What factor plays a key role in determining why the population of Japan will most likely age more quickly than the U.S. population?
A) Japan's fertility rate has maintained its below-replacement rate for many decades.
B) Japan's medical advances surpass those of the United States.
C) The U.S. mortality rate is considerably higher than Japan's.
D) The lack of respect for the elderly in the United States hinders the quality of care they receive.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Japan's fertility rate has been consistently below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman for many decades, which means that the number of births is not enough to replace the population. This leads to a population with a higher proportion of elderly individuals, which in turn results in an aging population. The U.S. fertility rate, on the other hand, has been closer to replacement level and has been maintained at a relatively stable rate, which will likely slow the aging of the population. Factors such as medical advances, mortality rates, and respect for the elderly may also play a role but are not as significant as the fertility rate in determining population aging.

What Factor Plays a Key Role in Determining Why the Population