Religious attitude, child marriages, preference for male child, joint family system, illiteracy and to some extent the agricultural economy are the main causes of population increase. The growth of population has a direct effect on the standards of living of the people.
There is a relationship between poverty and age structure of the society. The older we are, the more difficult it is to obtain employment. Older people, particularly those over 60 years of age, are often without adequate savings and have to depend on their children for economic support.