Which of the following statements is true, based on the data in the chart above?
A. Niger has twice as many births as deaths per 1,000 people, but the life expectancy is only 52.6, resulting in a young median age.
B. Niger's life expectancy is only 52.6 years; therefore, the country must have a young median age.
C. Niger has more deaths than births per 1,000 people, resulting in a young median age.
D. Only 16% of Niger's population lives in urban areas, limiting access to quality healthcare.
Answer (2)
Statement A is partially correct but includes unverifiable information about birth and death rates.
Statement B accurately reflects Niger's life expectancy and median age as presented in the table.
Statement C makes an unverifiable claim about death and birth rates.
Statement D correctly states the percentage of Niger's urban population but infers a limitation in healthcare access.
Therefore, the most accurate statement based solely on the data provided is B .
Explanation
Analyzing the Problem We are given a table comparing demographic data between two countries. Our goal is to identify the statement that is best supported by the information provided in the table. Let's analyze each statement individually.
Evaluating Statement A Statement A claims Niger has twice as many births as deaths per 1,000 people. However, the table does not provide any information about birth or death rates. Therefore, we cannot verify this claim. The statement also mentions a life expectancy of 52.6 years and a young median age, which are consistent with the data. However, since we can't confirm the birth/death ratio, we can't confirm the entire statement.
Evaluating Statement B Statement B states Niger's life expectancy is only 52.6 years, and therefore, the country must have a young median age. The table confirms that Niger's life expectancy is 52.6 years and its median age is 15.2 years. This statement is consistent with the data.
Evaluating Statement C Statement C claims Niger has more deaths than births per 1,000 people. Again, the table does not provide information about birth or death rates, so we cannot verify this claim.
Evaluating Statement D Statement D states that only 16% of Niger's population lives in urban areas, limiting access to quality healthcare. The table confirms that 16% of Niger's population lives in urban areas. The part about limiting access to quality healthcare is a reasonable inference but is not directly supported by the data.
Conclusion Comparing the statements, Statement B is the most directly supported by the data provided in the table. The other statements include information that is not directly verifiable from the table.
Examples
Understanding demographic data, like life expectancy and median age, helps governments and organizations make informed decisions about healthcare, education, and social programs. For example, knowing that a country has a young median age might lead to investments in schools and childcare, while a lower life expectancy could prompt improvements in healthcare infrastructure and disease prevention programs. By analyzing these statistics, we can better allocate resources to meet the specific needs of a population.
The most accurate statement regarding Niger is option B, which states that Niger's life expectancy is 52.6 years, suggesting a young median age. This aligns with demographic principles. Other statements are either unverifiable or based on assumptions not directly supported by the data.
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