Which component is added in the basic demographic equation to account for migration into or out of a population?

• A. Net migration
• B. Births
• C. Deaths
• D. Population density

Answer: (A)

Migration effects are captured by net migration, the balance between people moving into the area and those leaving. In the basic demographic equation, population change equals births minus deaths plus net migration. Net migration can be positive (more people move in than out) or negative (more leave than arrive), which increases or decreases the population accordingly. Births add to the population and deaths subtract, while population density is simply a measure of how crowded an area is and isn’t part of the change terms. So, the component that accounts for migration into or out of a population is net migration.