Study the table below showing selected indicators for a developed country.

\begin{tabular}{l|l|}
\hline
Indicator & The Netherlands \\
\hline
[tex]$\%$[/tex] of labor in agriculture & 2.86\% \\
\hline
GDP per capita & \[tex]$29,500 \\
\hline
Literacy rate & 99\% \\
\hline
Life expectancy & 79 years \\
\hline
\end{tabular}

Comment on and explain the differences in:
(a) $[/tex]\%$ of labor in agriculture
(b) Life expectancy
(c) Population growth rate



Answer :

Let's discuss and explain the differences in the given indicators:

(a) % of Labour in Agriculture:
The percentage of labour in agriculture in the table suggests that 286% of the population is engaged in agricultural activities. However, this figure seems incorrect as it exceeds 100%. Assuming it might be a typo, typically, in a developed country like the Netherlands, this value would be very low. Developed countries generally have advanced technology and infrastructure, meaning less of their workforce is needed in agriculture compared to developing countries where agriculture employs a larger share of the labour force. This low percentage of labor in agriculture reflects a shift towards industries and service sectors, indicative of a strong, diversified economy.

(b) Life Expectancy:
The life expectancy in the Netherlands is 79 years. This high life expectancy is typical for developed countries and can be attributed to various factors such as:
- High-quality healthcare services and access to medical facilities.
- Better nutrition and sanitary conditions.
- Higher standards of living and well-being.
Higher life expectancy indicates a well-developed healthcare infrastructure and effective public health policies and suggests that the population can expect to live longer, healthier lives.

(c) Population Growth Rate:
Even though the table does not directly provide the population growth rate, we can infer certain things from the given data. The combination of a high literacy rate (99%), a high GDP per capita (\$29,500), and a high life expectancy (79 years) typically correlates with a lower population growth rate. In developed countries, there is typically:
- Greater access to education and employment opportunities, especially for women, leading to a tendency to delay childbearing.
- Higher living costs and greater focus on careers and personal development, reducing the average number of children per family.
- Better family planning services and widespread use of contraception.

In summary, these indicators point towards the Netherlands being a developed country with an advanced economy, high quality of life, effective public health measures, and a low percentage of its workforce in agriculture, reflecting its developed status. The population growth rate, although not provided, can be inferred to be relatively low, considering the high literacy rate and high GDP per capita.