How would you describe a population that grows steadily year on year?

• A. A sustained growth trend driven by natural increase and possibly net migration.
• B. A population that grows due to random fluctuations.
• C. A population that declines year on year.
• D. A population that remains constant.

Answer: (A)

A population that grows steadily year on year shows a sustained growth trend, meaning there is a positive increase each year overall. This happens when natural increase (births minus deaths) is positive and, if people are moving in, net migration is also positive. Together, these factors push the total population upward in a steady way. If growth were due to random fluctuations, you wouldn’t see a consistent year-by-year rise. If the population were declining or staying the same, it wouldn’t be described as growing year after year.