Population and Urban Trends in Central America and Panama.

Abstract

For Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua and Panama the growth rates (birth and death rates) age distribution urban growth and projections by sex and age group are considered in detail and in all except Honduras attention is paid to urban-rural fertility differentials. Occupational structures and labor force participation by age and sex are discussed for El Salvador Guatemala Nicaragua and Panama. During the last 25 years the combined populations of these countries has more than doubled rising from 8.9 million in 1950 to 18.5 million in 1975 a growth rate of 3.1%. The reasons for this increase and its implications for development are explored. High growth has led to great migrations to the cities where opportunities for employment are greater than in traditional agricultural areas. The rates of natural increase for 1950-1970 and those projected for 1970-2000 are examined. In general birth rates have remained high but death rates have fallen sharply due to efforts to reduce infant mortality and to control diseases; this accounts for the population explosion taking place for a much greater proportion of those born survive than did previously. Possibilities for reducing growth and eventually reaching zero growth depend upon a drastic reduction in birth rates (this study does not deal with migrations). The text contains 132 tables and 39 charts and the appendices include 5 tables to present supporting evidence.