Different Methods of
Forecasting Population
Population Forecasting
Design of water supply and sanitation
scheme is based on the projected
population
of
a
particular
city,
estimated for the design period. Any
underestimated value will make system
inadequate for the purpose intended;
similarly overestimated value will make
it costly.
Factors affecting changes in population are:
Increase due to births
Decrease due to deaths
Increase/ decrease due to
migration
Increase due to annexation
Development of new industries
Natural disasters
Educational facilities
Increase in transport facilities
Political changes in adjoining
Methods of forecasting
population
Arithmetical Method
In this method we assume that growth
rate for certain duration of time
remains constant i.e. if annual
increment in rate is 20% in 1960 it
will remain 20% in 1980 as well.
Geometrical Method
In this method the growth is assumed to
follow geometric series. Growth is
assumed to be constant for a specific
period of time. Thus, population at the
end of n years is given as;
Pn= P (1+i/100)nwhere
i = per year percentage rate of increase.
Incremental Increase Method
Incremental increase method is similar to
Arithmetic Progression method with the
difference that we found out the
average in the increase of population
and that average is added into the net
increment of population.
Pn = P+ n*X + {n (n+1)/2}*Y
Where, Pn = Population after nth decade
X = Average increase
Y = Incremental increase
Annual Rate of Increase Method
In this method, the rate of increase for one
year is first determined and then
population is predicted from there.
Pn = P (1+ i)^n
Where: Pn = population at the end of n
years
P = population at any time
i = annual rate of increase of population
Changing Rate of Increase Method
This method is similar to Geometric
Progression
method
except
that
a
changing rather than a constant rate of
increase is assumed.
Graphical Method
In this method, the populations of last
few decades are correctly plotted to a
suitable scale on graph