Introduction Flashcards
Where is the greatest levels of population increase seen in the world
Greatest increases seen in LICs
What are the 3 types of population distribution
- Uniform
- Random
- Clumped
What is population distribution
The pattern of where people live
What is population density
The number of people living in an area, measured in people per km2
How is population density measured
People per km2
What are 5 factors affecting population distribution and population density
- Climate
- Soil
- Resource distribution
- Natural Hazards
- Topography
How does climate affect population distribution and population density
- Extremes of temps limit population growth
- Too much or too little precipitation presents challenges E.g. growing crops
- Desert and Polar environments often have low population densities
How does soil affect population distribution and population density
- Presence of fertile soil is necessary to grow crops, infertile soil reduces plant growth
- Permafrost can prevent access to soil
- Food can be imported so this factor does not affect wealthier developed countries that do not rely on growth of plants
How does topography affect population distribution and population density
- Shape of the land determines peoples ability to create settlements
- Topography determines access to other places and resources
- Mountainous areas often have sparse populations
How does resource distribution affect population distribution an population density
- Access to food, water and energy resources are needed to sustain populations without resources populations would decrease
How does natural hazards affect population distribution and population density
- Soils around volcanoes are extremely fertile and perfect for growing crops increasing population distribution around volcanic areas
- Locations that regularly experience natural hazards can discourage people from settling in the area
What has happened over time to the worlds population
The world’s population has seen exponential growth over time.
Some parts of the world have seen population growth however others have seen a decline
Which type of countries see the lowest annual population growth rate
HICs
Which type of countries see the highest annual population growth rate
LICs
What is the demographic transition model
It demonstrates how the population of countries fluctuate over time, as birth rates, death rates, and natural increase change.
What happens in stage 1 of the demographic transition model
- High BR due to lack of family planning healthcare and high infant mortality
- High DR due to disease + lack of sanitation
E.g. un-contacted remote groups, Amazon Tribes
What happens in stage 2 of the demographic transition model
- High Birth rates
- Death rates fall due to increase in availability of healthcare + increased sanitation
- Populations increase
E.g. Angola
What happens in stage 3 of the demographic transition model
- Lower birth rates due to socio-economic conditions
- Death rates continue to fall
E.g. India
What happens in stage 4 of the demographic transition model
- Low birth rate and death rate
- Population levels still high
E.g. UK
What happens in stage 5 of the demographic transition model
- BR falls even more, due to higher aspirations
- DR is stable or increases due to ageing population
E.g. Japan
What are the advantages of the demographic transition model
- Provides insight into the way population changes over time
- Simple to draw comparisons from
- Easy to understand
What are the disadvantages of the demographic transition model
- Some countries have taken political decisions to manage population E.g. China
- Knowledge about disease preventation has improved
- Model assumes countries cannot go backwards with a declining population
- Doesn’t take into account migration and emigration
- Does not consider physical environment and impacts of climate change
