Changing Populations Flashcards
Which continent has the highest population density?
Asia
What is population distribution?
describes how people are spread out
What are some physical factors that affect population density and distribution?
Relief
climate
vegetation
soils
natural resources (eg coal)
water supply
What are some human factors that affect population density and distribution?
urban growth
industrial growth
agricultural development
accessibility
government policies
Why is the world’s population not evenly spread out around the globe?
Because of different human and physical factors
eg- land. If the land is flat, it is easy to build on so will be more populated, for example in Bangladesh
Also, fertile soil attracts more people as people can grow crops to earn a living. For example in Holland
Places with lots of raw materials like coal are likely to be more densely populated
also, better climates (not too hot or cold) will be more populated too
Why does a large percentage of the population live in urban areas?
there tend to be better job opportunities, which encourage people to move there, particularly in high income cities such as New York.
Climate in urban areas tends to be ideal for growing crops, which encourages people to move there as they can earn a living by farming
There are also better communications, such as train systems and road networks, which makes it easier for people to move around
Case study- Population distribution
BRAZIL
- has a population of 186 million
- north is sparsely populated- rainforest
- North east contains a third of the population
- south east has highest population density- industrial cities eg Sao Paulo
- South has high population density- fertile soils
- west has a low population density
What is population density?
The number of people living in a square kilometre
What is urbanisation?
The process by which an increasing proportion of a population lives in urban areas
CASE STUDY- Rural-urban migration in an LEDC
South Africa
many people migrate from less populated provinces in South Africa (eg Limpopo) to more urban provinces (eg Western Cape- Cape Town)
Push factors- Few rural houses have connection to electricity, lack of money- most people do not even own an electric cooker. Poor job opportunities-rely on tourism and farming for an income, Development of farm mechanisation caused heigh levels of unemployment. Relatively low quality of life (60% IN LIMPOPO LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE), most households in Limpopo earn less the 1,000 rand a month
Pull factors- Jobs and better opportunities, better healthcare, schools, AVERAGE HOUSE HOLD INCOME IN SOUTH EARNS ABOUT 7,000 RAND a month
What is circular migration?
When migrants move from one area to another, then move back to where they came from
normally takes place in rural to urban migration
What are some advantages of circular migration?
Reduces the demand on village food supplies
Migrants send money back home- can be used to improve farms
Migrants learn new traditions and return with a better knowledge
Reduces the effect of Drain Brain
What are some disadvantages of circular migration?
Losing work force- brain drain
Lack of workers so females have to take upon jobs
Increases the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases
Causes a loss of culture and traditions
What is counter urbanisation?
Describes the movement of people from urban to rural areas
CASE STUDY- counter urbanisation
St Ives, Cambridgeshire,UK
25% of the population in St Ives commute to London everyday
Push factors- Urban areas seen as a place of noise, crime and pollution, Urban areas are expensive to live in, lack of open space
Pull factors- Rural areas seen as quiet, peaceful with a sense of community, Thought to have better schools and to be a safer place for children
Describe the growth in global population
increased slowly until the 1800s.
Since then, world population has increased rapidly
In 2000, the worlds population was estimated to be around 6 million- double that of 1960