This question was the quite popular with the candidates and was attempted by most of the candidates. The question required candidates to define optimum population, state ways by which rapid population slows down the rate of economic development and measures that can be adopted to control rapid population growth in the (a), (b) and (c) parts of the question respectively. Most candidates could define optimum population but could not expatiate on their points in the (b) and (c) parts of the question. The performance of candidates in this question was above average. Candidates were expected to answer thus to obtain maximum marks:

a)         Optimum population is the size of population which when combined with the available resources and level of technology will yield the highest output per head.     

                                                                                      
(b)(i)    There is likely to be a high level of unemployment.
(ii)    There will be a high dependency ratio.
(iii)   There will be pressure on resources as government expenditure on provision of social amenities will be on the increase.
(iv)    Per capita income will fall which may result in a low standard of living.
(v)     There will be congestion on land which will affect productivity in agriculture.
(vi)    There will be urban congestion with its attendant social vices.
(vii)  There will be low savings and capital formation.
(viii) There may be balance of payments problems due to an increase in import bills to meet the shortfall in local production.

(c)(i)    Family planning.
(ii)    Education on the need for smaller family sizes.
(iii)   Implementation of tighter immigration measures.
(iv)   Discouraging early marriages.
(v)    Encouraging girls’ education.
(vi)   Discouraging polygamy.
(vii) Incentives for smaller family sizes e.g. tax relief.
(viii) Strengthening social security systems for the aged to forestall the need for large families.
(ix)   Enactment and enforcement of laws to regulate family size.
(x)    Making cost of child - raising high by abolishing free education.