which of the following is an implication  of a large population

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks for a consequence (implication) of a large population, especially in a developing economy like Nigeria's, where resources and jobs don't grow as fast as the number of people.

Step 2: Explain the concept When a population grows very large, the demand for goods, services, housing, jobs, healthcare, and education rises. If the economy doesn't expand at the same pace, resources get stretched. This leads to:

• Unemployment and underemployment
• Pressure on social amenities (water, electricity, schools, hospitals)
• Higher crime rates
• Overcrowding and slums
• Lower per capita income

Step 3: Test each option

• A. Decrease in crime rate: Unlikely. More people competing for limited jobs and resources usually increases crime. Wrong.
• B. Increase in food supply: Not automatic. A large population increases food demand, and unless production rises faster, there is scarcity. Wrong.
• C. Decrease in standard of living: When resources are shared among more people, per capita income and access to goods and services fall, so living standards decline. Correct.
• D. Decrease in cost of living: Greater demand for limited goods, housing, and services tends to push prices up, so the cost of living rises. Wrong.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is C. decrease in standard of living.

Tip: In WASSCE Economics, remember the negative effects of rapid population growth in developing countries with the phrase "more mouths, fewer resources": unemployment, strain on amenities, crime, and lower living standards. Be careful, though, because a large population can also have benefits, such as a bigger labour force and a larger market, so read the options for which side the question is asking about.