Population Flashcards
Population Density
The number of people in a given area. The total population in a country or region divided by its area (people/km2).
Population Distribution
The way people are spread out in an area
Crude Birth Rate
The number of births per 1000 people (CBR).
Crude Death Rate
The number of deaths per 1000 people (CDR).
Natural Increase
The difference between the birth rate and death rate. Natural increase will occur if birth rate is higher than death rate. Natural increase = CBR – CDR.
Demographic Transition
Model to describe how population changes over time due to changes in birth & death rates.
Family Planning
Where families receive advice about how to control births and access healthcare such as contraception.
Migration
The movement of people into an area
International Migration
When people migrate across borders. (From one country to another).
Internal Migration
Movement of people inside a country
Forced Migration
When people are forced to leave an area due to natural disasters, war etc.
Emigration
When people leave an area.
Immigration
When people move into an area
Positive Net Migration
When more people move into an area than leave an area.
Negative Net Migration
When more people leave an area then move into an area.
Life Expectancy
How long people in certain countries are expected to live.
Age Dependency
Percentage of population that depend on economic support (eg. pension for the elderly, school for the young).
Population Pyramids
Age & sex structure of a population can be shown in this type of graph, factors control the shape, birth & death rates & migration.
Physical factors affecting population density. (High Density)
Low land that is flat (easier to build on/reach).
Areas rich in resources (e.g. coal, oil, wood, fishing etc.) tend to be densely populated e.g. Westen Europe
Areas with temperate climates tend to be densely populated as there is enough rain and heat to grow crops e.g. UK.
(Coast/fertile soils?)
Physical factors affecting population density. (Low Density)
High land that is mountainous e.g. Himalayas (difficult to build on/reach)
Areas with few resources tend to be sparsely populated e.g. The Sahel (difficult to get raw materials, costs to transport them).
Areas with extreme climates of hot and cold tend to be sparsely populated e.g. the Sahara Desert (difficult to farm, prone to natural disasters).
Human factors affecting population density. (High Density)
Countries with stable governments tend to have a high population density e.g. Singapore. (no conflict etc.)
Groups of people want to close to each other for security e.g. USA (socialise)
Good job oppurtunites encourage high population densities, particularly in large cities in MEDC’s and LEDC’s around the world. (financial stability)
Human factors affecting population density. (Low Density)
Unstable countries tend to have lower population denisities as people emigrate. e.g. Afghanistan (e.g. conflict)
Other groups of people prefer to be isolated. e.g. Scandinavians
Limited job oppurtunities cause some areas to be sparsely populated. e.g. Amzon Rainforest.
Overpopulation
The resources cannot sustain the current population. As long as there is overpopulation the quality of life will decline through unemployment, pollution, degradation of the environment.
Underpopulation
The population cannot fully utilise the resources available. Quality of life can only slowly be improved. An increase in population would lead to an increase in quality of life.
Optimum Population
The population is such that it can maximise the benefits from the resources available. It is only when we have an optimum population that the quality of life is maximised.
Carrying Capacity
The amount of people an area can support.
Migration types
Internal - movement within a country
International - Moving from one country to another
Voluntary - Moving by choice
Forced - Having to move - reasons could include war, famine, natural disasters, political asylum etc.
Permanent - With no intention of going back shortly
Temporary/seasonal - moving for a short period of time
Rural to Urban - Moving from the countryside to the city
Urban to Rural - Moving from the city to the countryside
Push factors
Factors that force a person to move. This can include drought, famine, lack of jobs, overpopulation and civil wars.
Pull factors
Factors that encourage a person to move. These include a chance of a better job, better education, a better standard of living, availability of food, peace and wealth.
Migration advantages
Host Country :
Source of labour - skilled and unskilled
Cultural exchange
Source Country :
May reduce burden on the country
Migrants may send money to support family and friends
Help to sustain the local and national economy
Migrant + Family :
May earn more money adn improve standard of living
May meet new people and broaden cultural understanding
Migration Disadvantages
Host Country :
Strain on resources - housing, healthcare and education
Increase of unemployment
May cause racial tension, violence and discrimination
Remittances sent home meaning the GDP in a country is not increasing
Source Country :
Loss of labour especially the skilled ones
Can cause diplomatic tensions if migrants are not treated properly.
Older dependent population suddenly.
Migrant + Family
High cost of living
May result in family separation
Rural-urban migration (impacts on rural areas)
Positives :
- Fewer people to feed
- More land per person
- More resources per person
- Money may be sent home by migrants (remittances)
Negatives :
- Population structure upset by loss of young people
- Fewer economically active men left in the rural community
- Families are split up
- The elderly remain and the death rate in the community may increase
Rural-urban migration (impacts on urban areas)
Positives :
- Increased economically active population in the community
- Increase in the cultural wealth
- More knowledge and skills in the city community
Negatives :
- Pressure on places to live (leads to the development of slums)
- Tensions between older and newer residents
- Pressure on services such as education and healthcare provision
- Social and environmental problems associated with slum growth
Refugee
A person who is fleeing from things such as civil war or a natural disaster but not necessarily facing persecution.
Describe Questions
Say what something is like (use data if available)
7 mark questions
3 / 4 points + statistics
Case study - Bangladesh, - Causes of overpopulation
- Bangladesh = 7 largest population in world / 94th in Land area – thus high population density (>1000 per km²)
- Few natural resources - relies on agriculture
- High birth rates since children = labour on farm
- High birth rates / Death rates have fallen – rapid population increase = natural increase
- 85% of population = Muslim, leaders don’t encourage use of contraception.
- Bangladesh = more people than resources
Case Study - Australia, Causes
Causes
- Small population size –> 21.7 million + abundant land area –> low population desnity.
- Still ample SUITABLE land to increase setllements
- High rates of emigration bc geographically remote country –> young people move to connected areas eg. Europe.
- Low birth rates + death rates –> population increase = 1.15% per year –> not growing rapidly through natural increase
Case Study - Gambia, consequences (Problems + Benefits)
Problems
- Schools in Gambia are overcrowded - children go to school in shfts - 3000 students for 26 classroom in Banjul
- Fertility rates = 5.3 children per woman –> families lack resources to provide for large family –> areas in Banjul –> overcrowded + lack of adequate sanitation.
- Population is approaching carrying capacity
- Widespread deforestation due to need for fuel –> Gambia’s forests will be eradicated in 50 years time.
Benefits
- Gambia will have large working population –> may increase oppurtunity (eg. more labour for development of business)
- Over half of Africa’s population are uner 20. –> Benefits of young people entering workforce.
Dependency Ratio
The number of people of non-working age vs those of woking age. If number is high it manes that are more people of not working age. (<16 / >65). Difficult for governmen to manage.
Case Study - Japan, Causes
Causes
- Later marriages
- Increase in childless couples
- Cultural preference for 1 child
- Women pursuing careers
- Working environment - not very supportive of families (lack of flexible work times)
- More insecure employment
- Japan also has fewer people in fertile age group - less births overall
- Fertility rate fallen from 2.1 in the 1970’s to 1.36 today.
- One of the lowest birth rates in world.
Ageing population - Reasons
Reasons
- Increasing life expectancy
Long life expectancy bc
- Older people stay active
- Healthy diet - eg. fresh veg + low meat
- Good mindset/mental health
- Low birth rates contribute to ageing population since there are less people being added to population –> 29% of Japan’s population are over 65.
Case Study - HIV/AIDS in Botswana - Reasons
Reasons
- Botswana has the 2nd highest rate of HIV infection in the world (35-38% of the population are infected)
- Only 18% of people in Botswana are married + many polygamous men –> people have multiple sexual partners
- Used to be a lot of ignorance surrounding HIV/AIDS in Botswana
- Lack of doctors/nurses
- Poverty led to some young women becomign prostitutes –> increasing spread of virus
Case Study - Mexico - USA, Push Factors
- High crime rates in Mexico, eg. murder rates = 14 per 100,000 people + drug related crimes –> in past five years, 47,500 people killed in drug related crimes.
- Unemployment and poverty major problem in Mexico
- Many work as farmers + extreme temperatures + infertile land cause difficulties –> many financially struggle –> 47% of the population live under the poverty line –> bad living standard.
- Many natural hazards in Mexico –> suffers from volcanoes, earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis.
Case Study - Mexico - USA, Pull Factors
- Better standard of living in USA –> Mexico 10th highest poverty –> 6% of population lack access to ‘improved’ drinking water.
- Migrant communites in Texas + California pull people towards migrating. (want to live with other Mexican’s)
- Better education oppurtunities in America, 86.1% of Mexico literate vs 99% of USA.
Case Study - Mexico - USA, Social Impacts
- Problematic assimilation of Mexicans into American communites - language barriers –> tensions between locals and migrants –> crime/violence/racism
- Introduction of Mexican culture into USA –> improves cultural diversity
- Language barrier –> led to many schools teaching spanish –> improves skill sets.
- Large factor of economically active population leaving Mexico –> worse economy + elderly dependents.
- Majority of migrants = males –> uneven gender ratio in Mexico –> decreased birth rates thus increased dependency ratio.
Case Study - Mexico - USA, Economic Impacts
- Mexicans take menial low-payign jobs that Americans refuse to take. –> improves economy –> social tension ‘migrants stealing jobs’ –> companies replacing American’s with cheaper labour
- Remittances (migrants send back money, 2nd source of income in Mexico) –> economic help in Mexico –> bad in USA (less money spent in economy)
- Less people in Mexico = pressure on land / social services / jobs fall.
- Skilled workforce leaves –> less doctors etc.
- Mexican population dependent on food growth in Mexico // majority of migrants come from rural –> food shortages.
Case Study - Brazil, Rural - Urban, Push Factors
- Pressure on land (housing difficulties)
- Standard of living low (long hours, hard work, little pay)
- People face hardship when the harvest is poor
- Natural disasters like periods of drought
- Many workers do not own the land so have no power or any reason to improve it
- Schools are crowded
- There is poor health care
- There is not much investment by the government in some areas
- Labour replaced by machines
Case Study - Brazil, Rural - Urban, Pull Factors
- Better chances of a job – jobs in cities pay more than farming
- The hope of a better quality of life with improved housing with electricity and water supply
- Better schools – only way to escape poverty
- Better healthcare
- More exciting with better access to entertainment
Case Study - China’s One Child Policy
(Basic information)
- Anti-natalist policy that stated couples could only have 1 child. (introduced 1979-2015)
- It was done to reduce births + stabilise population
- Carrot and stick approach - incentives for those who followed, eg. Cash payments, free healthcare + education for child, preferential access to jobs
- Disincentives, eg. Fines (up to 10, 20% of annual salary), Job loss, Nanny Police, Food rations. (forced abortions + sterilisations)
- Ethnic minorites allowed to have more children.
- Rural families allowed to have another child if first child was a daughter.
Case Study - Gambia, Causes
- 95% of Gambians are muslims - some preists discourage using contraception
- Inequality - women don’t have a large say in family size - don’t discuss family planning (taboo)
- Contraception isn’t affordable/accessible for some
- Many farmers - more children = more labour
- Polygamy - Many men have several wives
- Fertility rate = 5.3 per woman.
Case Study - Japan, Impacts
Impacts
- Few young people being added to the population means that there will be fewer economically active people in the future –> impacts economy since not enough labour –> not enough people to tax –> reduces government funding.
- Will be a need for immigration –> but Japanses do not favour immigration + difficult for migrants to assimilate (hard language)
Case Study - Japan, Solutions
Solutions
- Reforms - increasing child benefits, providing tax allowances for families, making childcare more accessible.
- Encourage immigration (to solve labour shortages)
- Government has introduced laws like the ‘Child Care’ and ‘Family Care Leave’ –> parents can recieve…
- 8 weeks paid leave from work
- Shorter working hours
- Maximum of 24 hours overtime a month
- Economic incentive (eg. Yamatsuri offers parents $4,600 a birth + $460 a year for 10 years)
- Businesses urged to give employees time over
- Shops offer discounts to larger families
Case Study - HIV/AIDS Botswana, Issues
Issues
- Social stigma to be diagnosed with disease as people have been shunned by their communities. –> thus many people refuse to get tested –> If people don’t know they have the disease –> more likely to pass it on to others.
- Life expectancy fallen dramatically bc of high rates of infection –> life expectancy in Botswana was 58 years in 2011, having fallen from 65 in 1991.
- Most affected group is age range 15-40 –>productive sector of the population –> labour shortage bc of dying/sick people–> Thought that 1/3 of Botwana’s workforce is infected with disease.
- Children become orphans as parents pass away.
- Children get disease in-utero
Case Study - HIV/AIDS Botswana, Solutions
Solutions
- Pregnant women given antiretroviral drugs since 2002 –> 56 child deaths per 1000 in 2001 now 11.1 deaths per 1000 in 2011.
- Companies (eg. Debswana (mining company)) proivde free healthcare + access to antiretroviral durgs + contraception + classes about contraception
- Government carries out awareness campaigns on TV, radio + billboards
- Routine testing carried out + awareness campaigns to promote antiretroviral treatment
- Condoms distributed for free
Case Study - Bangladesh, Impacts
Impacts of overpopulation
- Overcrowded - people forced to live on flood risk land. Floods have cause more than 1 million deaths in past 200 years.
- 40% of population = unemployed. + low wages + short shifts –> low income –> low standard of living
- Not enough education + healthcare for large population. Only 48% of population = literate
- High infant mortality rate
Ageing Population - Impacts
Impacts
- Many elderly dependent causes government difficulities to pay for pensions + healthcare for elderly.
- Social difficulties - young have to care for old (time consuming)
- Eldery people in Japan cannot afford to reitre –> work well into 70s
- Many elderly live below poverty line (low pensions) –> increased homeless elders
- Many depressed elders –> 1/3 of Japan’s suicides are above age 65.
Ageing Population - Solutions
Solutions
- Increase birth rates (improves population balance)
- Offer less demading part time jobs for elderly population
- Increase retirement age –> still contribute to economy
- Roobotic care systems have been suggested –> to help bathe elderly (cons - can malfunction + elderly benefit from social contact)
Case Study - Australia, Impacts
Impacts
- Large reserves of natural resources (Gold, Copper, Natural gas + uranium) - not able to use all resources –> exports (earnings = $200 billion anually.)
- Strong economy + good education –> literacy rate = 99.9% + good healthcare
- Excellent living standard = could support more people.
- Despite many resources - small workforce. If larger workforece they could better exploit natural resources –> grow economy –> better standard of living.
Case Study - Norrland, Causes
- Norrland = 60% of area, 11% of population
- Population Density = 4.9 people per km²
- Skanderna found in Northern Sweden near Norwegian border (rough, tall terrain)
- Large areas of uninhabitable marshland in Norrland.
- Cities cluster by coast.
- Extremely low temperatures (snow 1 meter sometimes) + sunlight radiation –> difficult transport when snow + no agriculture.
- Soil in norrland = moraine –> unsuited for agriculture + iron sulphide in it can cause rusting in houses
- Moraine suited for pine forests.
Case Study - Svealand, Causes
- Svealand + Götaland contain 89% of Swedens population
- 94 people per km²
- Capital city Stockholm –> job oppurtunites etc.
- Soil in southern Sweden very fertile + very temperate climate –> agriculture very easy
- Many ports for trade –> cities established in history.
- Many big cities –> better living standards/ government funding/ oppurtunities –> clustering
China Case Study - Consequences
- Birth rate has fallen, parent concentrate resources on one child, 300-400 million births prevented.
- Against human rights, uneven gender ratio –> led to forced marriages, future ageing population
- Illegal abortions, Abandoned babies (typically girls)