Human Population

Question 1

Define Population distribution

Answer 1

The pattern where people live on Earth

Question 2

Define Population density

Answer 2

Average number of people living in a square kilometre (used to estimate whether an area is sparsely or densely populated)

Question 3

Define sparsely/densely populated

Answer 3

An area where many/fewer people live

Question 4

How does an area become overpopulated

Answer 4

When it’s population density exceeds the carrying capacity of the environment

Question 4

Define carrying capacity

Answer 4

Maximum population size that can be supported by the resources available in a a particular environment

Question 5

Define quality of life

Answer 5

The standard of happiness, health and comfort

Question 6

Physical factors that influence the distribution & density of population

Answer 6

1. Climate (temperate areas> extreme weather patterns)
2. Relief (flat land> steep: for settling, building, farming)
3. Soils (fertile>infertile: farming)
4. Natural resources (minerals, forests: to boost economic activity)
5. Accessibility (river valleys/coastal locations> remote/inaccessible)
6. Vegetation (open grasslands> dense/dangerous swamps/forests)

Question 7

Human factors that influence the distribution & density of population

Answer 7

1. Political (stable/democratic>politically volatile)
2. Economic (high income: better living standards&job opportunities)
3. Communications (good transport networks & trading links)
4. Social (migration policies, industrial expansion)

Question 8

Why are mountain areas less attractive?

Answer 8

Extreme climates (heavy precipitation)
Steep slopes
Shallow & acidic soils
Dense forests & little flat land
Constructing transport/settlements is expensive
Few job oppportunities
Few industries locate here
Farming is hard

Question 9

Why are coastal plain areas more attractve?

Answer 9

Flat land
Milder climate
Regular rainfall
Most of the farming industry is located here
Gentler relief (easy to construct roads, railways)
Excellent communications = more industries= more jobs)
High rise buildings to maximise use of the minimal land

Question 10

Define the growth curve of populations

Answer 10

A theory that attempts to describe and explain how and why the number of living things in a given area or habitat changes over time
Ecological theory based on how organisms such as bacteria behave in the animal kingdom

Question 11

Explain the growth curve of populations

Answer 11

Based on the assumption that limited resources will always control the growth and continued existence of living things
Sigmoid/ ’S’ shaped graph curve

Question 12

Phases of the Sigmoid

Answer 12

Lag phase
Log phase
S-phase
Stable phase
Decline phase

Question 13

What is Lag phase?

Answer 13

Growth is slow since organisms have to adjust to the environment

Question 14

What is Log phase?

Answer 14

Exponential growth as the number increases because available resources (food/water) are unlimited

Question 15

What is S-phase ?

Answer 15

Slows down because the resources become restricted/finite

Question 16

What is Stable phase?

Answer 16

Carrying capacity has been reached- stable population)

Question 17

What is Decline phase?

Answer 17

Population exceeds carrying capacity leading to overpopulation
May be triggered by a change meaning environemnt can no longer support the population (eg drought)

Question 18

Why can’t this be applicable to humans ?

Answer 18

Doesn’t take into account human intelligence and ingenuity or human emotion and solidarity (donations during disasters)

Question 19

Define death rate

Answer 19

The average number of deaths in the world per 1000 population

Question 20

Define birth rate

Answer 20

The average number of births in the world per 1000 population

Question 21

How have humans increased the carrying capacity ?

Answer 21

Developing intensive agriculture (domestication of animals and wild grains)
Creating sophisticated irrigation schemes
Combat diseases through medical care, antibodies,surgical procedures, improved sanitation

Question 22

How do governments manage a high birth rate?

Answer 22

Anti-natalist policies
Improved healthcare and educations
Free family planning services
Sex and reproductive health programmes in school
Promotional literature/ advertising
Raise education levels of girls (increases average age of marriage)
Forced sterilisation/ One Child policy (extreme)

Question 23

How do governments manage a low birth rate?

Answer 23

Free pre and post natal care
Subsidised day care nurseries to reduce cost of child care
Generous tax allowances until the child is 18
Improved pensions and child benefit allowances
Full pay maternity leave
Prioirity to families for state housing (100% mortgages)

Question 24

Define migration

Answer 24

Movement of people from one place to another (immigration & emigration)

Question 25

Effects of overpopulation

Answer 25

Environmental degradation
Depletion of natural resources
Mass poverty
Political instability

Question 26

Population pyramids of MEDCS

Answer 26

Narrow base (low birthrate)
Low proportion of yound dependants
Straight sides up (death rate is low)
Tall, wide top (high life expectancy)

Question 27

Population pyramids of LEDCS

Answer 27

Wide base (high birth rate& many children being born)
Large proportion of young dependants (high birth rate)
Even decline in shape up (high death rate)
Narrow, short top (low life expectancy)

Question 28

Why is a low dependancy ratio good?

Answer 28

Burden of tax and funding public services is spread
High dependancy ratio may lead to higher taxes and a cut on the expenditure on public services in order to meet costs

Question 29

Define dependency ratio

Answer 29

Ratio between those of the working age(economically active) who are paying taxes and those of the non-working age (the dependants), who rely on the taxes to support them

Question 30

Define population structure

Answer 30

Composition or make up of the people living in a place likea town or city, or in a larger area such as a country or continent

Question 31

Population pyramid

Answer 31

Used to show the gender and age structure of a population
0-14 (young dependants- not employed)
15-64 (‘economically active’)
65+ (older dependants- mostly retired)

Question 32

Population change formula

Answer 32

Birth rate- death rate +- net migration

Question 33

Define net migration

Answer 33

Difference between immigrants and emigrants

Question 34

Define natural increase

Answer 34

The rise/fall calculated by subtracting the death rate from the birth rate

Question 35

Changes in population due to-

Answer 35

Birth rate
Death rate
Migration

Question 36

Define Age-sex structure

Answer 36

The number or proportion of males and females in each age category

Question 37

Define sex ratio

Answer 37

Proportion of males to females

Question 38

Influences on death rate

Answer 38

Availability of clean drinking water
Standard/availability of medical facilities & health care
Diets amongst children/ young women
Quality of sanitation
Presence of infectious diseases
Social/ political issues
Age-sex structure/sex ration (older people)
Living standards

Question 39

Define Infant mortality

Answer 39

The number of deaths of children aged less than 1 year per 1000 live births

Question 40

Factors determining the level of birth rate

Answer 40

Infant mortality
Life expectancy

Question 41

Define Life expectancy

Answer 41

The average number of years that a person is expected to live

Question 42

Influences on infant morality/ birth rate

Answer 42

Age-sex structure/ sex ratio
Quality of childbirth and post natal health care
Availability of family planning services and contraception
Level of education/ female literacy rates
Average age women marry
Influenceof religions and social customs
Effect of government policies to boost/reduce population growth
Economic influences- rising costs in MEDCS (lowers)/poverty in LEDCS (raises)