Official Answer Key & Detailed Solution
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Correct Answer: Option (A) — 1, 2 and 4
Concept & Option Breakdown
Standard Reference VerifiedItaly, Japan, and South Korea are widely known for critically low total fertility rates (TFR) well below the replacement level of 2.1, resulting in rapidly ageing populations and shrinking demographic profiles. In contrast, Nigeria and South Africa have relatively young populations and higher fertility rates.
African nations such as Nigeria have very high fertility rates and young median ages; eliminating options with Nigeria (3) leaves only (a) and (c). Since Italy (1) is famously facing a severe demographic crisis in Europe, (a) is the correct choice.
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