What is a common reason for the differences in population structures between high-income countries (HICs) and low-income countries (LICs)?

The choice highlighting that low-income countries (LICs) have lower GDP and higher fertility rates accurately captures a fundamental aspect of population dynamics. In LICs, economic conditions often lead to limited access to education, especially for women, which correlates with higher fertility rates. Families in LICs may prioritize having more children as a form of economic security; children can contribute to family income and care for parents in old age.

In contrast, high-income countries (HICs) typically experience lower birth rates due to factors such as greater access to education, especially for women, the availability of family planning options, and differing societal expectations regarding family size. Additionally, in HICs, higher levels of income and urbanization often correlate with a preference for fewer children, as economic stability allows for investments in quality of life rather than quantity of offspring.

This disparity leads to different population structures: LICs generally have a younger population with a higher proportion of dependents, while HICs exhibit an aging population structure, characterized by a higher proportion of elderly individuals. Thus, the relationship between economic status, fertility rates, and population structure is a key factor in understanding demographic differences between LICs and HICs.