Impact of Socio-economic Changes on Demographic Transition in Sri Lanka

Abstract

There is a reciprocal relationship between population growth and economic development. Although many socio-economic indicators affected to change the population growth rate, the health and education indicators have observed that there is a significant development of the people. Therefore, this study has paid special attention to the said variables. When examining the indicators presently in respect of the nutritional level, education, health condition, housing and sanitation facilities in Sri Lanka, could be well observed that these welfare activities have affected positively on the population. Maternal mortality rate, infant mortality rate, life expectancy at birth, literacy rate, school enrollment rate etc. have all shown steady and commendable improvement in the last five decades. This study reveals that the crude death rate and literacy rate have significant and negative impact on population growth rate. I.e. health and education have been strongly affected on demographic transition. Also, the study shows that the impact of health on demographic transition has been higher than the impact of education. As a result of country‟s socio-economic progress, Sri Lanka has been entered the third stage of demographic transition and reaching the final stage of it. This situation has specially caused to change the age structure of the population in Sri Lanka and the former population pyramid with a wide base has been gradually changing. The ageing population in the country will increase very rapidly in the near future. Even at present, the old people have taken a high percentage of the population