Glossary for Population Change

Question 1

Exponential growth

Answer 1

Rapid, year on year population growth

Question 2

Crude birth rate

Answer 2

The number of live births per 1,000 of the population per year

Question 3

Crude death rate

Answer 3

The number of deaths per 1,000 of the population per year

Question 4

Natural increase

Answer 4

Occurs when birth rate is higher than the death rate

Question 5

Natural decrease

Answer 5

Occurs when birth rate is lower than the death rate

Question 6

Annual population change

Answer 6

The birth rate minus the death rate plus or minus migration

Question 7

J shape graph

Answer 7

The name given to a graph that shows an exponential rise

Question 8

S shape graph

Answer 8

The name given to a graph that shows exponential growth slowing and levelling off

Question 9

Migration

Answer 9

The movement of people either into or out of an area

Question 10

Emigration

Answer 10

The movement of people out of an area

Question 11

Immigration

Answer 11

The movement of people into an area

Question 12

Demographic transition model

Answer 12

A graph that shows how countries pass through different stages of population growth over time. The DTM shows changes in birth rate, death rate and natural population. There are 5 stages. Progression through each stage is associated with economic development (i.e. Afghanistan in stage 2 is at a lesser stage of development than France in stage 5).

Question 13

Population structure

Answer 13

The composition of a country’s population by age and sex

Question 14

Census

Answer 14

Population data including age, sex and occupation

Question 15

Population pyramid

Answer 15

A graph that shows the population structure of a country. Horizontal bars are used to show actual numbers of males and females in each five year age group (0-4, 5-9 etc). They give a good visual impression of a country’s population structure as it progresses through the DTM.

Question 16

Apex

Answer 16

The tip of a population pyramid. A high apex shows long life expectancy.

Question 17

Base

Answer 17

The bottom of the population pyramid. A wide base shows high birth rate.

Question 18

Funnel shape

Answer 18

The name given to the population structure of a country in stage 1 or 2.

Question 19

Rectangular shape

Answer 19

The name given to the population structure of a country in stage 3 or 4.

Question 20

Oval shape

Answer 20

The name given to the population structure of a country in stage 5

Question 21

Dependents

Answer 21

Those in the population either retired or below the working age. Elderly or young dependents pay no tax and are dependent on the economically active.

Question 22

Economically active

Answer 22

Those in the population who work and pay tax.

Question 23

Dependency ratio

Answer 23

The ratio between the dependents and the economically active.

Question 24

Gender skew

Answer 24

A skew in the population structure towards either males or females (eg Calcutta, India has a male gender skew as many young men move to the city to find work).

Question 25

Urbanisation

Answer 25

Growth in the proportion of a population living in urban areas.

Question 26

Agricultural change

Answer 26

Increased mechanisation of agriculture reduces the need for families to have large numbers of children.

Question 27

Education

Answer 27

Education lowers population growth. With education comes more opportunities and mobility.

Question 28

Emancipation of women

Answer 28

The freedom of women to have a career and make their own life choices.

Question 29

Implications of rapid population growth

Answer 29

Implications are social (resource shortages, rising crime, poor living standards, lack of services, overcrowding); economic (unemployment, burdened economy, large number of dependents); environmental (overgrazing, shortages of clean water, deforestation, soil erosion, land shortages, traffic congestion, pollution); political (wars, tensions, unstable governments).

Question 30

Sustainable population change

Answer 30

When population growth is at or very close to replacement level.

Question 31

Replacement level

Answer 31

When birth rate is at a level that replaces the current population, leading to no real increase or decrease. This is about 2.1 babies per woman.

Question 32

Population policy/anti-natal policy

Answer 32

A strategy used by a government to reduce rapid population growth (One Child Policy in China, or Kerala's alternative population policy in India).

Question 33

Ageing dependent population

Answer 33

A country with a high dependency ratio (eg France) which has a high number of elderly dependents and declining birth rate. This is stage 5 of the demographic transition model and an oval shaped pyramid. Large pressures are placed on the economically active to provide for the rest of the population.

Question 34

Pro-natal policy

Answer 34

A pro-birth policy adopted by a country in stage 5 of demographic transition model (eg France) in order to increase a declining birth rate. Incentives are offered to young couples (like 3 years maternity leave) to encourage them to have more children.

Question 35

Incentive

Answer 35

A benefit offered to people in order to persuade them to do something.

Question 36

EU

Answer 36

European Union

Question 37

Internal migration

Answer 37

Migration within a country (eg within the UK).

Question 38

International migration

Answer 38

Migration between countries and across borders.

Question 39

Push factor

Answer 39

The factors people dislike about being where they live (eg poverty, land shortages, poor services, remoteness).

Question 40

Pull factor

Answer 40

The factors that attract people to move (eg better paid jobs, reliable services, schools, hospitals, infrastructure, bright light syndrome).

Question 41

Brain drain

Answer 41

When young, educated people emigrate out of an area.

Question 42

Bright light syndrome

Answer 42

The unreal expectations some migrants place on urban living - they expect glitz and glamour - when in reality what they find is often very different.

Question 43

Voluntary migration

Answer 43

When someone makes the decision to move.

Question 44

Forced migration

Answer 44

When people have no other choice but to migrate (becoming refugees).

Question 45

Economic migration

Answer 45

Migrants seeking a better standard of living and the hope of a higher income.

Question 46

Refugee

Answer 46

A forced migrant who is displaced, often by war, famine or drought.

Question 47

Asylum seekers

Answer 47

Refugees who lodge a claim with another country's government in order to find safety within its borders.

Question 48

Country of origin

Answer 48

The country which migrants have left.

Question 49

Destination (host) country

Answer 49

The country that migrants move to and decide to live in.