Social: South Torbia

DATE Pacific > South Torbia > Social: South Torbia ←You are here

Social Overview

While South Torbia still maintains a close connection to its cultural heritage and tradition, it has embraced many aspects of western culture and market capitalism. The economic growth experienced in South Torbia, paired with an increased exposure to global influences, continues to shape the social landscape within South Torbia. Whereas many countries within the region have diverse populations, South Torbia’s relative homogeneity allows it to avoid many of the ethnic and social tensions that occur when different population groups experience urbanization, and increased interactions. That said, South Torbia has been experiencing a cultural evolution as younger generations gain more access to education and global influences. These outside influences create challenges between those Torbian’s who seek to maintain their cultural identity, and those who wish to embrace a more global identity.

Brief History

The primary major social event in the last century for South Torbia is the Torbian War that resulted in the division of the country and the Torbian people. Torbian families were split up with many of those living in the northern part of the country fleeing to the south. When the Torbian War ended, these families were not allowed to reunite. Those that had fled to South Torbia did not want to return to the northern part of the country and those family members living in the north who wanted to join their families in the south were stopped by the North Torbian government. This family separation has now hit affected five generations, and has enhanced the sense of divide between the two societies. While perspectives in the south may vary, the older generations are more likely to still feel an emotional, and familial connection to relatives in the north, even if it has been decades sense they were last in contact.  Middle aged and younger South Torbians are less likely to maintain emotional ties to relatives in the North, with the youngest generation of adults having very few linkages to the North.       

The adoption of democracy in South Torbia following the war was gradual, with the nation experiencing multiple setbacks. On a number of occasions the military has stepped in to exert and maintain control through force. Perhaps one of the most important domestic events that has impacted South Torbia was the rise of the democratic movement and protests that ultimately led to the end of authoritarian rule, and the re-establishment of democratic principles. The return to democracy has enabled freedom to flourish for the people and the economy has prospered. These improvements have allowed the younger South Torbians to embrace and even influence the aspects of western culture, leading to the development of a pop-culture that is uniquely South Torbian. The spread and popularity of this pop-culture influence is an example of the disparity between the quality of life for Torbians living in the south versus those living in the north. Those under 30 years of age use cell phones, enjoy music, and party in nightclubs just like their peers in other modern countries.

Demographics

Languages

Torbian is the dominant language and official of South Torbia; it is a language shared with North Torbia, and spoken by Torbians worldwide. There are at least 5 major unique Torbian dialects in South Torbia; all are mutually intelligible to Torbians, but can confuse non-native speakers. Though Torbian in the South now differs significantly from North Torbian; they are still mutually intelligible, however they differ enough that issues may arise if and when large numbers of uneducated North Torbians interact with South Torbian or allied soldiers.

English is the second-most common language spoken in South Torbia. Younger South Torbians receive English instruction as part of a mandatory curriculum, and nearly 80% of the population under age 45 can speak and write English at a functional level. There is a push from business leaders to switch the language of business in South Torbia to English, to better facilitate business dealings with the global market, specifically western nations and Olvana. This movement is strongly resisted by older generations of South Torbians who believe that their language is a major part of the Torbian cultural identity, and represents one of the few remaining linkages connected the peninsula. The debate remains a major point of contention within political circles, particularly when establishing national school curricula.

Olvanese, Arabic, and various regional languages are also spoken in specific areas inhabited by immigrants or foreign workers. In general, however, one must be versed in either Torbian or English in order to conduct business in South Torbia.

Ethnicities

The entire country of South Torbia is composed almost exclusively of Torbian people. About 85% of the people in the country claim to be of Torbian descent. The remaining 15% is a mix of various ethnic groups from the surrounding Archipelago and ethnic Olvanans. South Torbia’s thriving economy brings in a wide variety of travelers for business, and while some of them are permanent residents (but not citizens) the majority of business travelers are transient.

Religions

Freedom of religion is enshrined in South Torbia’s Constitution, and the government has made efforts to ensure that South Torbians are not constrained in how they express their faith. While the government avoids creating faith based tensions, there is still the potential for tension to exist between different communities of faith.

South Torbia is home to a variety of religions and faiths. The majority of the population prescribes to Christian faiths, with an estimated 42% being Roman Catholic, and 15% belonging to Protestant denominations. While Buddhism was once the dominant faith, and continues to be an influential factor within Torbian culture, today only 7.5% of the population claim to be Buddhists. 5.5% of the population are Sunni Muslims, who adhere to the Shafi’i tradition. While this population is small, it is heavily concentrated in some of the more southern regions of the country, and therefore plays a major role in those area. Of the remaining 30% of the population, roughly 25% identify as not affiliating with any religious organization, and 5% adhere to a variety of traditional local practices.

 The Christian community consists of both Protestants and Roman Catholics. South Torbia’s Muslim community is primarily Sunni, following the Shafi school of Jurisprudence.

Education

By most measures, the South Torbian population is one of the best-educated nations on earth, with an estimated 95% of students who being primary school being expected to finish secondary school. Currently roughly 90% of the population 25 years and older, both male and female, has at least some secondary education. The result of South Torbia’s emphasis on education is that it enjoys one of the world’s best educated workforces.

Literacy Rate

The overall literacy rate for all South Torbians over the age of 15 is 98.5. Males (99.1%) are slightly more literate than females (97.8%). Most illiterate people reside in the rural areas where sometimes a young girl would be pulled out of school to care for an ailing grandparent.  

Educational System

The education system consists of both public and private schools. All educational institutions receive government funding; public schools are fully funded by tax revenue. While in the past there were significant advantages to attending private schools, it is generally thought today that public schools are at least their equal, if not better in key areas. Schooling begins with an optional but almost universally attended pre-school, then 6 years of primary school with a universal curriculum. Following primary school, students attend 3 years of middle school: middle school is considered difficult and strict; competition for limited spots at elite high schools is intense. Testing and academic achievement are used to place students in high schools.

High school curriculum varies based on the focus of the school. Various types of high school include math/science, arts, general education, and vocational. Math/science high schools are the most prestigious and widely sought after, while vocational schools are considered disappointments. Math/science and arts schools are strictly college preparatory, while other schools have a broader and more utilitarian curriculum. Frustration with perceived socio-economic inequalities regarding education has led to the South Torbian government announcing that it will begin abolishing higher cost elite private high schools in an effort to reduce educational disparity across the population over the next decade.

College in South Torbia is a major life milestone: college entrance exams are incredibly difficult, and college admissions are hotly contested. Students and families alike spend large sums (or take out large loans) to pay for university educations, and graduation from a top university is a huge event for both student and family. Thanks to a broad expansion in availability of university education, more South Torbians today attend university than any other country on earth. While this is seen as a mark of pride in South Torbia, it has resulted in a flood of educated workers into a slowing economy. At the same time, the university expansion resulted in a significant shortfall in blue-collar workers. The government is attempting to address this issue by investing in vocational schools, developing a more effective apprenticeship program, and emphasizing the career potential of blue-collar positions.

Educational Attainment

Higher education is seen as the most prestigious pursuit in Torbian society, especially in the urban areas, and a degree from a well-regarded university is a huge socioeconomic advantage. Conversely, people who lack higher degrees face significant prejudice both socially and professionally. Children of both genders are encouraged to succeed academically by their parents. In urban areas there is no prejudice against females receiving a top-notch education. In the rural areas, this is not always the case.

Population Density

Overview

South Torbia is defined largely by its heavy urbanization and its very high population density. Rapid economic development in the 1980s and 1990s led to mass movement into cities, resulting in one of the world’s most heavily urbanized populations. Manila is the largest urban area, and is one of the densest cities on earth. Other cities across South Torbia have experienced similar growth patterns, though not in the same quantities. South Torbia’s terrain has contributed to the canalization of the population by limiting the amount of useful land.

Today, the vast majority (80 %+) of the South Torbian population lives in cities or urban areas. The majority of these settlements are coastal; there are relatively few inland population centers. Even rural settlements tend to be fairly concentrated and centralized, coalescing at key transportation nodes and around valuable land areas. Large areas of South Torbia are virtually unsettled due to due to difficult to access terrain. The five largest urban areas by population are all part of the greater Manila metropolitan area.

Urban Areas

There are five cities within South Torbia that contain a population of over 750,000. These are all densely populated cities.

1. Quezon City, population 2,936,116
2. Caloocan, population 1,583,978
3. Manila, population 1,280,148
4. Taguig, population 804,915
5. Antipolo, population, 776,386

Rural Areas

An estimated 20% of the South Torbian population lives in the rural areas. Almost all are involved in agricultural pursuits either directly or indirectly.

Population Movement

The island of Torbia remained largely homogenous both ethnically and linguistically throughout its history, despite repeated invasions and occupations by various foreign entities. A close-held Torbian ethnic identity is one of the most significant long-term consequences of these occupations; this ultimately resulted in widespread migration throughout the island, but relatively little emigration or immigration. The Torbian War created a mass migration event as both families and individuals moved north or south depending on political affiliations and family connections. The Torbian War also created a significant refugee crisis, with over 500,000 Torbians seeking asylum in other nations around the region.

Internal Migration

Urbanization

While urbanization occurred at a rapid pace in the 1980s and 1990s, the rate of urbanization has slowed down considerably in the present. Those living in the rural environments are largely going to stay in the locations where they were born and raised passing down the family farm from generation to generation.

Displacement

There are several types of displaced people in South Torbia, but the numbers are quite small for a country with its population size. Various categories of these include.

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

There are very few IDPs in South Torbia. The Torbian War caused many people from the northern part of the country to flee the North Torbia regime and moved further south in the 1950s. These people, while they were IDPs then, were eventually able to move back to their traditional regions if they were from the south or were assimilated into the areas they are living. 

South Torbia’s government is well positioned to organize the temporary evacuation of small populations due to extreme weather. Due to the lack of open land, it is expected that any evacuated population will return to their homes and rebuild. Those populations that are unable to return home do not receive government assistance for relocation, and are often left to fend for themselves.

Stateless Personnel

There are few stateless personnel in South Torbia.

Migration Cycles and Transhumance

Due to the fact that it is an island, relatively overpopulated, and underpopulated regions are due to the difficulty required to access them, transhumance, (i.e., the seasonal migration of pastoral populations) does not occur within South Torbia.

External Migration

Inbound

Temporary economic migration accounts for the majority of immigration to South Torbia. Though it does not represent a significant number, there is also a well-documented flow of immigrants who risk their lives to flee North Torbia for a better future in South Torbia.

Economic Migration

Most economic migration to South Torbia is temporary—consisting of both white collar and blue collar workers, either for the short-term or for longer periods of time. A few decide to remain behind and go through the onerous paperwork required to become a South Torbian citizen. Recently, possibly as a result of having an over-educated population, many blue collar and unskilled labor jobs are filled by economic migrants seeking the better wages provided by the South Torbia’s economy.

Forced Migration

Given that a significant percentage of Torbian’s were displaced during the Torbian War, the South Torbian government takes an empathetic stance toward forced migrants. That said, the population is more significantly more accepting of forced migrants who are of Torbian descent, and will often look down upon migrants from other regions of the world. Almost all forced migrants coming to South Torbia are fleeing North Torbia, driven by famine and government persecution.

Outbound

Most outbound migration is done for economic reasons as South Torbians are always looking to improve their lives and their lives of their families. If there is an economic opportunity in another country, a South Torbian will consider pursuing it.

Economic Migration

Many South Torbians study abroad at universities in the United States and Europe working to hone their foreign language skills. Many of these students end up working for South Torbian companies with offices abroad or for foreign countries conducting business in South Torbia. Whether temporary or permanent, most of these South Torbians retain their South Torbian citizenship as they are proud of their country.

Forced Migration

There is little to no outbound forced migration from South Torbia. That said, there is still a significant Torbian diaspora that had fled the island during the Torbian War, and settled in countries across the globe.

Culture

Dimensions of National Culture

There are studies that show that there are six basic cultural traits, or dimensions, that can be used to better understand a national culture. While these studies are not encompassing they can provide a foundational understanding of how populations may differ. Power distance is whether the society accepts unequal distribution of power or they seek to more evenly distribute the power. Individualism is whether the society desires each person to be a separate entity or if the individual is just a cog in the societal wheel. Uncertainty avoidance is whether the society tolerates ambiguity in life or wants life to be more certain. Some societies look long-term and save while others do not see the need because the future planned may never arrive.. Restrained societies live to work while indulgent societies work to live. Some societies encourage individuals to be competitive and do their best while other societies value cooperation over individual success.

Power Distance

South Torbia has a high degree of power distance, creating a relatively hierarchical society. South Torbians typically accept the power structure as it exists without requiring explanation or justification. In South Torbia, some inherent inequalities occur without complaint and power is traditionally centralized. Increases in democratic values have led to a greater demand for equality among younger generations, however the political and economic systems have been slow to adapt.

Individualism vs. Collectivism

South Torbia is a collectivistic society. South Torbians often place group considerations above individual considerations, and will often prioritize creating strong relationships and remaining loyal.

Uncertainty Avoidance (Tolerance for Ambiguity)

South Torbian culture is extremely intolerant of ambiguity. South Torbians believe in a rigid code of behavior being busy, working hard, being on time, completing their work accurately, and maintaining job security. This often causes them to over plan, and can stifle innovation. Rural South Torbians differ though, and are significantly more tolerant of ambiguity than urban South Torbians.

Long-Term Orientation vs. Short-Term Orientation

South Torbian culture lends itself to be extremely long-term oriented. Decisions are rarely made without consideration for longevity, and South Torbians often consider the potential impact of their decisions on future generations. This cultural value has slowly been shifting with younger generations however, as the pace of life continues to increase and economic pressures force attention onto achieving quick results.

Indulgence vs. Restraint

South Torbian culture promotes restraint and the ability to curb personal desires, and prioritizes being industrious over leisure time.  As with other cultural values, South Torbian social norms that may have reinforced restraint in the past are being challenged by the more globalized perspectives that younger generations are being exposed to.

Competitiveness vs. Consensus

South Torbian culture is traditionally more oriented toward consensus, valuing solidarity, equity, and compromise.

Cultural Norms and Values

South Torbian culture has six primary core concepts.

Harmony

In the tradition of many Asian countries, Torbians seek harmony in their life. This traditional value has eroded somewhat recently with the younger generation that has embraced the western way of life in the midst of a capitalist world.

Tenacity, Toughness, and Adaptability

The Torbian people know how to survive as their tenacity for survival dates back centuries. This has built a toughness within themselves and the ability to adapt to the ever-changing world. Torbia has been ruled by a number of other countries over the centuries and with their great tenacity maintained their traditions and eventually won their freedom from their oppressors.

Face

As in many Asian cultures, Torbian people have learned to control their range and frustration under a mask that hides what is actually going on inside their heads. This self-control shows others they have dignity, honor while building the person’s reputation and increasing their influence. This is another value that is slowly decaying with the younger generation as more people are becoming emotional from being influence by western movies and culture.

Filial Piety

Within South Torbia, there is a social hierarchy based on one’s position, occupation, education, and age that creates a logic of obedience, responsibility, and adherence to the rules. Many of these precepts are found in Confucianism where the younger are to give devotion, respect, and reverence to those older them there. While children usually give their parents respect, it is not the same today as it was even two generations ago.

Nationalism

South Torbia has overcome much and with the embrace of the capitalistic system, the country has become a leading economic power in Asia and in the world. This rise to become one of the world’s economic elites has also made the people proud to be South Torbian. Generally, the young support the country and until recently were very willingly to serve their national service without complaint. Lately, some of the younger South Torbians have questioned the need for every male to serve in the military or another form of national service.

Education

South Torbians believe that education is the way to get ahead in society. Most South Torbian families highly encourage their children to do well in school and go onto college. (See the education section elsewhere in this variable for additional details)

Centers of Social Power

South Torbia has numerous centers of social power. Foremost is the family: virtually all Torbians, even the most recent generation, follow traditions and customs venerating the family loyalty. Business, particularly larger corporations and conglomerates, have enormous influence on Torbian society, from their employees, to media, to politics. Torbia often looks toward western culture for influence: American culture is particularly influential especially among younger cohorts. Information and communications technology (ICT) has enabled digital media to have an outsized influence in South Torbia, as high rates of connectivity and widespread use of mobile devices has enabled the internet to become pervasive throughout daily life.

Communication

Traditional Methods and Symbolism

Communication within South Torbian society has traditionally centered on the family, and community. Almost all communication between average South Torbians and North Torbians occurs through family ties.

Role of Technology and Media

South Torbia has embraced the electronic age. Over 93% of those over the age of 15 in the country use a smartphone. This is an increase from 85% just a decade ago with expectations that the number will rise to over 97% in the next decade. The cell phone is changing the way South Torbians are receiving their information as they rely less on newspapers and nightly news shows and gravitate to obtaining the latest news and information over their phones. The smartphone may be also responsible for a break in the traditional reverence of the elderly. Instead of being taught by their parents or grandparents, younger South Torbians are turning to other sources when a generation ago, they would have gotten the information from a relative.

 The South Torbian media still attempts to hold their government accountable for their actions and media investigations have sometimes led to government charges of corruption against political leaders and government workers. While there seems to be as many journalists around as always, they no longer work for the major newspapers, television stations, or radio outlets. Instead, they often are those that operate blogs where they share information about a niche subject with their readers. The information monopoly is no longer in the hands of a few corporate elites that owned a conglomerate of media outlets, but is as diverse as the Internet allows the coverage to be. 

Social Impacts of OE Hazards

Disease

There are five major health concerns within South Torbia, Rural areas are often disproportionally impacted by illness and disease.

Cholera

While cholera is rarely found in South Torbian urban areas due to the availability of clean drinking water, this is not true in the rural areas of the country. Some parts of the country still do not understand that drinking water needs to be treated in some fashion before its use. Poor sanitation leads to the contamination of water sources that are used for drinking. The government and other organizations, usually South Torbian, continue to administer programs teaching the rural communities about public health issues including the connection between better sanitation, clean drinking water, and people’s health, however the problem is likely to continue until the infrastructure required to bring clean water to rural communities is developed.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is another disease normally found in the rural areas of South Torbia more often than the urban areas. TB is caused by a bacteria, and typically affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body. Over 25% of the world’s population has latent TB, meaning that the person has TB but is not currently displaying any symptoms, but are not yet ill with the disease and cannot transmit the disease. Those infected with the TB bacteria have a 5-15% lifetime risk of falling ill from TB. People with compromised immune systems or use tobacco have a higher risk for TB. A high percentage of the South Torbian population, maybe over 50%, smoke tobacco. Males are more likely to smoke tobacco and therefore more susceptible to TB. The cost to treat TB can be expensive to treat and therefore many rural Torbians do not seek treatment.

HIV/AIDS

The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the one disease in South Torbia that is more likely to be found in the urban population rather than in the rural areas. HIV is highly transmitted between individuals, especially through unprotected sexual activities. Those South Torbians that frequent prostitutes, engage in high-risk sexual activities, or share needles for drug use are more susceptible to catching HIV than those that do not engage in such risky behaviors.

Shigellosis

The Shigella bacterium is the cause of shigellosis and it is transmitted in the same way as cholera—contaminated water and food or through contact with feces contaminated with the bacteria. While less prevalent than cholera, shigellosis is caused by poor sanitation practices that effect the drinking water supply. This happens more often in the rural areas than the urban areas. The same organizations that are stamping out cholera will also do the same with shigellosis because the prevention methods are the same.

Highly Communicable Infectious Diseases

South Torbia, as part of the global community has been exposed to a number of viruses that have the potential to cause a pandemic over the last several decades. While each of these viruses is different, the South Torbian response has been effective at understanding, isolating, and neutralizing the risk to the population. South Torbia’s culture, with its collectivist and restrained characteristics, lends itself toward the population making individual sacrifices for what it believes is the greater good.

Natural Disasters

As part of the “ring of fire,” South Torbia faces several types of potential disasters.

Typhoons

The most common disaster is the typhoon that is a seasonal activity that normally occur between the months of May and October each year. A typhoon is a hurricane that occurs in the Pacific Ocean. Typhoons strike South Torbia almost every season, some of them are small and do little damage while others cause tremendous damage to the country. South Torbia’s economic means have enabled it to prepare for typhoons, and low lying communities that are at risk for damage have emergency plans for what their population should do.  That said, South Torbia’s lack of open space and over population means that people who are displaced by typhoons are expected to quickly return to their homes and begin rebuilding.

Floods

One of the results of typhoons or just heavy rains in South Torbia is flooding. Rural areas with poor infrastructure that is unable to deal with the water runoff are hit harder with floods than urban areas that have drainage systems. That said, in overpopulated areas where the existing infrastructure is insufficient, floods can have significant and challenging consequences.

Earthquakes

There are at least 20 active volcanoes in South Torbia. There have been no major eruptions in the last twenty years so South Torbia is probably due for one. While the South Torbia government has an agency to handle natural disasters, the longer there is not an earthquake the fewer people believe that one will occur in the future. This has resulted in less funding for disaster planning from the government over the last decade as some see government leaders see it as a waste of resources. Urban areas in particular are increasingly vulnerable as overpopulation continues to strain existing infrastructure, and informal and unregulated settlements continue to grow on the outskirts of cities.

Tsunamis

Earthquakes or volcanic eruptions in other parts of the Pacific or even underwater can cause a tsunami (giant tidal wave) to hit a landmass up to several hundred miles away from the origination point. South Torbian coastal areas are most vulnerable to tsunamis, probably more on the west coast than anywhere else. Recognizing the potential danger, the Torbian government has invested in early warning systems, and as with other disasters, has plans in place for evacuating affected populations.

Social Volatility/Fragility

Fault Lines and Friction Points

While there may be many minor points of friction within South Torbia, there are two major friction points that possess the ability to divide the country and is often reflected in political policy.

Economic: Disparity (Haves and Have-Nots)

Some young adults, women, and the elderly are sometimes marginalized in the work force feeling trapped in their job with limited upward movement potential. The younger generations may feel there are limited, if any, opportunity to improve their situation even when they have invested in an education. They often work long hours for limited pay and little promotion potential while trying to survive in an economy that continues to increase the cost of living. Those without connections feel that their path to upward mobility is stymied because of nepotism or the right connections. Whereas previous generations may have accepted their lot, younger generations who have been exposed to more influences are increasingly frustrated by a system that they feel is designed to work against them.

Torbian Re-Unification

While North and South Torbia were once the same nation, this is no longer the case. South Torbia has surpassed its northern neighbor economically while North Torbia continues to struggle. At one time, it was an almost universal hope that the two Torbias could be re-united. Recent polls suggest that this is no longer the case. Generational differences continue to have social ramifications, and in this instance the younger generations are less likely to support the reunification of the two countries. Many of those under the age of 40 see that the reunification would be costly to South Torbia to bring its northern cousins up to the economic, social, and infrastructural standards of the south. These younger South Torbians that feel no traditional connection to the north think the cost in taxes on them would be too high. This pits, often age-based, is from those that wish to unite Torbia at any cost against those that are for reunification—as long as it is not too costly. In contrast, older generations, who may still feel a connection to former communities in the north may be more likely to seek out and support re-unification efforts.

Criminal Activity

There is a relatively low crime rate in South Torbia due to the traditions of obeying authority ingrained in the youth from an early age. As such, there is a low population within the prison system. There is some organized crime activity, but much of it is of a non-violent nature. (See the political and military variables for additional details) 

Cultural Approach to Punishment

For minor crimes (theft), the criminal is required to apologize to the victim of their crime and make restitution. If the criminal is employed, their wages can be garnished to pay back the victim. 

Prison System

There are only 100,000 criminals in the federal prison system. Each province has a small prison for pre-trial confinement and short-term sentences. Local jails have holding cells for those accused of very minor crimes such as drunkenness and disorderly conduct.

Human Rights

South Torbia is considered “free” based on the Freedom House Civil Liberty criteria with a score of 84 out of 100. This breaks down to a score of 34/40 under political rights and 50/60 under civil liberties. For the last two decades, South Torbia has operated a democratic system that features regular changes of powers. With an almost total homogeneous population, there are times where the non-Torbians are not socially integrated and at times, their minority rights are threatened. South Torbia lacks a comprehensive antidiscrimination law, but that could be because there are so few non-Torbians in the country. In every category rated by Freedom House, South Torbia scored either a 3 or 4 on a 1-4 scale with 4 being the best possible score.  

Demographic Statistics Chart

Social Statistic	South Torbia
Primary Languages (%)	Torbian: 90% Other: 10%
Ethnic Groups (%)	Torbian: 85% Other: 15%
Major Religions (%)	Not Affiliated: 25% Roman Catholic: 42% Protestant: 15% Islam (Sunni-Shafi): 5.5% Buddhist: 7.5% Other: 5%
Literacy Rate (Older Than 15 in %)	Overall: 98.5% Male: 99.1% Female: 97.8%
Age Distribution (%)	Age 0-14 15-55 (Military Age) 55-64 65+	Male 14.1% 55.10% 13.10% 15.500%	Female 12.5% 50.9% 14.3% 24.5%
Median Age	Overall: 44.6 Males: 43.1 Females: 46.1
Population	42,375,386
Annual Growth Rate	0.13%
Birth Rate Per 1,000 People	8
Death Rate Per 1,000 People	7.9
Urban Population (%)	80%
Annual Urbanization Rate	4.6% (make sure it matches discussion)
Infant Mortality Rate Per 1000 Live Births	3.5
Life Expectancy At Birth (Years)	Overall: 83.0 Male: 79.3 Female: 86.2
Major Diseases In OE	Cholera Tuberculosis HIV/AIDS Shigellosis Highly Communicable Infectious Diseases