The rate of urbanisation of the world�s
population is accelerating significantly as a
result of the global shift to technological,
industrial and service-based economies. As a
result, few countries would be able to handle
the consequent urban population increase
which is causing problems on an
unprecedented scale. Ten million people die
annually in densely populated urban areas
from conditions produced by substandard
housing and poor sanitation. About 500
million people, worldwide are either homeless
or living in housing that is life threatening.
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LITERACY
Literacy is that qualitative attribute of
population which is a fairly reliable index of
the socio-economic development of an area. It
reflects that social aspect of population by
which its quality can be ascertained. There is
a wide variation over the world in the literacy
rates which denotes the percentage of people
age-group 15 and above who can, with
understanding, both read and write a short,
simple statement in their everyday life. Major
factors affecting this rate are levels of economic
development, urbanisation and standard of
living, social status of females, availability of
educational facilities and the policies of the
government. Level of economic development is
both a cause and a consequence of literacy.
Table 3.2 shows the distribution of adult
literates in different regions of the world. The
developed and urban economies reflect higher
literacy rate and higher standards of education.
Low levels of literacy and education indicate
rural-farm economies. It is only in the
developing countries of the world today, that
the literacy revolution is yet to take its shape
where such differences occur more.
OCCUPATIONAL STRUCTURE
The economically active section of any
population is generally, defined as �those who
are engaged in remunerative occupation and
who seek a livelihood in such occupations�.
Children below working age, old people, retired
persons, housewives and students, who are not
engaged in economic pursuits for their
livelihood are excluded from the �active�
population. The proportional distribution of
this active population under specific economic
activities is known as occupational structure.
The United Nations has identified the following
categories of occupations: agriculture, forestry,
hunting and fishing; mining and quarrying;
manufacturing industry; construction;
electricity, gas, water and health services;
commerce; transport, storage and
communication services; unclassified
occupations.
This classification is essential for
international comparisons but each country
classifies its population in different
occupational categories according to its own
needs.
An alternative form of classification reduces
the above categories to four major groups :
primary activities, including hunting,
agriculture, forestry and fishing; secondary
activities including manufacturing, power; and
tertiary activities, including transport,
communication and other services; and
quaternary activities including more
intellectual occupations, whose task is to
think, research and develop ideas.
The proportion of working population
engaged in these activities vary significantly
among different countries depending upon
their levels of economic development. The
proportion of working population is very high
in primary activities, if the economy is less
developed. As it moves forward, the proportion
in secondary and then in tertiary increase
gradually. In highly industrialised countries,
the proportion of people employed in tertiary
sector is more than 40-45 per cent. In the USA,
it is more than 70 per cent. Statistics are not
available for quaternary sector, but it is
suggested that though it employs a small
percentage at the moment, it is characterised
by the highest income and a high degree of
mobility.