Human Population Flashcards
The United States contributed roughly ____ percent of the world’s population.
About 5% (4.5%)
When did the world reach the one million mark? Two billion? Three billion?
1800
1930
1960
What does the human growth rate stand at?
1.2%
Rule of 70
You can roughly estimate the amount of time for anything to double by dividing 70 by the growth/percentage rate.
Is population really a problem? Cornucopian view vs Cassandran view.
If you are a cornucopian, then no. We will continue to find new sources and technology to meet our needs.
If you are a cassandran, then yes. We will run out of natural resources, depleting our ecosystems.
Reason for Population Explosion
Historic need for farm labor Better Sanitation New technology Better agricultural production Better medical care
Demography
The study of statistical change in human population
Population Size
The total number of people
Population Density
The total number of people in a given area. Different countries have different densities.
Age Structure Pyramids
Visual graphics to show the trends in a country’s population. Used to predict dynamics of the population.
Population Growth factors
Birth rates
Death rates
Immigration
Emigration
Birth rates
How many babies are born
Death Rate
How many people have died
Immigration
How many people moved into the country
Emigration
How many people moved out of the country.
Total Fertility Rate
Average number of children born per female during her life time.
Natural rate of population change
Change due to birth rate/death rate only. Migration excluded.
Life expectancy
How long a person is expected to live
The demographic transition
Is a model of economic and cultural change that seeks to explain birth and death rates as a country becomes more industrialized. Exists in 4 stages
The Demographic Transition Stages
Pre-Industrial Stage
Transitional Stage
Industrial Stage
Post-Industrial Stage
Pre-Industrial Stage
Defines the majority of human history. High birth rates and high death rates. Life expectancy low.
Transitional Stage
Initiated by industrialization marked by a large decline in the death rate as food production and medical care increases. Birth rates remain high (constantly high) and death rate goes down. Population Explodes
Industrial Stage
Increases in employment opportunities causes women to join the workforce. Introduction of birth control. Birth rates fall to meet death rates. Population growth decreases
Post-Industrial Stage
Birth rates and Death Rates remain stable. No threat of population explosion. (USA is here)
How to keep population down?
Family planning methods: contraceptives, education
Forced Sterilization in India
One Child Policy in China
Reproductive Health Care - Access to abortion
Education/ opportunities for women
What price does population control come with?
Ethic/Moral decisions to be made.
Wealth Gap: Half the world lives on less than $2 per day.
Spread of HIV/AIDS
What is the world’s current population?
7.3 Billion
