Demographics

What factors lead some countries to experience rapid population growth while others shrink? How do birth rates, death rates, and migration interact over time? What challenges arise when a society ages faster than it replaces itself? How can public policy reshape demographic trends? How might demographic shifts affect your own community’s future?

Why do people move—economic opportunity, conflict, environment, family? How does migration transform both the sending and receiving communities? What distinguishes voluntary migration from forced displacement? How do immigration policies reflect a nation’s identity and values? Has migration changed your own family's history?

Why are so many people moving from rural areas to cities worldwide? What opportunities and risks arise from rapid urban expansion? How do megacities balance economic growth with sustainability and equity? How does urban design influence quality of life for residents? What city has impressed you most, and why?

How do demographic factors influence the spread and impact of diseases? Why do life expectancies differ so widely between countries and regions? What role does education play in shaping public health outcomes? How do demographic models inform decisions during a health crisis? Which public health trend do you find most concerning?

How does population structure affect a country’s economic potential? Why do some regions struggle to break out of cycles of poverty? How does wealth inequality shape population outcomes such as fertility or migration? What indicators best measure a society’s well-being beyond GDP? What economic trend has affected your own region most?

How do demographers collect reliable data across different political and cultural environments? Why does census accuracy matter for representation, funding, and policy? What techniques help estimate population size when data is incomplete? How have privacy concerns changed the way demographic data is collected? What population question would you want your country’s next census to address?