1.1 Population

Question 1

What are the physical/human factors that affect where people choose to live?

Answer 1

Physical
1.Climate:
-People do not want to live where there is a different climate
-Very hot, very dry (Sahara Dessert)= water shortages/ farming difficulties= food shortages or very cold places (Greenland) = too cold for farming.

2. Soils/Vegetation
   -Most people live where there are fertile soils e.g. England, good for farming = plenty of food
3. Relief- Height and steepness of the land
   - People do not want to live in mountainous areas such as Nepal as it is difficult to build homes, factories and services. It is also difficult to grow crops.
   -Scottish highlands are another example you could use.
4. Natural Resources
   -People prefer to live where there are resources e.g. coal, oil and gas(energy) and iron, gold and silver ect (minerals) which can be developed for industry
   - So there will be jobs and money available, e.g. UK
5. Location For Trade: Communications
   -Most people live where there are good transport links for trading e.g. near coastal ports like in the UK or near a major river e.g. Glasgow on the Clyde. This creates jobs and wealth.
   - Fewer people live far from the coast in isolated areas e.g. countries such as Chad in central Africa.

Human
1. Job Opportunities (Industrialisation)
-People live where there are industries and businesses to provide them with jobs so they can make money and have a better standard of living e.g. London (South East England)

2. Transport Links
   - Areas with good roads and railways are good for trade and business and usually have many opportunities e.g. England. This provides people with money to improve their standard of living.
3. Technology
   - Places with many universities and advanced technology usually have many successful industries like Hi-tech industries such as Electronics which provide jobs and money, e.g. London (SE England).
   - Technology also enables good housing, e.g. heating and lighting and high quality healthcare.

Question 2

Explain differences between population structure in developed(rich) and developing(poor) countries

Answer 2

Developed
Narrow Base tells us there are few children/ young adults due to low birth rate.
Wider middle and top tells us there are more older people due to low death rate.

Developing
Wide base tells us there are many children due to a high birth rate.
A narrow middle and top tells us there are few older people due to a high death rate.

Question 3

What are the reasons for high/low birth rates and death rates?

Answer 3

Birth rate is high in developing nations for the following reasons:
1. People do not have access to contraception (to prevent unwanted pregnancies).
2. People are not educated about family planning (they are not taught how to avoid becoming pregnant)
3. Children can work e.g. on farms and bring money to their household.
4. As there are often no pensions or care homes, parents rely on their kids to look after them when they get old.
5. High infant mortality rates mean many children die young so people have large families to compensate.
6. Women are often not educated and have few career opportunities. They are expected to stay at home as housewives.
7. Women often get married very young so start having kids at a young age.
8. Religion and cultures often promote large families and they are seen as a status symbol. Religions often discourage contraception.

**Death rate is high (life expectancy low) for the following reasons: **
Mainly due to poverty which leads to the following:

Medical
1. Not enough doctors, nurses or hospitals available,
2. Lack of health education about prevention of diseases such as Malaria.
3. Lack of drugs to treat diseases such as AIDS due to unaffordable costs.
4. Many people are not vaccinated against diseases such as Polio.
5. Many people live in isolated rural areas far from healthcare.

Social (Lifestyle)
1. Poor quality housing e.g. overcrowding in shanty towns cause disease to spread quickly.
2. Poor sanitation (lack clean water supplies and modern toilets) cause diseases such as cholera.
3. Poor working conditions e.g miners are frequently killed in accidents and affected by diseases such as cancer cause by toxic fumes.

Diet
1. Difficult farming conditions lead to food shortages causing starvation.
2. Unbalanced diet (e.g. not enough vitamins) causing malnutrition leading to disease like Kwashiorkor.
3. Poor food hygiene (e.g. no fridges/ freezers) leading to diseases such as typhoid.

Question 4

What are the reasons for population change in rich and poor countries?

Question 5

What are the problems of an ageing population (low BR/DR) in rich countries?

Question 6

What are the problems of a growing population (high BR) in poor countries?

Question 7

What are the solutions of to an ageing population (low BR/DR) in rich countries?

Question 8

What are the solutions to a growing population (high BR) in poor countries?