We can find the average rate of change of change using the following expression:
[tex]m=\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}[/tex]for the period betwen 1999 and 2002, we have the following:
[tex]\begin{gathered} m=\frac{1483-1336}{2002-1999}=\frac{147}{3}=49 \\ \Rightarrow m=49 \end{gathered}[/tex]therefore, the average rate of change of population between 1999 and 2000 is 49.
Next, we do the same for the period between 2001 to 2005:
[tex]\begin{gathered} m=\frac{801-1591}{2005-2001}=-\frac{790}{4}=-197.5 \\ \Rightarrow m=-197.5 \end{gathered}[/tex]thus, the average rate of change of population between 2001 and 2005 is 197.5
Finally, notice that the population increased from 1997 to 2001, while it decreased from 2002, to 2006