CATHOLIC NATIONS
COLUMBIA
Religions: 90% Roman Catholic
Birth Rate: 17.23 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 15.92 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 74.79 years
GDP Per Capita: $10,700
Religions: 90% Roman Catholic
Birth Rate: 17.23 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 15.92 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 74.79 years
GDP Per Capita: $10,700
BOLIVIA
Religions: 95% Roman Catholic
Birth Rate: 24.24 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality: 40.94 deaths/1,000 live
births
Life Expectancy: 67.9 years
GDP Per Capita: $5,000
SPAIN
Religions: 94% Roman Catholic
Birth Rate: 10.4 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality: 3.37 deaths/1,000 live
births
Life Expectancy: 81.27 years
GDP Per Capita: $30,400
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Religions: 95% Roman Catholic
Birth Rate: 19.44 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality: 21.3 deaths/1,000 live
births
Life Expectancy: 77.44 years
GDP Per Capita: $9,600
HONDURAS
Religions: 97% Roman Catholic
Birth Rate: 24.66 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality: 19.84 deaths/1,000 live
births
Life Expectancy: 70.71 years
GDP Per Capita: $4,600
MONACO
Religions: 90% Roman Catholic
Birth Rate: 6.85 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality: 1.8 deaths/1,000 live
births
Life Expectancy: 89.68 years
GDP Per Capita: $70,700
NON-CATHOLIC NATIONS:
PHILLIPINES
Religions: N/A Roman Catholic
Birth Rate: 24.98 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality: 18.75 deaths/1,000 live
births
Life Expectancy: 71.94 years
GDP Per Capita: $4,300
SINGAPORE
Religions: 4.8% Roman Catholic
Birth Rate: 7.72 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality: 2.65 deaths/1,000 live
births
Life Expectancy: 83.75 years
GDP Per Capita: $60,900
EGYPT
Religions: < 1% Roman Catholic
Birth Rate: 24.22 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality: 24.23 deaths/1,000 live
births
Life Expectancy: 72.93 years
GDP Per Capita: $6,600
ANALYSIS
In this
assignment, I drew samples from six Catholic nations and three non-Catholic
nations of different cultures and qualities of life hoping establish a
relationship between the influences of Roman Catholic and the nation’s birth
rate. However, after comparing the statistics of the nine nations, I have
concluded that the technologically conservative prohibition against birth
control among Catholic populations does not actually exist.
I have
reached this conclusion because among the six nations of over 90% Roman
Catholic, the birth rates ranged from 6.85% to 24.24%. While four of the six
countries had higher birth rates of around 20 births/1,000 population,
statistics from Spain and Monaco (10.4 and 6.85 births/1,000 population
respectively) shows that such correlation does not hold.
When I
compared the two Catholic nations of low birth rates (Spain and Monaco) with
the other four nations, I found out that these two countries have a
significantly higher GDP per capita (on average six to seven times higher).
Also, the infant mortality rate of Spain and Monaco is also significantly lower
than the other four countries of high birth rates. Furthermore, Spain and
Monaco also have the longest life expectancies among the Catholic Nations. This
suggests that the birth rate is affected by these other factors of GDP per
capita, infant mortality, and life expectancy (which are also the common
measures of a nation’s quality of life) rather than the Catholic prohibition
against birth control.
This also
holds true when I compared the existing data of the Catholic nations with three
non-Catholic nations with varying quality of life. Singapore, with a high GDP
per capita of $60,900 (comparable to the high GDP per capita of Spain and
Monaco) has a significantly lower birth rate of 7.72 births/1,000 population
compared to Philippines and Egypt (24.98 and 24.22 births/1,000 population),
which is comparable to the four Catholic nations of low GDP per capita.
Singapore also has a much lower infant mortality rate and longer life
expectancy compared to the poorer countries of Philippines and Egypt.
In
conclusion, I found that a nation’s measures of quality of life (GDP per
capita, infant mortality rate, life expectancy) has much more correlation with
a nation’s birth rate compared to its religion.
2. Tiffany Sam
Six Catholic Countries (CIA Factbook)
1. Saint Pierre and Miquelon– 99%
Birth Rates – 8.06 births/1000 population
Infant Mortality Rates – 7.29 deaths/1000 live births
Average Life Span – 80 years
GDP (per capita) - $34900
2. Malta – 98%
Birth Rates – 10.31 births/1000 population
Infant Mortality Rates – 3.65 deaths/1000 live births
Average Life Span – 79.85 years
GDP (per capita) - $26100
3. Honduras – 97%
Birth Rates – 24.66 births/1000 population
Infant Mortality Rates – 19.85 deaths/1000 live births
Average Life Span – 70.71 years
GDP (per capita) - $4600
4. Venezuela – 96%
Birth Rates – 19.88 births/1000 population
Infant Mortality Rates – 20.18 deaths/1000 live births
Average Life Span – 74.08 years
GDP (per capita) - $13200
5. Dominican Republic – 95%
Birth Rates – 19.44 births/1000 population
Infant Mortality Rates – 21.3 deaths/1000 live births
Average Life Span – 77.44 years
GDP (per capita) - $9600
6. Spain – 94%
Birth Rates – 10.4 births/1000 population
Infant Mortality Rates – 3.37 deaths/1000 live births
Average Life Span – 81.27 years
GDP (per capita) - $30400
Non-Catholic/Religious Countries
1. Canada
Birth Rates – 10.28 births/1000 population
Infant Mortality Rates – 4.85 deaths/1000 live births
Average Live Span – 81.48 years
GDP (per capita) - $41500
2. Australia
Birth Rates – 12.28 births/1000 population
Infant Mortality Rates – 4.55 deaths/1000 live births
Average Life Span – 81.9 years
GDP (per capita) - $42400
3. Singapore
Birth Rates – 7.72 births/1000 population
Infant Mortality Rates – 2.65 deaths/1000 live births
Average Life Span – 83.75 years
GDP (per capita) - $60900
At first look, nations with a high percentage population of Catholics have high birth rates. Since the Catholic Church openly condemns artificial birth control, the correlation between these two statistics (percent Catholic and birth rate) appears to make sense. However, a wider analysis of the different countries and their statistics reveals that this correlation is false.
Catholicism is not a determining factor in a country’s birth rate. Australia, one of the countries from the outgroup of non-religious countries, has a birthrate of 12.28 births/1000 population. This number is higher than that of half the Catholic countries as Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Spain, and Malta sit at 8.06, 10.4, and 10.31 respectively. Additionally, a disagreement can be found among the Catholic countries themselves. Although Honduras has a 97% Catholic population, its birth rate of 24.66 is significantly higher than that of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, which has a population that is 99% Catholic yet only 8.06 births/1000 population.
A combination of other socioeconomic factors appears to have a larger impact on a country’s birth rate. In terms of GDP, the country with the largest GDP per capita – Singapore with $60900 – has the lowest birth rate of 7.72. Similarly, the country with the lowest GDP per capita – Honduras at $4600 – has the highest birth rate of 24.66. However, this trend cannot be generalized across worldwide as even within this subset of nine nations, there is no smooth correlation.
Expected life span also contributes to determining the birth rate of a country. Again, a perfect correlation does not exist, but countries with a lower life expectancy such as Venezuela (74.08 years) has a birth rate of 19.88 which is higher than a country with a higher life expectancy such as Australia (81.9 years) at 12.28.
Lastly, countries with a lower infant mortality rate also have lower birth rates. Spain, which has a low infant mortality rate of 3.37 deaths/1000 live births, has a birth rate of 10.4 which is lower than the Dominican Republic which has a high infant mortality rate of 21.3 and a birth rate of 19.44.
The percentage of Catholic population a country has may be related to its birth rate, but it definitely is not the determining or even largest factor. As shown by the above data collected from the CIA World Facebook, other socioeconomic elements such as infant mortality rate, expected life span, and GDP per capita play a significant if not larger role in the eventual birth rate of a nation.
3. Alice Wang
Countries With High Percentage of Catholic Citizens
Honduras
Religion: Roman Catholic: 97%
Birth Rate: 24.66 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 19.85 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 70.71 years
Literacy: 80%
Population Below Poverty Line: 60%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $4,600
Spain
Religion: Roman Catholic: 94%
Birth Rate: 10.4 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.37 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.27 years
Literacy: 97.7%
Population Below Poverty Line: 21.1%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $30,400
Guam
Religion: Roman Catholic: 85%
Birth Rate: 17.5 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 78.5 years
Literacy: 99%
Population Below Poverty Line: 23%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $28,700
Mexico
Religion: Roman Catholic: 82.7%
Birth Rate: 18.87 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 16.77 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 76.66 years
Literacy: 86.9%
Population Below Poverty Line: 51.3%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $15,300
Italy:
Religion: Christian (Most Catholics): 80%
Birth Rate: 9.06 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.36 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.86 years
Literacy: 98.4%
Population Below Poverty Line: 19.6%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $30,100
Costa Rica
Religion: Roman Catholic: 76.3%
Birth Rate: 16.4 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 9.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 77.89 years
Literacy: 94.9%
Population Below Poverty Line: 24.8%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $12,600
Outgroup:
Japan
Religion: Roman Catholic: 0.4%
Birth Rate: 8.39 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 2.21 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 83.91years
Literacy: 99%
Population Below Poverty Line: 16%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $36,200
Greece
Religion: Roman Catholic: 0.41%
Birth Rate: 9.08 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 4.92 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 80.05 years
Literacy: 96%
Population Below Poverty Line: 20%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $25,100
Russia
Religion: Roman Catholic: 0.53%
Birth Rate: 12.3 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 66.46 years
Literacy: 99.6%
Population Below Poverty Line: 12.7%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $17,700
While the assumption that nations with large Catholic populations would have higher birth rates than those with a small Catholic population sound reasonable, after examining a collection of demographic and economic data, there seems to be little correlation between a nation’s Catholic percentage and birth rates.
From my data, Honduras has the highest percentage of Catholic population, followed by Spain, Guam, Mexico, Italy, and Costa Rica. If the assumption holds true, we would expect to see a decline in birthrate associated with a decline in the percentage of Catholic population. However, though Costa Rica has the lowest percentage of Catholic population of 76.3%, its birth rate, 16.4 births/1,000 population, is even higher than that of Spain and Italy. Therefore, we cannot assume that the percentage of Catholic population is a dominant factor in determining a nation’s birth rate.
Other health and social factors might have also influenced a nation’s birth rate. Looking across data, a low infant mortality rate, less than 5deaths/ 1,000 live births, seems to be associated with a somewhat low birth rate of 10births/ 1,000 population. Indeed, Honduras, with the highest infant mortality rate, has the highest birth rate in my set of data. A high life expectancy is also associated with a low birth rate. For example, Japan, with the highest average life span, has the lowest birth rate in the data.
A country’s poverty level, literacy rate, and wealth, may have also impacted a nation’s birth rate. High poverty level is associated with somewhat high birth rate. In terms of GDP, Japan, with the highest GDP per capita, has the lowest birth rate. On the other side, Honduras, with the lowest GDP per capita, has the highest birth rate. Lastly, most countries with high literacy rate have relatively low birth rates, although this correlation is very weak.
Although all of the factors considered above exert some influence on a nation’s birth rate, there is no evidence to prove a strong correlation between any of the factors and a country’s birth rate. Thus, a country’s percentage of Catholic population does not necessarily have a direct and large impact on its country’s birth rate.
4. Kevin Xiao
Catholic Countries
Spain
Religion: Roman Catholic: 94%
Birth Rate: 10.4 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.37 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.27 years
Literacy: 97.7%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $30,400
Population Below Poverty Line: 21.1%
Poland
Religion: Roman Catholic 89.8% [about 75% practicing]
Birth Rate: 9.96 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 6.42 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 76.25 years
Literacy: 99.5%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $21,000
Population Below Poverty Line: 10.6%
Ireland
Religion: Roman Catholic 87.4%
Birth Rate: 15.81 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.81 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 80.32 years
Literacy: 99%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $41,700
Population Below Poverty Line: 5.5%
Mexico
Religion: Roman Catholic: 82.7%
Birth Rate: 18.87 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 16.77 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 76.66 years
Literacy: 86.9%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $15,300
Population Below Poverty Line: 51.3%
Italy:
Religion: Christian (Most Catholics): 80%
Birth Rate: 9.06 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.36 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.86 years
Literacy: 98.4%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $30,100
Population Below Poverty Line: 19.6%
Belgium
Religion: Roman Catholic 75%
Birth Rate: 10.03 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 4.28 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 79.65 years
Literacy: 99%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $38,100
Population Below Poverty Line: 15.2%
Non-Catholic Countries
Thailand
Religion: Roman Catholic 0.44%
Birth Rate: 12.81 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 15.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 73.83 years
Literacy: 92.6%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $10,000
Population Below Poverty Line: 7.75%
Japan
Religion: Roman Catholic: 0.4%
Birth Rate: 8.39 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 2.21 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 83.91years
Literacy: 99%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $36,200
Population Below Poverty Line: 16%
Finland
Religion: Roman Catholic 0.14%
Birth Rate: 10.36 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 79.41 years
Literacy: 100%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $36,500
Population Below Poverty Line: NA%
The data from the CIA World Factbook seems to show some support for the assumption that nations with large Catholic populations would have higher birth rates. When we first examine the birth rates of the six Catholic nations, we can see that Ireland and Mexico, which have higher percentage of Roman Catholicism than that of Italy and Belgium, indeed have birth rates much higher than that of Italy and Belgium. However, Spain, with 94% of the population being Roman Catholic, only has .1% higher birth rate than that of Belgium, which only has 75% of its population as Roman Catholic. Spain and Poland also have lower birth rates than that of Ireland and Mexico, which does not fit the pattern suggested by the assumption.
When we compare the Catholic and the Non-Catholic countries, the correlation between birth rate and Religion seems a bit stronger. Thailand, Japan, and Finland, all with less than 1% of their population being Roman Catholic, have birth rates that are much lower than that of Ireland and Mexico. In fact, Japan, with only 0.4% of its population practicing Catholicism, has the lowest birth rate among the nine nations listed above. However, Finland, with only 0.14% of its population as Roman Catholic, has about the same birth rate as that of Spain. Clearly, there must be other socio-economic factors that have stronger influence on birth rates than religion does.
When we look at the infant mortality rates for the nine countries, we can see clear positive correlation between birth rate and infant mortality rate. Low infant mortality rate nations, such as Spain, Poland, Italy, Belgium, Japan and Finland, all have relatively low birth rates. On the other hand, high infant mortality rate nations, such as Mexico and Thailand, have relatively high birth rates. Moreover, Mexico and Thailand have life expectancies relatively lower than that of other countries. This general pattern may be related to our discussion on r-type and k-type reproduction strategy. When each offspring has enough chance to survive to adulthood and their life expectancy is long, the need for a large number of offspring is low. Conversely, high infant mortality and low life expectancy must be compensated by high birth rate in order to maintain population size.
When we look at other factors, it is also clear that Mexico and Thailand, the two countries with high birth rate, also have low literacy and low income. Mexico only has the per capita GDP of $15300, and 51.3% of its population lives below the poverty line. Only 86.9% of the Mexican population is literate. Thailand has an even lower per capita GDP of $10000, with literacy rate of 92.6%. In sharp contrast, low birth rate countries such as Japan have much higher per capita income and literacy rate of close to 100%. The benefit of birth control, a preventive technology, might not be easily understood, and thus birth control has a slower rate of adoption in poor and less educated populations.
Ireland, with low infant Mortality, long life expectancy, high literacy, and high GDP per capita, is an exception in my data. Since Finland is a nation that is much similar to Ireland in terms of these four factors, Finland serves as a good control. Ireland has infant mortality that is only slightly higher than that of Finland, and Ireland’s life expectancy is actually higher. While Finland is one percent higher in literacy rate, Ireland has higher per capita income. When we examine the listed qualities for the two nations, the only major difference is the rate of Catholicism. Therefore, it seems that high rate of Catholicism is the handiest explanation for the exceptionally high birth rate in Ireland. Although the sample size for the research is extremely small, the data do suggest some correlation between rate of Catholicism and birth rate if we held other confounding variables constant.
5. Yehyun Kang
Spain
Religions: Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%
Birth rate: 10.4 births/ 1000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.37 deaths / 1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.27
GDP- per capita: $30,400
Literacy: 97.7%
Population below poverty line: 21.1%
Italy
Religions: Christian 80% (overwhelming Roman Catholic with very small groups of Jehova Witnesses and Protestants), Muslims NEGL (about 700,000 but growing), Atheists and Agnostics 20%
Birth Rate: 9.06 births / 1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 208
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.36 deaths / 1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.86
GDP- per capita: $30,100
Literacy: 98.4%
Pupulation below poverty line: 19.6%
France
Religions: Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4%
Birth Rate: 12.7 births / 1,000 population (2012 est. )
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.4 deaths / 1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.46
GDP- per capita: $35,500 (2012 est.)
Literacy: 99%
Population below poverty line: 7.8% (2010)
Mexico
Religions: Roman Catholic 82.7%, Protestant 1.6%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.4%, other Evangelical Churches 5%, other 1.9%, none 4.7%, unspecified 2.7% (2000 census)
Birth rate: 18.87 births / 1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Infant Mortality rate: 16.77 deaths / 1,000 live births
Life expectancy: 76.66
GDP- per capita: $15,300 (2012 est.)
Literacy: 86.1%
population below poverty line: 51.3%
Belgium
Religions: Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%
Birth rate: 10.03 births/ 1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
Infant Mortality rate: 4.28 deaths / 1,000 live births (2012 est.)
Life expectancy: 79.65
GDP- per capita: $38,100 (2012 est.)
Literacy: 99%
Population below poverty line: 15.2% (2007 est.)
Brazil
Religions: Roman Catholic (nominal) 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%, Spiritualist 1.3%, Bantu/voodoo 0.3%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.2%, none 7.4% (2000 census)
Birth rate: 15.2 birhts / 1,000 population (2012 est.)
Infant Mortality rate: 20.5 deaths / 1,000 live births
Life expectancy: 72.29
GDP- per capita: $12,000
Literacy: 88.6%
Population below poverty line: 21.4%
Non-Catholic countries
Japan
Religions: Shintoism 83.9%, Buddhism 71.4%, Christianity 2%, other 7.8%
Birth rate: 8.39 births / 1,000 population
Infant Mortality rate: 2.21 deaths / 1,000 live births
Life expectancy: 83.91
GDP- per capita: $36,200
Literacy: 99%
Population below poverty line: 16%
Russia
Religions: Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2% (2006 est.)
Birth rate: 12.3 births / 1,000 population
Infant Mortality rate: 7.3 deaths / 1,000 live births
Life expectancy: 66.46
GDP-per capita: $17,700
Literacy: 99.6%
Population below poverty line: 12.7% (2011)
Bulgaria
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 59.4%, Muslim (Sunni) 7.4%, Muslim (Shia) 0.4%, other (including Catholic, Protestant, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox, and Judaism) 1.7%, other (unknown) 27.4%, none 3.7% (2011 census)
Birth rate: 9.2 births / 1,000 population
Infant Mortality rate: 16.13 deaths / 1,000 live births
Life expectancy: 73.84
GDP- per capita: $14,200
Literacy: 98.4%
Population below poverty line: 21.8%
As we can see above, Catholic countries such as: Spain, Italy, France, Mexico, Belgium, and Brazil have a's birth rate are around 10-15% (, and except Mexico’s birth rate is above which is higher than 18%). At the same time, non-Catholic countries: such as Japan, Russia, and Bulgaria's also have birth rates are also around 10-15%10 to 15. As we can see, it seems like that there is no correlation between religion and birth rate. As a matter ofIn fact, birth rate is more affected by whether the country is developed country or not, and country’s development and lifestyle. life style. In addition, we can find that there is no correlation between infant mortality rate and religion. As we can see, Catholic countries and non-Catholic countries have almost the same IMR. EspeciallyIn particular, it is affected by whether the country development has a significant effect on mortality rate. country or not. Interestingly, the countries that have lower GDP- per capita income usually have a higher infant mortality rate. For example, Mexico (Catholic) and Bulgaria (Non-Catholic) have very higher IMR than other developed countries. This evidence shows us that IMR is affected by families family income, because higher income family families can usually can access high quality medical care while , which lower income family families usually typically cannot access it easily. Unsurprisingly, the higher the population is below poverty line, is affected by the higher birth rate and/or infant mortality rate. For example, Mexico has more than 50% of Mexico’s population is below poverty line, and it has more than birth rate above 18% birth rate and a 16% infant mortality rate. Also, Bulgaria has 21.8% of Bulgaria’s population is below the poverty line, while it has a 16.13% infant mortality rate. That is whyThus, I can conclude that there is no correlation between religion (Catholic) and birth rate, infant mortality rate, and population below the poverty line. The factors that can affect to thoseThose of rates are affected by all the social, health, and political factors.
6. Hugo Avila
Chart 2
1. Saint Pierre and Miquelon– 99%
Birth Rates – 8.06 births/1000 population
Infant Mortality Rates – 7.29 deaths/1000 live births
Average Life Span – 80 years
GDP (per capita) - $34900
2. Malta – 98%
Birth Rates – 10.31 births/1000 population
Infant Mortality Rates – 3.65 deaths/1000 live births
Average Life Span – 79.85 years
GDP (per capita) - $26100
3. Honduras – 97%
Birth Rates – 24.66 births/1000 population
Infant Mortality Rates – 19.85 deaths/1000 live births
Average Life Span – 70.71 years
GDP (per capita) - $4600
4. Venezuela – 96%
Birth Rates – 19.88 births/1000 population
Infant Mortality Rates – 20.18 deaths/1000 live births
Average Life Span – 74.08 years
GDP (per capita) - $13200
5. Dominican Republic – 95%
Birth Rates – 19.44 births/1000 population
Infant Mortality Rates – 21.3 deaths/1000 live births
Average Life Span – 77.44 years
GDP (per capita) - $9600
6. Spain – 94%
Birth Rates – 10.4 births/1000 population
Infant Mortality Rates – 3.37 deaths/1000 live births
Average Life Span – 81.27 years
GDP (per capita) - $30400
Non-Catholic/Religious Countries
1. Canada
Birth Rates – 10.28 births/1000 population
Infant Mortality Rates – 4.85 deaths/1000 live births
Average Live Span – 81.48 years
GDP (per capita) - $41500
2. Australia
Birth Rates – 12.28 births/1000 population
Infant Mortality Rates – 4.55 deaths/1000 live births
Average Life Span – 81.9 years
GDP (per capita) - $42400
3. Singapore
Birth Rates – 7.72 births/1000 population
Infant Mortality Rates – 2.65 deaths/1000 live births
Average Life Span – 83.75 years
GDP (per capita) - $60900
At first look, nations with a high percentage population of Catholics have high birth rates. Since the Catholic Church openly condemns artificial birth control, the correlation between these two statistics (percent Catholic and birth rate) appears to make sense. However, a wider analysis of the different countries and their statistics reveals that this correlation is false.
Catholicism is not a determining factor in a country’s birth rate. Australia, one of the countries from the outgroup of non-religious countries, has a birthrate of 12.28 births/1000 population. This number is higher than that of half the Catholic countries as Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Spain, and Malta sit at 8.06, 10.4, and 10.31 respectively. Additionally, a disagreement can be found among the Catholic countries themselves. Although Honduras has a 97% Catholic population, its birth rate of 24.66 is significantly higher than that of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, which has a population that is 99% Catholic yet only 8.06 births/1000 population.
A combination of other socioeconomic factors appears to have a larger impact on a country’s birth rate. In terms of GDP, the country with the largest GDP per capita – Singapore with $60900 – has the lowest birth rate of 7.72. Similarly, the country with the lowest GDP per capita – Honduras at $4600 – has the highest birth rate of 24.66. However, this trend cannot be generalized across worldwide as even within this subset of nine nations, there is no smooth correlation.
Expected life span also contributes to determining the birth rate of a country. Again, a perfect correlation does not exist, but countries with a lower life expectancy such as Venezuela (74.08 years) has a birth rate of 19.88 which is higher than a country with a higher life expectancy such as Australia (81.9 years) at 12.28.
Lastly, countries with a lower infant mortality rate also have lower birth rates. Spain, which has a low infant mortality rate of 3.37 deaths/1000 live births, has a birth rate of 10.4 which is lower than the Dominican Republic which has a high infant mortality rate of 21.3 and a birth rate of 19.44.
The percentage of Catholic population a country has may be related to its birth rate, but it definitely is not the determining or even largest factor. As shown by the above data collected from the CIA World Facebook, other socioeconomic elements such as infant mortality rate, expected life span, and GDP per capita play a significant if not larger role in the eventual birth rate of a nation.
3. Alice Wang
Countries With High Percentage of Catholic Citizens
Honduras
Religion: Roman Catholic: 97%
Birth Rate: 24.66 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 19.85 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 70.71 years
Literacy: 80%
Population Below Poverty Line: 60%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $4,600
Spain
Religion: Roman Catholic: 94%
Birth Rate: 10.4 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.37 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.27 years
Literacy: 97.7%
Population Below Poverty Line: 21.1%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $30,400
Guam
Religion: Roman Catholic: 85%
Birth Rate: 17.5 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 78.5 years
Literacy: 99%
Population Below Poverty Line: 23%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $28,700
Mexico
Religion: Roman Catholic: 82.7%
Birth Rate: 18.87 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 16.77 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 76.66 years
Literacy: 86.9%
Population Below Poverty Line: 51.3%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $15,300
Italy:
Religion: Christian (Most Catholics): 80%
Birth Rate: 9.06 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.36 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.86 years
Literacy: 98.4%
Population Below Poverty Line: 19.6%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $30,100
Costa Rica
Religion: Roman Catholic: 76.3%
Birth Rate: 16.4 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 9.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 77.89 years
Literacy: 94.9%
Population Below Poverty Line: 24.8%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $12,600
Outgroup:
Japan
Religion: Roman Catholic: 0.4%
Birth Rate: 8.39 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 2.21 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 83.91years
Literacy: 99%
Population Below Poverty Line: 16%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $36,200
Greece
Religion: Roman Catholic: 0.41%
Birth Rate: 9.08 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 4.92 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 80.05 years
Literacy: 96%
Population Below Poverty Line: 20%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $25,100
Russia
Religion: Roman Catholic: 0.53%
Birth Rate: 12.3 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 66.46 years
Literacy: 99.6%
Population Below Poverty Line: 12.7%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $17,700
While the assumption that nations with large Catholic populations would have higher birth rates than those with a small Catholic population sound reasonable, after examining a collection of demographic and economic data, there seems to be little correlation between a nation’s Catholic percentage and birth rates.
From my data, Honduras has the highest percentage of Catholic population, followed by Spain, Guam, Mexico, Italy, and Costa Rica. If the assumption holds true, we would expect to see a decline in birthrate associated with a decline in the percentage of Catholic population. However, though Costa Rica has the lowest percentage of Catholic population of 76.3%, its birth rate, 16.4 births/1,000 population, is even higher than that of Spain and Italy. Therefore, we cannot assume that the percentage of Catholic population is a dominant factor in determining a nation’s birth rate.
Other health and social factors might have also influenced a nation’s birth rate. Looking across data, a low infant mortality rate, less than 5deaths/ 1,000 live births, seems to be associated with a somewhat low birth rate of 10births/ 1,000 population. Indeed, Honduras, with the highest infant mortality rate, has the highest birth rate in my set of data. A high life expectancy is also associated with a low birth rate. For example, Japan, with the highest average life span, has the lowest birth rate in the data.
A country’s poverty level, literacy rate, and wealth, may have also impacted a nation’s birth rate. High poverty level is associated with somewhat high birth rate. In terms of GDP, Japan, with the highest GDP per capita, has the lowest birth rate. On the other side, Honduras, with the lowest GDP per capita, has the highest birth rate. Lastly, most countries with high literacy rate have relatively low birth rates, although this correlation is very weak.
Although all of the factors considered above exert some influence on a nation’s birth rate, there is no evidence to prove a strong correlation between any of the factors and a country’s birth rate. Thus, a country’s percentage of Catholic population does not necessarily have a direct and large impact on its country’s birth rate.
4. Kevin Xiao
Catholic Countries
Spain
Religion: Roman Catholic: 94%
Birth Rate: 10.4 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.37 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.27 years
Literacy: 97.7%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $30,400
Population Below Poverty Line: 21.1%
Poland
Religion: Roman Catholic 89.8% [about 75% practicing]
Birth Rate: 9.96 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 6.42 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 76.25 years
Literacy: 99.5%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $21,000
Population Below Poverty Line: 10.6%
Ireland
Religion: Roman Catholic 87.4%
Birth Rate: 15.81 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.81 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 80.32 years
Literacy: 99%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $41,700
Population Below Poverty Line: 5.5%
Mexico
Religion: Roman Catholic: 82.7%
Birth Rate: 18.87 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 16.77 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 76.66 years
Literacy: 86.9%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $15,300
Population Below Poverty Line: 51.3%
Italy:
Religion: Christian (Most Catholics): 80%
Birth Rate: 9.06 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.36 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.86 years
Literacy: 98.4%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $30,100
Population Below Poverty Line: 19.6%
Belgium
Religion: Roman Catholic 75%
Birth Rate: 10.03 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 4.28 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 79.65 years
Literacy: 99%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $38,100
Population Below Poverty Line: 15.2%
Non-Catholic Countries
Thailand
Religion: Roman Catholic 0.44%
Birth Rate: 12.81 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 15.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 73.83 years
Literacy: 92.6%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $10,000
Population Below Poverty Line: 7.75%
Japan
Religion: Roman Catholic: 0.4%
Birth Rate: 8.39 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 2.21 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 83.91years
Literacy: 99%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $36,200
Population Below Poverty Line: 16%
Finland
Religion: Roman Catholic 0.14%
Birth Rate: 10.36 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 79.41 years
Literacy: 100%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $36,500
Population Below Poverty Line: NA%
The data from the CIA World Factbook seems to show some support for the assumption that nations with large Catholic populations would have higher birth rates. When we first examine the birth rates of the six Catholic nations, we can see that Ireland and Mexico, which have higher percentage of Roman Catholicism than that of Italy and Belgium, indeed have birth rates much higher than that of Italy and Belgium. However, Spain, with 94% of the population being Roman Catholic, only has .1% higher birth rate than that of Belgium, which only has 75% of its population as Roman Catholic. Spain and Poland also have lower birth rates than that of Ireland and Mexico, which does not fit the pattern suggested by the assumption.
When we compare the Catholic and the Non-Catholic countries, the correlation between birth rate and Religion seems a bit stronger. Thailand, Japan, and Finland, all with less than 1% of their population being Roman Catholic, have birth rates that are much lower than that of Ireland and Mexico. In fact, Japan, with only 0.4% of its population practicing Catholicism, has the lowest birth rate among the nine nations listed above. However, Finland, with only 0.14% of its population as Roman Catholic, has about the same birth rate as that of Spain. Clearly, there must be other socio-economic factors that have stronger influence on birth rates than religion does.
When we look at the infant mortality rates for the nine countries, we can see clear positive correlation between birth rate and infant mortality rate. Low infant mortality rate nations, such as Spain, Poland, Italy, Belgium, Japan and Finland, all have relatively low birth rates. On the other hand, high infant mortality rate nations, such as Mexico and Thailand, have relatively high birth rates. Moreover, Mexico and Thailand have life expectancies relatively lower than that of other countries. This general pattern may be related to our discussion on r-type and k-type reproduction strategy. When each offspring has enough chance to survive to adulthood and their life expectancy is long, the need for a large number of offspring is low. Conversely, high infant mortality and low life expectancy must be compensated by high birth rate in order to maintain population size.
When we look at other factors, it is also clear that Mexico and Thailand, the two countries with high birth rate, also have low literacy and low income. Mexico only has the per capita GDP of $15300, and 51.3% of its population lives below the poverty line. Only 86.9% of the Mexican population is literate. Thailand has an even lower per capita GDP of $10000, with literacy rate of 92.6%. In sharp contrast, low birth rate countries such as Japan have much higher per capita income and literacy rate of close to 100%. The benefit of birth control, a preventive technology, might not be easily understood, and thus birth control has a slower rate of adoption in poor and less educated populations.
Ireland, with low infant Mortality, long life expectancy, high literacy, and high GDP per capita, is an exception in my data. Since Finland is a nation that is much similar to Ireland in terms of these four factors, Finland serves as a good control. Ireland has infant mortality that is only slightly higher than that of Finland, and Ireland’s life expectancy is actually higher. While Finland is one percent higher in literacy rate, Ireland has higher per capita income. When we examine the listed qualities for the two nations, the only major difference is the rate of Catholicism. Therefore, it seems that high rate of Catholicism is the handiest explanation for the exceptionally high birth rate in Ireland. Although the sample size for the research is extremely small, the data do suggest some correlation between rate of Catholicism and birth rate if we held other confounding variables constant.
5. Yehyun Kang
Spain
Religions: Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%
Birth rate: 10.4 births/ 1000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.37 deaths / 1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.27
GDP- per capita: $30,400
Literacy: 97.7%
Population below poverty line: 21.1%
Italy
Religions: Christian 80% (overwhelming Roman Catholic with very small groups of Jehova Witnesses and Protestants), Muslims NEGL (about 700,000 but growing), Atheists and Agnostics 20%
Birth Rate: 9.06 births / 1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 208
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.36 deaths / 1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.86
GDP- per capita: $30,100
Literacy: 98.4%
Pupulation below poverty line: 19.6%
France
Religions: Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4%
Birth Rate: 12.7 births / 1,000 population (2012 est. )
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.4 deaths / 1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.46
GDP- per capita: $35,500 (2012 est.)
Literacy: 99%
Population below poverty line: 7.8% (2010)
Mexico
Religions: Roman Catholic 82.7%, Protestant 1.6%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.4%, other Evangelical Churches 5%, other 1.9%, none 4.7%, unspecified 2.7% (2000 census)
Birth rate: 18.87 births / 1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Infant Mortality rate: 16.77 deaths / 1,000 live births
Life expectancy: 76.66
GDP- per capita: $15,300 (2012 est.)
Literacy: 86.1%
population below poverty line: 51.3%
Belgium
Religions: Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%
Birth rate: 10.03 births/ 1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
Infant Mortality rate: 4.28 deaths / 1,000 live births (2012 est.)
Life expectancy: 79.65
GDP- per capita: $38,100 (2012 est.)
Literacy: 99%
Population below poverty line: 15.2% (2007 est.)
Brazil
Religions: Roman Catholic (nominal) 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%, Spiritualist 1.3%, Bantu/voodoo 0.3%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.2%, none 7.4% (2000 census)
Birth rate: 15.2 birhts / 1,000 population (2012 est.)
Infant Mortality rate: 20.5 deaths / 1,000 live births
Life expectancy: 72.29
GDP- per capita: $12,000
Literacy: 88.6%
Population below poverty line: 21.4%
Non-Catholic countries
Japan
Religions: Shintoism 83.9%, Buddhism 71.4%, Christianity 2%, other 7.8%
Birth rate: 8.39 births / 1,000 population
Infant Mortality rate: 2.21 deaths / 1,000 live births
Life expectancy: 83.91
GDP- per capita: $36,200
Literacy: 99%
Population below poverty line: 16%
Russia
Religions: Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2% (2006 est.)
Birth rate: 12.3 births / 1,000 population
Infant Mortality rate: 7.3 deaths / 1,000 live births
Life expectancy: 66.46
GDP-per capita: $17,700
Literacy: 99.6%
Population below poverty line: 12.7% (2011)
Bulgaria
Religions: Eastern Orthodox 59.4%, Muslim (Sunni) 7.4%, Muslim (Shia) 0.4%, other (including Catholic, Protestant, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox, and Judaism) 1.7%, other (unknown) 27.4%, none 3.7% (2011 census)
Birth rate: 9.2 births / 1,000 population
Infant Mortality rate: 16.13 deaths / 1,000 live births
Life expectancy: 73.84
GDP- per capita: $14,200
Literacy: 98.4%
Population below poverty line: 21.8%
As we can see above, Catholic countries such as: Spain, Italy, France, Mexico, Belgium, and Brazil have a's birth rate are around 10-15% (, and except Mexico’s birth rate is above which is higher than 18%). At the same time, non-Catholic countries: such as Japan, Russia, and Bulgaria's also have birth rates are also around 10-15%10 to 15. As we can see, it seems like that there is no correlation between religion and birth rate. As a matter ofIn fact, birth rate is more affected by whether the country is developed country or not, and country’s development and lifestyle. life style. In addition, we can find that there is no correlation between infant mortality rate and religion. As we can see, Catholic countries and non-Catholic countries have almost the same IMR. EspeciallyIn particular, it is affected by whether the country development has a significant effect on mortality rate. country or not. Interestingly, the countries that have lower GDP- per capita income usually have a higher infant mortality rate. For example, Mexico (Catholic) and Bulgaria (Non-Catholic) have very higher IMR than other developed countries. This evidence shows us that IMR is affected by families family income, because higher income family families can usually can access high quality medical care while , which lower income family families usually typically cannot access it easily. Unsurprisingly, the higher the population is below poverty line, is affected by the higher birth rate and/or infant mortality rate. For example, Mexico has more than 50% of Mexico’s population is below poverty line, and it has more than birth rate above 18% birth rate and a 16% infant mortality rate. Also, Bulgaria has 21.8% of Bulgaria’s population is below the poverty line, while it has a 16.13% infant mortality rate. That is whyThus, I can conclude that there is no correlation between religion (Catholic) and birth rate, infant mortality rate, and population below the poverty line. The factors that can affect to thoseThose of rates are affected by all the social, health, and political factors.
6. Hugo Avila
Paraguay
Religion: Roman Catholic: 89.6%
Birth Rate: 17.22 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 22.24 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 76.4 years
Literacy: 94%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $6,100
Religion: Roman Catholic: 89.6%
Birth Rate: 17.22 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 22.24 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 76.4 years
Literacy: 94%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $6,100
Population
Below Poverty Line: 34.7%
Portugal
Religion:
Roman Catholic: 84.5%
Birth Rate: 9.76 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 78.7 years
Literacy: 95.2%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $23,000
Birth Rate: 9.76 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 78.7 years
Literacy: 95.2%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $23,000
Population
Below Poverty Line: 18%
Mexico
Religion: Roman Catholic: 82.7%
Birth Rate: 18.87 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 16.77 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 76.66 years
Literacy: 86.9%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $15,300
Population Below Poverty Line: 51.3%
Religion: Roman Catholic: 82.7%
Birth Rate: 18.87 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 16.77 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 76.66 years
Literacy: 86.9%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $15,300
Population Below Poverty Line: 51.3%
Spain
Religion: Roman Catholic: 94%
Birth Rate: 10.4 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.37 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.27 years
Literacy: 97.7%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $30,400
Population Below Poverty Line: 21.1%
Religion: Roman Catholic: 94%
Birth Rate: 10.4 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.37 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.27 years
Literacy: 97.7%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $30,400
Population Below Poverty Line: 21.1%
Venezuela
Religion: Roman Catholic: 96%
Birth Rate: 19.88 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 20.18 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 74.08 years
Literacy: 93%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $13,200
Religion: Roman Catholic: 96%
Birth Rate: 19.88 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 20.18 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 74.08 years
Literacy: 93%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $13,200
Population
Below Poverty Line: 31.6%
Peru
Religion: Roman Catholic: 84.1%
Birth Rate: 19.3 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 21.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 72.73 years
Literacy: 92.9%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $10,700
Religion: Roman Catholic: 84.1%
Birth Rate: 19.3 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 21.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 72.73 years
Literacy: 92.9%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $10,700
Population
Below Poverty Line: 31.3%
Algeria
Religion: Roman Catholic (+ Jewish): 1%
Birth Rate: 24.4 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 23.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 74.73 years
Literacy: 69.9%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $7,500
Population Below Poverty Line: 23%
Religion: Roman Catholic (+ Jewish): 1%
Birth Rate: 24.4 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 23.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 74.73 years
Literacy: 69.9%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $7,500
Population Below Poverty Line: 23%
Cambodia
Religion: Roman Catholic (other) 1.3%
Birth Rate: 25.17 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 54.08 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 63.04 years
Literacy: 77.6%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $2,400
Population Below Poverty Line: 20%
Religion: Roman Catholic (other) 1.3%
Birth Rate: 25.17 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 54.08 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 63.04 years
Literacy: 77.6%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $2,400
Population Below Poverty Line: 20%
Morocco
Religion:
Roman Catholic: 1%
Birth Rate: 18.97 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 26.49 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 76.11 years
Literacy: 56.1%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $5,300
Population Below Poverty Line: 15%
Birth Rate: 18.97 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 26.49 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 76.11 years
Literacy: 56.1%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $5,300
Population Below Poverty Line: 15%
Chart 1
Although it may seem
reasonable to make the assumption that nations with large Catholic populations
would have birth rates which reflect an absence of birth control measures (less
birth control = higher birth rate). And likewise, nations which do not have a
significant population that is prohibited from using artificial birth control
measures would have lower birth rates (more birth control = lower birth rate). I did not find any significant correlation between
the two.
In fact, the data from the
countries I chose shows that the countries with the lowest percent of Catholics
had the higher average birth rate (22.8 vs. 15.9). I am not claiming that the
opposite assumption is correct either, since Chart 1 shows that the correlation
between the two is rather weak with R² = 0.4279. Overall, it seems that these
two variables have little correlation and no direct effect on each other.
In chart 2, I show birth rate
graphed against infant mortality rate. The data on this chart has a better
correlation with R² = 0.8924. This simply shows that with the increased chance
of an infant dying, couples decide to have more children to offset the ones
that may die in their infancy. This is not the only factor that affects birth
rates, but I believe that it is more relevant than having a large catholic
population or any other religion that limits or prohibits birth control. In
addition to infant mortality rates, I think that education plays a significant
role. The average literacy rate among the three countries highest in birth rate
and the three countries lowest in birth rate is 67.8% vs. 95.6%. This can be
due to increased education concerning birth control or simply due to having a
more developed country/economy/government.
7. Sooyeon Kim
Argentina
Religion: Roman Catholic: 92%
Birth Rate: 17.34 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate: 10.52 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 77.14 years
Literacy: 98.1
GDP- per capita (PPP): $18,200
Population Below Poverty Line: 30
Italy:
Religion: Christian (Most Catholics): 80%
Birth Rate: 9.06 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.36 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.86 years
Literacy: 98.4%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $30,100
Population Below Poverty Line: 19.6%
Brazil
Religion: Roman Catholic 73.6%
Birth Rate: 15.2births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 20.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 72.79 years
Literacy: 88.6%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $12,000
Population Below Poverty Line: 21.4%
Spain
Religion: Roman Catholic: 94%
Birth Rate: 10.4 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.37 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.27 years
Literacy: 97.7%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $30,400
Population Below Poverty Line: 21.1%
France
Religion: Roman Catholic 83%~88%
Birth Rate: 12.7 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.46 years
Literacy: 99%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $35,500
Population Below Poverty Line: 7.8%
Costa Rica
Religion: Roman Catholic 76.3%
Birth Rate: 16.4 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 9.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 77.89 years
Literacy: 94.9%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $12,600
Population Below Poverty Line: 24.8%
Non-Catholic Countries
Thailand
Religion: Roman Catholic 0.44%
Birth Rate: 12.81 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 15.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 73.83 years
Literacy: 92.6%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $10,000
Population Below Poverty Line: 7.75%
Turkey
Religion: Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)
Birth Rate: 17.58 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 23.07 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 72.77 years
Literacy: 87.4%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $15,000
Population Below Poverty Line: 16.9%
Japan
Religion: Roman Catholic: 0.4%
Birth Rate: 8.39 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 2.21 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 83.91years
Literacy: 99%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $36,200
Population Below Poverty Line: 16%
The birth rates of the typical Catholic countries are generally not higher than non-Catholic countries according to the data from the CIA World Factbook. First, it shows some support for the assumption that nations with large Catholic populations would have higher birth rates, however, when we start looking in overall, the analysis of the different countries and their statistics shows that this correlation is not true.
Catholicism is not a determining factor in a country’s birth rate.
Birth rates in non-Catholic countries and Catholic countries are similar in overall. For instance, Italy's birthrate(9.09births) and Japan's birthrate(8.39) is roughly alike, likewise Argentina's birthrate(17.34 births) and Turkey's birthrate(17.58 births) is almost similar. One more interesting thing is that, the infant mortality rates in two non-catholic countries; Turkey(23.07 deaths) and Japan(2.21 deaths).
Moreover, low birth rates in Europe have nothing to do with birth control or abortions. It has all to do with the Europeans being over-taxed in combination with feminism. It's too expensive and too stressful to have many kids, and the mother is not home to take care of them anyway.
Therefore, there is no correlation between Catholicism and birthrate.
8. Heejoo Cheon
[Chart 2]
[Chart 3]
[Chart 4]
[Chart 5]
[Chart 6]
7. Sooyeon Kim
Argentina
Religion: Roman Catholic: 92%
Birth Rate: 17.34 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate: 10.52 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 77.14 years
Literacy: 98.1
GDP- per capita (PPP): $18,200
Population Below Poverty Line: 30
Italy:
Religion: Christian (Most Catholics): 80%
Birth Rate: 9.06 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.36 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.86 years
Literacy: 98.4%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $30,100
Population Below Poverty Line: 19.6%
Brazil
Religion: Roman Catholic 73.6%
Birth Rate: 15.2births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 20.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 72.79 years
Literacy: 88.6%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $12,000
Population Below Poverty Line: 21.4%
Spain
Religion: Roman Catholic: 94%
Birth Rate: 10.4 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.37 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.27 years
Literacy: 97.7%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $30,400
Population Below Poverty Line: 21.1%
France
Religion: Roman Catholic 83%~88%
Birth Rate: 12.7 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 81.46 years
Literacy: 99%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $35,500
Population Below Poverty Line: 7.8%
Costa Rica
Religion: Roman Catholic 76.3%
Birth Rate: 16.4 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 9.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 77.89 years
Literacy: 94.9%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $12,600
Population Below Poverty Line: 24.8%
Non-Catholic Countries
Thailand
Religion: Roman Catholic 0.44%
Birth Rate: 12.81 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 15.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 73.83 years
Literacy: 92.6%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $10,000
Population Below Poverty Line: 7.75%
Turkey
Religion: Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)
Birth Rate: 17.58 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 23.07 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 72.77 years
Literacy: 87.4%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $15,000
Population Below Poverty Line: 16.9%
Japan
Religion: Roman Catholic: 0.4%
Birth Rate: 8.39 births/1,000 population
Infant Mortality Rate: 2.21 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy: 83.91years
Literacy: 99%
GDP- per capita (PPP): $36,200
Population Below Poverty Line: 16%
The birth rates of the typical Catholic countries are generally not higher than non-Catholic countries according to the data from the CIA World Factbook. First, it shows some support for the assumption that nations with large Catholic populations would have higher birth rates, however, when we start looking in overall, the analysis of the different countries and their statistics shows that this correlation is not true.
Catholicism is not a determining factor in a country’s birth rate.
Birth rates in non-Catholic countries and Catholic countries are similar in overall. For instance, Italy's birthrate(9.09births) and Japan's birthrate(8.39) is roughly alike, likewise Argentina's birthrate(17.34 births) and Turkey's birthrate(17.58 births) is almost similar. One more interesting thing is that, the infant mortality rates in two non-catholic countries; Turkey(23.07 deaths) and Japan(2.21 deaths).
Moreover, low birth rates in Europe have nothing to do with birth control or abortions. It has all to do with the Europeans being over-taxed in combination with feminism. It's too expensive and too stressful to have many kids, and the mother is not home to take care of them anyway.
Therefore, there is no correlation between Catholicism and birthrate.
8. Heejoo Cheon
[Chart 1]
In
CIA World Factbook, I looked at the data of Mexico, France, Poland, Haiti,
Ireland, and Peru for the Catholic nations. For non-Catholic nations, I
searched the data of Japan, Norway, and Ethiopia. To analyze the factors that
plays great role in birth rate, I searched the ratio of Roman Catholic, birth
rates, infant mortality, average lifespan, literacy, and GDP-per capita.
The
assumption was this: Catholic prohibited the usage of artificial birth control→people
won’t use artificial birth control→the birth rate will rise.
Based
on my research, I made [Chart 1] to find the correlation between Roman Catholic
and birth rate. If the assumption was true, most of the Catholic nations should
have higher birth rate than non-Catholic nations. However, Ethiopia has the
highest birth rate where the ratio of Roman Catholic is 0.70%. Also, if we look
close at the correlation between Catholic nations and the birth rate at [Chart
2], we can even see clear negative correlation: the larger Catholic population
the nation has, the lower birth rate appears. Therefore, the assumption,
nations with large Catholic populations would have birth rates which reflect an
absence of birth control measures, is rejected. Maybe people in Catholic
nations do not follow the order that prohibit the usage of artificial birth
control or maybe the artificial birth control does not affect the birth rate.
Whichever assumption is true, there should be other factor that affect the
birth rate rather than Catholic.
Therefore, I made [Chart 3] to find the correlation between economy and birth rate. According to [Chart 3], I could find the negative correlation between economy and birth rate. The higher GDP per capita is, the lower the birth rate is. Also, when I made [Chart 4], I could find that infant mortality, life span, and literacy are all related to birth rate. The lower the infant mortality is, the lower the birth rate is. The higher the life span is, the lower the birth rate is. The higher the literacy is, the lower the birth rate is.
Based on the analysis, I could make a hypothesis: economic factor affect social factors such as birth rate, infant mortality, life span, and literacy. My hypothesis can be supported by [Chart 5]. GDP per capita has positive correlation with life span and literacy. Also, GDP per capita has negative correlation with the birth rate and infant mortality. Compare to [Chart 6] which is about the ratio of Catholic and other social factors, it is obvious that economic factor plays significant role in the society, even in the birth rate.
Therefore, I made [Chart 3] to find the correlation between economy and birth rate. According to [Chart 3], I could find the negative correlation between economy and birth rate. The higher GDP per capita is, the lower the birth rate is. Also, when I made [Chart 4], I could find that infant mortality, life span, and literacy are all related to birth rate. The lower the infant mortality is, the lower the birth rate is. The higher the life span is, the lower the birth rate is. The higher the literacy is, the lower the birth rate is.
Based on the analysis, I could make a hypothesis: economic factor affect social factors such as birth rate, infant mortality, life span, and literacy. My hypothesis can be supported by [Chart 5]. GDP per capita has positive correlation with life span and literacy. Also, GDP per capita has negative correlation with the birth rate and infant mortality. Compare to [Chart 6] which is about the ratio of Catholic and other social factors, it is obvious that economic factor plays significant role in the society, even in the birth rate.
9. Bo Ram Oh
To begin with, the assumption that I
have to prove is related to examining the validity of correlation between
Catholic countries and the birth rates. Catholic prohibited the birth control,
so the countries prevailing Catholicism in the society would have the high
birth rates. Conversely, non-Catholic countries might have the low birth rates.
I collected the data of several countries from CIA World Factbook. The data for
Catholic countries are of Honduras, France, Spain, Haiti, Mexico, and Ecuador.
For non-Catholic countries, I used the information of Japan, Thailand, and
Taiwan. I wanted to use the rates of other Western countries which are based on
non-Catholicism, but most of them were fractions of Catholicism which basically
prohibited the birth control or had the ambiguous perspectives on the birth control.
That’s why the data originally came from Asia.
To begin with, the assumption that I
have to prove is related to examining the validity of correlation between
Catholic countries and the birth rates. Catholic prohibited the birth control,
so the countries prevailing Catholicism in the society would have the high
birth rates. Conversely, non-Catholic countries might have the low birth rates.
I collected the data of several countries from CIA World Factbook. The data for
Catholic countries are of Honduras, France, Spain, Haiti, Mexico, and Ecuador.
For non-Catholic countries, I used the information of Japan, Thailand, and
Taiwan. I wanted to use the rates of other Western countries which are based on
non-Catholicism, but most of them were fractions of Catholicism which basically
prohibited the birth control or had the ambiguous perspectives on the birth control.
That’s why the data originally came from Asia.
Furthermore, when compared to the
rates of non-Catholic countries, there is also no correlation. Thailand, mostly
believed Buddhism, has similar birth rate of France which consists of 85% of
Catholics. Taiwan and Japan also have similar birth rates as Spain’s.
Therefore, the assumption that nations with
large Catholic populations would have birth rates which reflect an absence of
birth control measures is rejected based on my data. Catholic prohibition hardly
has an influence on birth control use (reflected in a high birth rate) and other
factors might play a greater role in birth rate. To prove it, I searched the
rates of population below the poverty line, literacy for education level,
infant mortality, and lifespan. Especially, there were strong correlation with
GDP and the rate of population below poverty.
The
chart about GDP and Birth rate above describes the fact that they have a
negative relation between them. The higher the countries have GDP-per capita,
the lower they have the birth rates. Most of the countries in this chart follow
that statement, and therefore, it shows clearly that they have a correlation
between them. GDP is quite important factors influencing on the birth rates. On
the other hand, there are also correlation between the rates of population
below the poverty line and the birth rates. If the countries have the higher
level of population below poverty line, their birth rates are also much higher
than others. Actually, GDP and the rates of population below poverty line have
relations. It is much likely for lower GDP countries to have the higher rates
of population below the poverty line. These economy factors are heavily effect
on the birth rates and other social factors.
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