Population Flashcards
Sparsely populated
A small population, few people, per km squared
Densely populated
A high population, lot of people, per km squared
Population density
The number of people / km squared
Is the world’s population evenly distributed?
No
Give an example of a densely populated area.
Western Europe
Give an example of a sparsely populated area.
Central Australia
Give four human and physical for densely populated areas? (positive factors)
P - pleasant climate
P - flat or gently sloping land
H - money available for investment
H - industry and jobs
More
P - good fertile soil
P - good food supply
P - good water supply
H - good communication links
H - natural resources for industry
Give 4 human and physical for sparsely populated areas? (negative factors)
P - too hot or cold
P - dense forest
H - poor transport links
H - little industry
More
P - too wet or dry
P - steep slopes
P - poor soils
P -poor water supply
P - few natural resources
H -lack of investment
Overpopulation
Too many people in a country for the resources available.
What are 2 consequences of overpopulation?
- Lack of clean water (diseases like cholera from dirty water)
- Pressure on services
More:
- Lack of food
- Pressure on housing
- High energy needs
- Increasing pollution (link to global warming)
Natural Increase
Population growth due to number of births exceeding the number of deaths.
Birth Rate
Number of births per 1000 people / year.
Death rate
Number of death per 1000 people / year.
Infant Mortality Rate
The number of babies that die before their first birthday per 1000.
Why has the world population growth exploded?
It has expanded because of the developing countries, where the birth rate is higher than the death rate, causing a natural increase. This explosion started in 1950 and is predicted to peak in 2100.
What are the key factors in population change?
Birth Rate
Death Rate
Migration
Migration
The movement of people from one place to another.
International Migration
When people move from one country (the source) to another country (the host).
Rural-urban migration
Movement of people from rural areas into towns or cities.
What is a push factor (give 2 examples) ?
What forces people to leave (opposite of pull factor).
Unemployment
War or conflict
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Low wages
Lack of medical care (illnesses go untreated)
No clean water
Poor school.
What is a pull factor (give 2 examples) ?
Something which attracts people into an area or another country (opposite of push factor).
More jobs
Better education and health services
Higher wages
Medical services
Improving life expectancy
Population structure
The number / proportion of people in each age range and broken down into gender.
Population pyramid
Shows the population structure of the country it represents.
Life expectancy
The average age an individual is expected to live in a particular country or region.
What are the three group on a population pyramid?
- Young dependents: 0-15 age group, do not work and do not pay taxes.
- Economically active: 16-65 age group, working age and can provide taxes.
- Elderly dependents: 65+ age group, retired, do not work and do not pay taxes.
How does a population pyramid vary between developing and developed countries?
Developing countries (e.g. Kenya) have pyramids with a wide base, which shows a high birth, however the top is narrow, which shows a low life expectancy.
Developed countries (e.g. Germany) have pyramids with a narrow base, which shows a low birth rate, whereas the top is much wider than a developing country, which shows a long life expectancy.
What is the DTM?
The Demographic Transition Model is a theory that suggests each country’s total population growth rate cycles through the five different stages as the country develops economically.
What are 2 reasons that developing countries have high birth rates compared to developed countries?
- Children needed for farming
- High infant mortality rates
More
- Children needed to look after the elderly
- No sex ed
- No contraception
- Young marriages
- Boys preferred
- Large families have higher status
- Woman have no career
- Young aren’t travelling / no university
