Michael Kirkilevich

Michael Kirkilevich                                                                         Sociology 166

SID: 21977717                                                                                           10.30.12

                                                Assignment #3- Birth Rate Correlates

Hypothesis: High rate of Catholics causes a high birthrate

Over 65% Catholicism:

Ireland:

Percentage of Catholics: 87.4%

Birth Rates: 15.81/1,000 individuals

Life Expectancy: 80.32

Literacy Rate: 99%

GDP Per Capita: 40,100

Italy:

Percentage of Catholics: 80%

Birth Rates: 9.06/1,000 individuals

Life Expectancy: 81.86 years

Literacy Rate: 98.4%

GDP Per Capita: $30,900

France:

Percentage of Catholics: 83%-88%

Birth Rates: 12.72/1,000 individuals

Life Expectancy: 81.46 years

Literacy Rate: 99%

GDP Per Capita: $35,600

Spain:

Percentage of Catholics: 94%

Birth Rates: 10.4/1,000 individuals

Life Expectancy: 81.27 years

Literacy Rate: 97.7%

GDP Per Capita: $31,000

Mexico:

Percentage of Catholics: 76.5%

Birth Rates: 18.87/1,000 individuals

Life Expectancy: 76.66 years

Literacy Rate: 86.1%

GDP Per Capita: $14,800

Columbia:

Percentage of Catholics: 90%

Birth Rates: 17.23/1000 individuals

Life Expectancy: 74.79 years

Literacy Rate: 90.4%

GDP Per Capita: $ 10,400

Outgroup (less than 5% Catholic):

Russia:

Percentage of Catholics: <2%

Birth Rates: 10.94/1,000 individuals

Life Expectancy: 66.46 years

Literacy Rate: 99.6%

GDP Per Capita: $17,000

Sweden:

Percentage of Catholics: 1.62%

Birth Rates: 10.24/1000 individuals

Life Expectancy: 81.18 years

Literacy Rate: 99%

GDP Per Capita: 40,900

Latvia:

Percentage of Catholics: <1%

Birth Rates: 9.97/1000 individuals

Life Expectancy: 72.93 years

Literacy Rate: 99.8%

GDP Per Capita: 15,900

            Although it may be upon popular beliefs that religion plays a large role in birth rates of a nation, it is definitely not the only factor that plays into account in birth rate factors. Religion is just one of many factors, and through my research have found that it is not strongly positively correlated, in this case the Catholic religion with high birth rates. There are countries high Catholic populations that have high birthrates, for instance Colombia, and then you have a highly populated Catholic country in Italy with a very little birth rate. There seems to be too much variation within the high Catholic populated countries with birthrates for the Catholic religion to be deemed a strong correlator to higher birthrates.

            Since religion is just one of many factors playing a role in birth rates, other factors play significant roles, and through research using the CIA World Factbook, I was able to find other factors that positively correlated higher. For instance, countries with high literacy rates seem to have lower birth rates, than countries with low literacy rates and high birth rates, as can be seen through Latvia (high literacy/low birth rate) and Mexico (low literacy/high birth rate). In addition, in countries with high infant and maternal mortality rates, there is also a positive correlation with high birth rates. In addition to these positive correlators to birth rates, GDP/Capita also. Countries that have higher GDP/capita seem to have lower birth rates than countries that have low GDP/Capita, as can be seen with Colombia/Mexico (low GDP, high birthrate) and Italy/Spain

            In conclusion, through my research I believe that it is not religion, but other key factors that seem to play a role on birth rates. The birth rates are tied into the social world of the country in it, including its economics and education levels as well as other lower factors such as religion. Catholicism is just one of many religions that play roles on birth rates, and there are other factors that seem to be of more importance to birth rate determinism. Simply saying religion is the only reason is being ignorant and ill-informed.