What is one consequence of high levels of infant mortality in low-income countries?

High levels of infant mortality in low-income countries typically lead to a demographic structure characterized by a large proportion of individuals in the pre-reproductive age group. This occurs because, in environments where infant mortality is high, families often have more children to increase the likelihood that some will survive to adulthood. As a result, this increases the percentage of the population that is made up of young individuals, particularly infants and children.

When infant mortality is elevated, it creates a skewed age distribution, as a substantial number of births may not survive past infancy or early childhood. Consequently, this demographic shift influences various aspects of society, including healthcare, education, and resource allocation, as a significant portion of the population falls within the age group that is not yet of reproductive age.

This phenomenon contrasts with other demographic scenarios, such as those with lower infant mortality rates, which tend to exhibit more balanced age distributions with greater proportions of individuals in older age categories. Therefore, the presence of a larger proportion of young people can have long-term implications for economic development, health services, and social structures in those regions.