japan

Question 1

population in 2014

Answer 1

127.4 million

Question 2

population density

Answer 2

337 per km2

not true reputation bc 70% of land is mountainous so people live in 30% of land

Question 3

physical environment and its influence on the population distribution (4)

Answer 3

70% of land is mountainous so people live in 30% of land

range of climates due to north-south extention

frequent hazards - volcanos make the soil fertile = desire to live here despite the hazards

large fishing industry due to large coast

Question 4

japanese demographic and culture

Answer 4

traditional - expecting loyalty and hard-workingship

Question 5

GNI

Answer 5

$48 300 per annum

Question 6

average life expectancy

Answer 6

83

Question 7

% of over 65s:

Answer 7

24%

Question 8

How many over 100 years old?

Answer 8

50 000

Question 9

Infant Mortality rate:

Answer 9

lowest in the world - 2.2/1000/yr

Question 10

Young dependants (%)

Answer 10

13.5%

Question 11

Percentage of economically active

Answer 11

63%

Question 12

By 2025 what % of Japan’s population will be over 65?

Answer 12

33%

Question 13

By 2050 what % of Japan’s population will be over 65?

Answer 13

38%

Question 14

why is the population structure an issue? (4)

Answer 14

Demographic time bomb

Population decline

Not enough young people to replace the older generation

A burden on the working and younger population as have to support elderly as there are not enough people to help.

Question 15

socio-economic implications of the ageing population

Answer 15

40% of all government public spending is on the elderly

Since 1960s retirees pay only a. Small part of their medical care through a universal system.

The working population is shrinking fast.

A rise in home care - families give up full time jobs to become - impact on the economics workforce.

Pressure on care services - more medical and care workers are needed.

There is increasing pressure on NGOs to provide care.

It is estimated that 3.8 million elderly in Japan live alone with no family support.

There is an increasing number of elderly living on the streets, in poor quality housing or ending up in Prison- Prison offers better care for some which leads to reoffending rates rising.

There is a rising number of cases of dementia.

Increasing dysfunctional relationships between young couples and the growth of a new group of Japanese ‘30-somethings’ men (Otaku - obsessive nerds) who indulge in fantasy relationships with ‘animes’ or virtual females on computer games.

More elderly are having to return to work to make up their income. 3,500 over 65s work for McDonald’s?

Question 16

positive implications of ageing population (4)

Answer 16

manufacturing industry is successful- bringing in revenue to support the domestic economy.

Growth in private hospitals specialising in healthcare for the elderly - create jobs

Increasing demand for leisure activities for the affluent elderly - jobs

new robotic technology to assist elderly- companion pets, bionic limbs etc - but expensive and small availability but worth $1 billion to the economy currently

Question 17

response by the government (6)

Answer 17

government has to tackle some of the issues for a sustainable future but has to be cautious with its population policies so that it does not alienate the elderly, and important large percentage (the ‘grey vote’).

Raise taxes - to maintain revenue to care for the elderly

Raising retirement age to 70

Pro-natal population policies - encouraging parents to have more children by increasing maternity leave, child allowance, tax reductions, motherhood portrayed positively in media etc

Encourage robotic development

Encourage immigration of skilled foreign workers - increase workforce
… difficult as japanese is a hard language to learn and immigrants must pass a language test. The culture is difficult to adapt to.
Currently 2% of the population is immigrants

Question 18

___ biggest economy in the world

Answer 18

3rd

Question 19

stage in DTM

Answer 19

5

Question 20

population decline by 2050

Answer 20

309%