Chapter 9 Key Terms

Question 1

demography

Answer 1

the study of the characteristics of populations, especially human populations

Question 2

age structure

Answer 2

the classification of members of a population into groups according to age or the distribution of members of a population in terms of age groups

Question 3

survivorship

Answer 3

the percentage of newborn individuals in a population that can be expected to survive to a given age

Question 4

fertility rate

Answer 4

the average number of children a woman of childbearing years would have in her lifetime, if she had children at the current rate for her country

Question 5

migration

Answer 5

in general, any movement of individuals or populations from one location to another; specifically, a periodic group movement that is characteristic of a given population or species

Question 6

life expectancy

Answer 6

the average length of time that an individual is expected to live

Question 7

demographic transition

Answer 7

the general pattern of demographic change from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates, as observed in the history of more-developed countries

Question 8

infrastructure

Answer 8

the basic facilities of a country or region, such as roads, bridges, and sewers

Question 9

arable land

Answer 9

land capable of being plowed and used to grow crops.

Question 10

urbanization

Answer 10

an increase in the ratio or density of people living in urban areas rather than in rural areas

Question 11

least developed countries

Answer 11

countries that have been identified by the United Nations as showing the fewest signs of development in terms of income, human resources, and economic diversification