Assignment #3 [JASMINE FORUZANI]

Jasmine Foruzani

Assignment #3

Countries with a high percentage of Catholics

1. Mexico

Birth rate: 18.61 births/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate: 16.26 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy: 76.86 years

Literacy rate: 93.5%

GDP per capita: $15,600

2. Spain

Birth rate: 10.14 births/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate: 3.35 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy: 81.37 years

Literacy rate: 97.7%

GDP per capita: $31,100

3. Italy

Birth rate: 8.94 births/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate: 3.33 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy: 81.95 years

Literacy rate: 99%

GDP per capita: $30,600

4. Poland

Birth rate: 9.88 births/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy: 76.45 years

Literacy rate: 99.7%

GDP per capita: $20,900

5. Peru

Birth rate: 18.85 births/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate: 20.85 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy: 72.98 years

Literacy rate: 89.6%

GDP per capita: $10,900

6. Argentina 

Birth rate: 17.12 births/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate: 10.24 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy: 77.32 years

Literacy: 97.9%

GDP per capita: $18,400

Countries without a notable Catholic population or a population practicing a religion or ideology which may have prohibitions (for or) against birth control

1. Denmark

Birth rate: 10.2 births/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate: 4.14 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy: 78.94 years

Literacy rate: 99%

GDP per capita: $38,300

2. Jamaica

Birth rate: 18.65 births/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate: 13.98 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy: 73.44 years

Literacy rate: 87%

GDP per capita: $9,300

3.  Finland

Birth rate: 10.36 births/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate: 3.38 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy: 79.55 years

Literacy: 100%

GDP per capita: $37,000

Source: CIA World Factbook

Conclusion

            Based off of the data collected for these countries, it seems that Catholic prohibition does not have a significant impact on birth control use. Other factors, such as infant mortality rate, education (reflected by the literacy rates), and GDP per capita appear to play a greater role in birth rates. For example, the countries showing the highest birth rates on this list, such as Peru and Jamaica, also have literacy rates and GDPs per capita that are relatively lower than those of countries with considerably lower birth rates. Jamaica has the second highest birth rate on this list, but it also does not have a notable Catholic population. However, both Jamaica and Peru, which has the highest birth rate on the list as well as a notable Catholic population, have among the lowest life expectancies, literacy rates, and GDPs per capita.  The infant mortality rates of both countries are also significantly higher than the rates of those countries whose birth rates are lower. Mexico also has a high birth rate at 18.61 births/1,000 population as well as a high Catholic population. However, Mexico’s literacy rate, life expectancy, and GDP per capita is also lower than those of more developed countries such as Denmark who have significantly lower birth rates. Mexico also has a high infant mortality rate, which holds true for the countries with the highest birth rates, including Argentina, on the list.

            Furthermore, the primarily Catholic countries of Spain, Italy, and Poland have birth rates that are actually lower than the birth rates in Denmark and Finland where there isn’t any significant prohibition against birth control. Overall, lower country wealth (as reflected by GDP per capita), lack of education, and high infant mortality rates appear to be more strongly correlated with high birth rates than Catholic population. Countries with higher poverty levels likely lack the proper educational systems and medical infrastructure that would facilitate widespread use of forms of birth control. Thus, though there is a technologically conservative prohibition against birth control among Catholic populations, there are other factors unrelated to religion that are better indicators of birth rates.