth rate of Rwanda.
3. Write down your findings and discuss them in a class discussion.
Population growth rate refers to the natural change in the number of population. A population will either increase or decrease. Population growth rate is expressed as a percentage. It is the ratio of death rate and birth rate per 1000 people. The number of people living in an area can increase, decrease or remain stagnant for some time. The population growth rate of Rwanda is on the increase.
Population growth rate is calculated using this formula:
(d) Fertility rate
Activity 9.5
Using the Internet, previous knowledge and other geographical sources.
1. Explain the meaning of fertility rate.
2. Discuss some of the factors that influence fertility rate in Rwanda.
Fertility rate refers to the average number of children born to a woman in her life time. It is calculated per every 100 women in a population. The fertility rate of Rwanda is 5.2. This is calculated using the formula given below.
(e) Life expectancy
Activity 9.6
Do this in pairs.
1. Define life expectancy.
2. Examine the factors that influence life expectancy in Rwanda.
3. Write down your points and share them in a class discussion.
Life expectancy refers to the average period or number of years that a person expects to live. In Rwanda, life expectancy has increased due to improvement in standards of living and healthcare. In the year 2013, the life expectancy of Rwanda was at 63.99 years.
Life expectancy is affected by factors such as socioeconomic status, including employment, income, education and economic wellbeing, the quality of the health system and the ability of people to access it; health behaviours such as tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption, poor nutrition and lack of exercise.
Population of Rwanda
Activity 9.7
Do this in pairs.
Use the Internet and other geographical sources.
1. Describe the population of Rwanda using the population concepts learnt above.
2. Write down your findings and present them in a class discussion.
Rwanda has had four population census exercises carried out in the country since independence. The first population census in the country was carried out in 1978. The country had a total population of about 4, 831, 530 people. The second population census was carried out in 1991 and the country had a population of about 7,157,551 people. The third population census was in 2002 and the country had a population of about 8,162,715 people. The fourth population census of Rwanda took place in 2012 when the country’s population stood at about 11,457,801 people.
The trend shows that the country has experienced a steady population growth. The steady growth rate of the country is attributed to low mortality rates and high birth and fertility rates. The ratio of women to men is high.Population distribution and density in Rwanda
Population distribution refers to the spread of people in an area where they live over a period of time.
The population of Rwanda is not evenly distributed. Some areas such as Kayonza, Nyagatare and Bugesera districts are sparsely populated while others such as Nyabihu, Nyarugenge, Musanze, Burera, and Rubavu districts are highly populated.
Population density refers to the number of people living in a particular area – usually 1 square mile or 1 square kilometre. Population density is described as the total population/land area. Rwanda has one of the highest population densities in Sub-Saharan Africa. The population density of Rwanda as at 2012 was at 450 people per square kilometre. When measuring population density, all residents regardless of their legal status or citizenship are counted. This exempts the refugees who are not permanently settled in the country of asylum. They are considered to be part of the population of their country of origin. Land area here refers to a country’s total area. It excludes the area under inland water bodies like rivers and lakes.
Factors influencing population distribution
Activity 9.9
Work in groups of three.
Use the Internet and other geographical sources of information.
1. Discuss the specific factors that influence population distribution in Rwanda.
2. Compile your findings and discuss them in a class presentation.
The factors that influence population distribution in Rwanda are categorised into two. They are physical factors and human factors.
Physical factors
(a) Climate
Favourable climate allows food crops to grow and also presents a pleasant environment to live. A place with a favourable climatic conditions attracts settlements and has a high population. Dry climatic conditions are associated with lack of food and famine. Places with such conditions are less attractive and tend to have low populations.
(b) Water supply
Places with water bodies such as areas around Lake Kivu and Lake Muhazi are highly settled on because people are assured of getting enough water for all their needs. In areas with inadequate water supply, low populations are witnessed. Such areas include Bugesera and some parts of Nyanza.
(c) Vegetation
The thick forests of Nyungwe, Akagera, and Gishwati scare some people from settling around such areas. In most cases such areas are conservation reserves where settlement is not allowed. On the other hand, savanna grassland areas tend to attract heavy settlements.
(d) Relief
Areas with rugged relief tend to have low populations due to difficulties in e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t ra n s p o r t a n d communication infrastructure. It is also difficult to practice agriculture in such areas. Flat areas are easier to build homes on, industries and transport and communication networks hence attracting settlements.
(e) Soils
Areas with fertile soils are able to support agriculture. Such areas tend to attract many people who settle in those areas. Areas with less fertile soils push away settlements.
(f) Biotic factors
Areas with pests and diseases are less attractive to settlements and are usually sparsely populated. On the other hand, regions where pests and diseases are nonexistent, attract high populations.
Human factors
(a) Urbanisation
This has contributed a lot to the distribution of population in Rwanda. Many people through rural-urban migration settle in towns and cities or around them. This completely leaves the rural areas depopulated.
(b) Security and political stability
Areas with steady security tend to attract high populations. Less secure places scare away people hence causing sparse populations.
(c) Historical factors
Areas that were associated with traditional kingdoms or king’s palaces attract many people to settle there.
(d) Farming systems
Agricultural projects such as the tea plantations in Rwanda attract many people. The people go to the plantations to secure jobs. Eventually, they end up establishing homes. With time, the population in such areas increases.
(e) Government policy
In Rwanda, there is a government policy under the land reform program where people are resettled in demarcated areas locally known imidugudu. Other areas are left unsettled for agriculture and reserves such as National Parks.
(f) Transport and communication facilities
Transport and communication facilities attract settlements. This is usually due to the economic benefits associated with them. On the other hand, remote areas with no transport and communication infrastructure do not attract settlements.
(g) Industrialisation
Areas where there are industries and other enterprises attract many people. This is mainly due to the employment opportunities available. The city of Kigali has a high population because of this factor.
Social services
Social facilities such as schools, hospitals, market centres and stadia have a great influence on population distribution. Areas where these facilities are available, tend to have high populations than where they are absent.
Activity 9.10
Work in groups of three.
1. Study the population map of Rwanda.
2. Analyse the factors for the distribution.
3. Analyse the impact of the population distribution on the use of resources in the country.
4. Write down your findings and present them in a class discussion.
Population structure of Rwanda
Activity 9.11
Use geographical knowledge, the internet and other geographical sources of information.
1. Define population structure.
2. Find out and explain the population structure of Rwanda.
3. Write down your findings and present them in a class discussion.
Population structure refers to the composition of a given population. This composition is usually in terms of age and sex. The population structure is usually presented using a population pyramid or an age-sex pyramid.
Below is the population pyramid of Rwanda.
From the population structure of Rwanda shown above, the population of Rwanda is youthful in nature. It is dominantly composed of the youth. About 42.1% of the total population is made up of people between 0-14 years of age. 18.9% of the total population is made up of people who are between 15-24 years of age. 32.5% of the population is made up of people who are between 25-54 years of age. 4% of the population is made up of people between 55-64 years of age. 2.5% of the population is made up of people who are 65 years and over. The population structure shows that females are more than males. It has a sex ratio of 93 males to 100 females. Sex ratio refers the ratio of males to females in a population. The total dependency ratio is also high. It stands at about 78.1%. Dependency ratio is an age-population ratio of people who are not in the labour force measured against those who are in the labour force.
Dependency ratio is used to measure the pressure on the productive population. Being a country whose population is largely young, Rwanda needs to invest more in schools. The age structure can also be used to help predict potential political issues. For example, the rapid growth of a young adult population unable to find employment can lead to unrest.
Population growth in Rwanda
Activity 9.12
Use previous geographical knowledge, the Internet and other geographical sources of information;
1. Define population growth.
2. Describe population growth in Rwanda.
3. Explain the factors or causes for population growth in Rwanda.
4. Write down your findings and discuss them in class.
Population growth is the increase in the number of individuals in a population while population growth rate is the rate at which the number of individuals in a population increases in a given time period. Rwanda has a high population growth which keeps increasing every year. As at 2014, the population growth rate of Rwanda was estimated to be at 2.63%.
Factors influencing population growth in Rwanda
(a) Religion
Some religious faiths teach their followers to procreate and have many children in the quest to fill the world. Other faiths favour polygamy. All these teachings lead to an increase in the population. On the other hand, other religious faiths teach against polygamy and allow family planning. These practices lead to a low population.
(b) Early marriages
In most developing countries like Rwanda, girls get married when they are still very young. The longer they stay in their marriages, the more number of children they are likely to have. This leads to an increase in population.
(c) High birth and fertility rates
This has contributed to an increase in population. In Rwanda, the fertility rate averagely stands at about 5 children per every female. This means that families are big translating to an increase in population.
(d) Polygamous marriages
Polygamous marriages lead to population growth. The more women there are in a marriage, the more number of children they are likely to get collectively.
(e) Improved health care In Rwanda, improved health facilities, immunisation programs and the use of modern drugs have led to reduction in the diseases such as malaria and other epidemics which claimed many lives. As a result, there is an increase in birth and fertility rates and a decrease in infant mortality rate.
(f) Illiteracy
High levels of illiteracy have made many people unable to utilise family planning methods. Lack of this information encourages people to get many children leading to an increase in population.
(g) Migrations and refugees
Migration refers to the movement of people from one place to another. This movement leads to an increase in population in the area where the people move to and a decrease where they come from.
Most rural citizens uphold traditional values that encourage big families for labour and wealth. Most families therefore have many children in order to uphold the cultural values of their communities. This leads to an increase in population.
Consequences of rapid population growth in Rwanda
Activity 9.13
1. Identify and explain the consequences of rapid population growth in Rwanda.
2. Suggest the solutions to the effects of rapid population growth that you have described above.
3. Write down your findings and present them in a class.
Activity 9.14
Observe the local environment near your home or school;
1. Find out the consequences of rapid population growth to the local area and to the country.
2. Write down your findings and present them in a class discussion.
Task 9.2
1. To what extent is rapid population an asset to the development of Rwanda.
2. Explain the impact of rapid population growth on the environment.
There are both positive and negative consequences of rapid population growth. Some of the consequences are discussed below.
Positive effects
(a) Source of labour
A high population offers cheap source of labour.
(b) Source of revenue
A high population means a high source of revenue to the government through tax levies.
(c) Creation of markets
The rapid population growth in an area or country leads a high demand for goods and services.
(d) Exploitation of resources
An increase in population enables the use and full utilisation of resources.
(e) Urbanisation and industrialisation
The movement of people from areas of high population to areas with low population contributes a lot to the development of towns, cities and industries.
Negative effects
(a) Food shortages
In areas with high populations, there is always a shortage of food supply due to the high demands.
(b) Shortage of land
Rapid population growth has resulted in scarcity of land due to pressure on land.
(c) Unemployment
A rapid population growth means there is a high number of job seekers with few employment opportunities.
(d) Migration
The rapid population growth has influenced many to move from one place to another in search of better survival opportunities and living conditions.
(e) Environmental degradation
Rapid population growth is a cause of environmental degradation. People encroach on the reserved areas, degrading the environment.
(f) Shortage of social facilities due to congestion
Rapid population growth has increased population pressure on the existing social facilities, like schools and hospitals.
(g) Insecurity and increased crime rate
Crime is increasingly becoming common in the highly populated areas of Rwanda. This is because of congestion and joblessness. The crime rate is higher in urban areas.
Rapid population growth has led to an increase in the cost of living. Due to the increase in demand for various resources such as housing, food and transport, the cost of obtaining the resources is very high. (i) Increased government expenditure
The government spends a lot of funds in addressing the effects of rapid population growth. For example, huge sums of money are used to establish more social facilities, resettle people and to improve on security.
(j) Development of slums
Rapid population growth has come along with the emergence of shanty towns also known as slums. Such areas habour criminals, have poor hygiene and drainage systems and have substandard houses. Other social ills such as organised crime, prostitution and drug trafficking are rife in slum areas.
Activity 9.15
Project work.
1. Observe the area where you live.
2. List some of the effects of rapid population growth that you have observed.
3. Discuss how the effects have impacted on the economic growth of the area.
4. Advise the local leaders and the local population on the government efforts and the need to control, population growth in the area.
5. Come up with control measures that will contain the rapid population growth in the area discussed.
6. Write down a report of your findings and present it in a class discussion.
Solutions to rapid population growth
Case study
There are many people in area X, where the population density has become too high. Land has become scarce and pressure is exerted intensely onto the social facilities such as hospitals and schools. The government is so concerned. Suppose you are appointed by the area leader responsible for the population living in area X to be his or her advisor, which advice would you give him or her?
(a) Write a report on your solutions.
(b) Present them in a class discussion.
There are several ways that can be used to address the challenges resulting from rapid population growth. They include the following:
(a) Encouraging migration
The government should encourage people to migrate from high to low population areas.
(b) Education on the importance of family planning
The population should be educated on the importance of and encouraged to use family planning methods in order to have small families.
(c) Emphasis on education especially of the girl child
Educating the girl child to higher levels tends to delay the age at which the girls get married. This discourages early marriages which lead to high birth rates and big families.
(d) Economic empowerment
Economic empowerment of the masses especially of the women gives them the power to make wise decisions among them the number of children they should have and can comfortable support.
(e) Government intervention
The government can intervene by providing incentives to the families that have few children. The incentives could be through things like sponsored education and healthcare. This will discourage people from having big families hence reducing the population.
Migrations
Activity 9.16
Migration is the movement of people from one place to another. People move for various reasons that include; to work, to live or to be away from war or a disaster.
Types of migrations
Activity 9.17
Use the photograph shown to answer the questions that follow.
1. Explain why the people shown in the photograph are migrating.
2. Name other types of migrations common in Rwanda.
3. Give the causes of each of the types of that you have listed.
4. Discuss the impact of the types of migration that you listed in the country.
5. Write an essay on the causes and impact of migration in Rwanda and present it to your teacher for assessment.
(a)Temporary migration
Case study
Read the short story below and use it to answer the questions that follow. Mukaneza Denise a resident of Karangazi decided to go to Rubavu for two months to see her mother who was unwell. After the two months, her mother who had received treatment felt better. Denise decided to return to Karangazi after her mother got better.
(a) Describe the type of migration that Denise had.
(b) Other than visiting to check on relatives, give other reasons that would make people move away from their places of residence for short periods.
(c) Write down your answers and discuss them in a class presentation.
Temporary migration refers to the movement of people from one place to another for a short period of time. They usually move with the intention of going back to their places of residence.
(b) Permanent migration
migration involves the movement of people from one place to another without the intention of going back to areas where they moved from.
(c) Voluntary migration
This involves the movement of people from one place to another out of their own will. The people could be moving in search of employment opportunities, for adventure or other purposes.
(d) Involuntary migration
Involuntary migration involves the movement of people from one place to another by force. This type of migration usually occurs due to political instability, or hazards such as drought, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.
(e) Internal migration
This is a type of population movement that occurs within a given country. There are different types of internal migration as shown in Table 9.1.
(f) External migration
This is a type of migration where people move from one country to another with either the intention of going back or never going back to the country of origin.
Emigration and immigration
Emigration is a situation where people leave a given area also known as a source area. For example if Mr. Ntwali migrates from Ramiro village to Nyamagabe town, the act of leaving Ramiro is referred to as emigration and Mr. Ntwali, the person involved in the movement is called an emigrant.
The people in the receiving area in this case Nyamagabe town will refer to Mr. Ntwali as an immigrant. The act of getting into Nyamagabe is known as immigration.
Causes of migration in Rwanda
Case study
Read this short story and answer the questions that follow. Mahoro Agnes was a resident of Kigali city for a long time. Due to her low income, the high rates of rent charged and her desire to save some money, she got a cheap house in a slum area that was always dirty and congested. She stayed there for some time and when she had saved enough money, she bought land in Nyamata area and decided to build her own house. She then shifted from Kigali City to Nyamata town. After moving, she got a better job in her new town. She likes the place because there is adequate space, clean water and fresh air to breath. The town is also very clean.
(a) Name the push factors that influenced Agnes’ movement from Kigali City to Nyamata town.
(b) Explain the pull factors that may have attracted her to Nyamata.
(c) Apart from the factors that are mentioned in the story discuss other causes of migration in Rwanda.
The causes of migration are classified into two. There are factors which force people to leave a given area–these factors are known as push factors. There are also factors that attract people to settle in given areas. These factors are known as pull factors. Some of the causes of migration in Rwanda include the following:
(a) Shortage of land
An increase in population in a given area puts pressure on land which is a scarce resource. Shortage of land makes people to move from congested areas to areas where they can find land to settle on and to cultivate.
(b) Insecurity Political
instability in some of the countries that are Rwanda’s neighbours like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi has caused the migration of refugees into Rwanda.
(c) Government policy
The government of Rwanda has established settlement schemes known as the imidugudu. Some people are requested to move to these areas due to communal benefits.
(d) Religion
There are many people in Rwanda who have moved from one place to another for religious reasons. The migration could be temporal or permanent. Worldwide, Muslims go to Mecca and Christians to Israel for religious journeys. These holy journeys in most cases cause temporary migrations.
(e) Education
Currently, Rwanda hosts many students both local and foreign in its institutions of learning. These people have moved from their original places of residence to the places where the institutions of learning are found temporarily. Students from Rwanda also go outside the country in search of education. In this way, they also migrate temporarily.
(f) Natural hazards
There are migrations that are caused by the occurrence of natural hazards such as floods, earthquakes and drought. Migration due to this reason is not a common occurrence in Rwanda.
(g) Search for jobs The modern economic challenges push many people to migrate in order to look for employment opportunities in potential areas and towns with opportunities.
The need to carry out research for studies or for work may cause people to move from place to place.
(i) Availability of water
Many people move to places where they are assured of reliable supply of water. This factor is more important to pastoralist communities who need water and pasture for their livestock.
(j) Business opportunities Traders move from place to place in search of business opportunities both within and outside the country.
(k) Proximity to major transport and communication infrastructure
This factor has an influence in the migration of people from place to place. Most people want to be near major airports or sea ports due to the variety of business opportunities that these facilities come with.
Consequences of migration in Rwanda
Case study
Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow. Due to the ongoing political unrest in Burundi, thousands of Burundi citizens have moved into Rwanda to seek refuge. In Rwanda, several refugee centres have been created to host the refugees from Burundi. Among the centres created is the Gashora refugee centre in Eastern Province of Rwanda. During the creation of the centre, the vegetation that covered the shores of Lake Mirayi was cleared at the site where the camp was set. The cost of living has shot up, prostitution and drug trafficking are on the rise. The supply of labour has exceeded its demand and there isn’t enough food for everyone. Everywhere one goes, there are dejected faces of women and children who seem to have given up on life. Mothers sit staring into space yearning for the day they will go back to their homes.
(a) Name the type of migration that is represented in the story above.
(b) Explain how the political stability of Rwanda’s neighbours affects Rwanda.
(c) Identify the effects of migration in the case above.
(d) Apart from the effects stated in (c) above, explain other effects of migration on the socio-economic development of Rwanda.
There are both positive and negative effects of migration. Some of the effects of migration in Rwanda are discussed below.
Positive effects
(a) Increased markets
The movement of people to other areas increases demand for various products such as food. This has an economic benefit to the host area where the economy develops.
(b) Cheap source of labour
The incoming immigrants provide cheap labour force.
(c) Reduced population growth in the source area
The source areas are relieved of population pressure on the available resources.
(d) Reduction of illiteracy levels and acquisition of skills
The rural–urban migration in search of education helps in reducing the illiteracy levels in the rural areas. There is also the transfer of skills to both sides.
(e) Revenue
Migration increases sources of revenue to the government when people do business which the government gains taxes from.
(f) Development of infrastructure
Migration increases the population in the receiving areas. This influences the government to develop more social facilities in order to address the challenges of the masses.
(g) Cultural exchange
People who move to new places tend to move with their cultural practices and beliefs. The host areas tend to adopt some of the new practices from the immigrants. The immigrants also learn the cultural practices and beliefs of the host areas and adopt some of them. The cultural aspects exchanged include language, food and ceremonies. This exchange fosters cultural development.
Negative effects
(a) Unemployment
The increase in population as a result of the presence of immigrants creates a shortage of employment opportunities. This is because the supply of labour exceeds its demand.
(b) Growth of slums
The immigrants especially those who move from rural to urban areas lead to the development of slums. This is due to the economic constraints that hardly make it possible for them to afford renting better places. (b) Increased crime rates
Some immigrants move into their host areas with bad social habits endangering the security of the host areas.
(c) Congestion in towns
Immigrants cause congestion in their host areas. The increasing population in urban areas is responsible for the congestion witnessed in the various urban centres.
(d) Disease outbreaks
Immigrants sometimes carry over diseases from their source areas into their host areas.
The diseases tend to spread more causing stress to the local people in the host areas.
(e) Moral decay
The immigrants go into the receiving areas with their peculiar cultural habits. Some of these habits could be alien to the host areas and hence have negative influences. Such habits include prostitution and drug trafficking.
(f) Environmental degradation
The increase in population due to migration increases pressure on the available resources and the environment. An increase in population means pollution, cutting down trees and encroaching on reserved areas.
(g) Stagnation of the rural economy
The rural economy becomes stagnant since the young and energetic people migrate to urban areas to look for greener pastures. As they migrate, they leave behind less productive members of the population. This leads to unbalanced economic development in the country.
Did you know?
• Rwanda’s population density is among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa.
• The Rwanda population pyramid is an expanding type with high birth and death rates.
• Rwanda’s population has a relatively short life expectancy.
• Rwanda’s population has always been growing each year since independence.
• It is estimated that there are 36 immigrants to Rwanda on average per day.
End of unit revision task
1. Define the following terms in relation to population:
(a) Birth rate
(b) Death rate
(c) Growth rate
(d) Life expectancy
2. Describe the population distribution and density in Rwanda by stating the areas with high and low population densities.
3. Explain any six factors that influence population distribution in Rwanda.
4. Describe the population structure of Rwanda.
5. (a) Discuss five factors that influence population growth in Rwanda.
(b) Analyse five consequences of population growth in Rwanda.
6. (a) Name and explain the types of migrations.
(b) Discuss any six causes of migration in Rwanda.
(c) Analyse five consequences of migration that are evident in Rwanda.