What demographic factor can impact both fertility and mortality rates?

Age structure is a demographic factor that significantly influences both fertility and mortality rates within a population. In terms of fertility, different age groups exhibit varying propensities for childbearing; for instance, younger women are generally in their prime reproductive years, and thus, populations with a higher proportion of women in these age brackets tend to have higher fertility rates. Conversely, in older age groups, fertility rates typically decline.

Mortality rates, on the other hand, are heavily influenced by the age structure of a population as well. Generally, younger populations may exhibit lower mortality rates since children and young adults have a higher overall survival rate compared to older individuals, who are more likely to have health complications and thus higher mortality rates. Therefore, an age structure with a significant portion of the population in younger age brackets might show lower mortality rates overall.

Together, these dynamics illustrate how the proportion of individuals of different ages in a population can have profound effects on both fertility and mortality rates, making age structure a critical demographic factor to consider in demographic studies.