Population

Question 1

population distribution

Answer 1

how people are spread across an area (rarely distributed evenly, some areas will be densely populated and some areas will be sparsely populated)

Question 2

population density

Answer 2

the average number of people in a given area, e.g. per km²

Question 3

overpopulation

Answer 3

when a country or region does not have enough resources to keep its people at a reasonable standard of living

Question 4

underpopulation

Answer 4

when a country or region has more resources available than are being used by the people living there

Question 5

optimum population

Answer 5

the population is at a level where it can maximise the benefits from the available resources

Question 6

carrying capacity

Answer 6

the maximum population size of the population that the environment can sustain indefinitely, given the food, habitat, water, and other necessities available in the environment

Question 7

factors that influence where people live (physical, human)

Answer 7

physical: flat land, (in)fertile land, reliable water, marsh land, climate, steep relief, natural resources
human: employment, transportation, communication,

Question 8

consequences of underpopulation

Answer 8

• shortage of workers
• less people paying tax
• not possible to exploit all resources
• scarcity of schools, hospitals, public transport links
• the need to attract foreign workers
• less innovation, development (brain drain)
• hard to defend country
• the increase in the dependency ratio

Question 9

consequences of overpopulation

Answer 9

• heavily farmed land > over cultivation
• poor farmers > infertile soil
• pressure on resources
• many people not able to have permanent housing
• high unemployment rates
  stress on health care and medical facilities such as hospitals and medication
• traffic
• increased inequality