Sociology Now, Census Update

in the world (29.36). Most people cannot afford the expensive medications necessary

to keep HIV from developing into AIDS, so their life expectancy is low (CIA World

Factbook). The majority are in their prime childbearing years, which also contributes

to the population decline. They are also in their prime economic years, so these coun-

tries are experiencing reversals in economic and social development.

Demographers are especially interested in the infant mortality rate,the number of

deaths per year in each thousand infants up to one year old (Figure 19.2). As you might

expect, the infant mortality rate is extremely low in wealthy countries (4.31 in France),

and extremely high in poor countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa: It’s 70.49 in

Nigeria and 192.5 in Angola (that is, one out of five babies born die during their first

year of life). Because infants are more vulnerable to disease and malnutrition than adults

or older children, the infant mortality rate correlates with the effectiveness of the coun-

try’s health care, the level of nutrition, and innumerable other quality of life factors. In

Angola, for instance, fewer than half of all children have been immunized for measles,

only 30 percent have access to adequate sanitation, and only 10 percent sleep under

mosquito netting (to guard against malaria) (UNICEF, 2003). The infant mortality rate

serves as a proxy for the overall health of the country and can guide policy makers in

their allocation of funds for hospitals, medical care, and pregnancy counseling.

Moving In, Moving Out

In addition to people being born and dying, demographers are interested in their

physical movements, as they leave one territory (emigrating) and take up permanent

residence in another (immigrating). People emigrate and immigrate either voluntarily

or involuntarily. Most wealthy countries have sizeable populations of voluntary immi-

grants. In 2000, the United States granted citizenship to 898,000 foreign nationals.

620 CHAPTER 19SOCIOLOGY OF ENVIRONMENTS: THE NATURAL, PHYSICAL, AND HUMAN WORLDS

Less than 10

100 or more

Per 1,000 Live Births

50–99

25–49

10–24

No data

FIGURE 19.2 Infant Mortality Rate in the World

Source:From Maps of the World website, http://www.mapsoftheworld.com. Reprinted with permission.