Population Flashcards
what is overpopulation
when there are more people in an area than can be supported by its resources and technology
what is underpopulation
when there are more resources available than the population can use effectively
5 impacts of overpopulation
- levels of pollution
- crime rates
- unemployment or underemployment
- levels of food and water shortages
- pressure on services such as hospitals and schools
5 impacts of underpopulation
- fewer people pay taxes, which can lead to higher taxes
- underused resources, which can lead to waste
- a shortage of workers
- lower levels of exports and production, which affects the wealth of an area
- fewer customers for goods and services
what is optimum population
when there is a balance between the number of people and the resources and technology available
what is birth rate
The number of babies born per 1000 people per year.
what is death rate
The number of people who die per 1000 people per year.
what is population growth rate
The difference between the birth rate and death rate (how quickly the population grows)
2 ways of population change
- migration
- natural population change
what is emigration
movement of people out of one country into another country
what is immigration
movement of people into a country from another country
what is net migration
the difference between the number of people moving into a country (immigrants) and the number of people leaving the country (emigrants)
4 reasons for global population increase
- improved agriculture, particularly during the agricultural revolution, led to higher yields and more varied diets
- improved medicine and medical care, which reduces the death rate
- improved technology and transport led to a wealthier population, which increased life expectancy
- improved water supply and sewage disposal leading to a reduction in disease
5 reasons for high BR in LEDC’s
- lack of access to family planning and contraception
- an increase in women surviving childbirth
- families continuing to have large numbers of children to look after their parents in old age and to help support the family
- the culture of having larger families, which takes many years to change
- religious reasons
what is natural increase
when the BR is higher than DR so the population increases
what is natural decrease
when the DR is higher than the BR so the population decreases
4 social reasons for population change
- Infant mortality rate - when this is high, the fertility rate also tends to be high as women have more children to ensure some survive to adulthood
- education - higher levels of education lead to lower fertility rates as more women are in formal employment
- Religion - religious beliefs can influence how many children a woman has
- Healthcare - availability of contraception and family planning
3 economic reasons for population change
- Cost of having children- In MEDCs the cost of raising children may reduce the number of children a woman has
- Lack of pensions - in LEDCs, children are needed to care for elderly parents as there are no pensions. This increases the fertility rate
- Contribution to family income - in LEDCs, children often work to contribute to family income so more children are needed, increasing the fertility rate
2 population policies
- Anti-natalist policies - aim to reduce BR and reduce pressure of resources e.g. china
- Pro-natalist policies - aim to increase BR to increase workforce, reduce taxes, etc e.g. singapore
case study: nigeria general facts
- over-populated
- Nigeria’s population is 227 million
- forecast to reach 400 million by 2050 and 1 billion by 2100
- over 30% of the population live in poverty, earning less than $515 a year
nigeria 5 causes
- high birth and fertility rates - 45% of women are married before they reach 18 - increases number of children each woman has as childbearing age is longer. fertility rate is 5.32 per woman
- Larger families are traditionally associated with higher social status
- High infant mortality rates are associated with high fertility rates as women have more children to ensure that some survive to adulthood. It takes time for this to adjust to lower infant mortality rates. IMR used to be 125 per 1000, now is 72 per 1000.
- Lack of education about family planning and contraception - due to poverty cannot afford education
- The death rate has fallen from 19 per 1000 (1990) to 11 per 1000 (2020
nigeria 6 impacts
- Lack of fresh water, which leads to the spread of disease — 29% of children in Nigeria do not have enough water to meet their daily needs
- increased water, air and land pollution - Lagos has one of the highest levels of air pollution of any city in the world
- Increased cultivation of land for food, which leads to soil erosion and desertification - 40 million people in northern Nigeria are at risk of losing their livelihoods due to desertification. Over 19.5 million people face acute food insecurity
- Increased pressure on already poor services such as health and education
- Higher crime rates - high youth unemployment has led to increased gang activity and militant groups
- Development of informal settlements around cities, particularly Lagos e.g. slums
case study: australia general facts
- population of 27 million
- population density of 3 per km^2
- 865 of population is urban
australia 7 causes
- well developed healthcare system increases infant mortality
- people focusing on their careers means less child-bearing time as they get married later
- high quality education to learn about contraception and preventing accidental pregnancy
- easy access to contraception
- infant mortality is low so people dont have to have large families to ensure children survive
- extremely high cost of living means less people will move there
- sparsely populated with 3 people per km^2.
australia 5 impacts
- only 11.6 million labour force
- low per capita income as natural resources arent fully utilised
- too much food produced for the lack of population leading to wastage
- less people having kids means less schools required so there will be less teachers - less job opportunities
- not enough workers to exploit natural resources
case study: niger high natural population growth general facts
- 1960 population was 3.3 million
- by 2021 it was 25 million
- population growth rate of 3.8%
niger 5 causes
- the average age of marriage is 15.7 years, meaning that women have more childbearing years
- low levels of education for women only 4 out of 10 girls finish primary school
- High value is placed on large families
- Only 12% of women use modern contraception
- The death rate in Niger is decreasing, falling from 29 per 1000 (1960) to 8 per 1000 (2020) due to:
- Increased urbanisation, which improves access to services such as healthcare and food
- Better food and clean water supply
- Improved access to healthcare
- Government policies to improve farming practices, which have increased food supplies
- Free healthcare to pregnant women improving mother and baby survival rates
niger 6 impacts
- A highly dependent population of young people below the age of 15
- Increased pressure on schools and health services
- A younger population should increase economic growth but job and wealth distribution is uneven
- Increased rural-urban migration to seek work
- Development of illegal settlements on the edges of cities
- Food shortages: an estimated 2.5 million people are suffering from food insecurity
niger 5 managements
- abolishing child marriage (marriage under the age of 18)
- improving access to education
- improved access to health services, contraception and family planning advice
- girls and women no longer need permission from parents/husbands to access contraception
- married and/or pregnant girls can still go to school to ensure they continue to receive an education
case study: singapore population decline 6 causes
- anti-natalist policies in the past
- access to low cost contraception
- use of media to promote family planning
- easy access to family planning
- free education for small families
- women working in public sector receive no maternity leave
singapore 7 impacts
- raised taxes because there arent enough young people
- the old people ratio is expected to fall from 5.9 to 2.1 workers per retired citizen
- 8 junior colleges merged into 4 due to falling role numbers
- plans to remove 20 primary schools in 10 years
- government sponsored dating agencies
- parents with good academic qualities get child benefits
- in 2022, the fertility rate was 1.2
singapore 5 government responses
- discount for IBF
- date nights planned by gov
- baby bonus
- larger HDB’s
- longer maternity leave
china one child policy 6 incentives
- cash bonuses
- longer maternity leave
- free medical care
- better child care
- free education
- preferential housing arrangements
china one child policy 5 disincentives
- people monitored by ‘granny police’
- receive heavy fines
- sacked from jobs
- if had another child could lose all privileges
- unauthorised pregnancies need abortions
what do the granny police do
- go around monitoring if people are pregnant or using contraception
- home visits
- checking medical centres
singapore 3 or more 6 incentives
- cash gift of 3000 each for first and second child
- cash gift of 6000 or each thrid and fourth child
- 3 month maternity leave for mothers
- 3 days of paternity leave on the birth of first 4 kids for dads
- 5 days of paid child care leave a year
- parents can live in large flats
singapore 3 or more 3 disincentives
- couples with no kids arent entitled to buy anything more than a 3 room flat
- no choice of schools so their education may suffer
- they don’t receive financial packages offered by government
what are population pyramids
- used to display the gender and age structure of a given population
- illustrate the distribution of the population across age groups and between male and female
- enable governments to assess the needs of the population for services such as healthcare and education
structure of LEDC population pyramid e.g. Niger
LEDCs like Niger have a concave pyramid shape
Stages 1 and 2 of the model and this indicates:
- high birth rate
- low life expectancy
- high death rate but starting to decrease
- high infant mortality rate
- a young dependent population dominates
structure of more developed LEDC population pyramid e.g. Nepal
LEDCs/NICs that are a little further along the demographic transition, such as Nepal, have a convex pyramid shape
Stage 3 of the demographic transition model indicates:
- decreasing birth rate
- increasing life expectancy
- decreasing death rate
- decreasing infant mortality
- larger working-age population
structure of MEDC population pyramid e.g. USA
MEDC countries such as the USA have a column-shape
Stage 4 of the demographic transition model indicates:
- decreasing birth rate
- increasing life expectancy
- decreasing death rate
- low infant mortality
- larger working-age population
structure of MEDC pyramid e.g. Japan
MEDC countries such as Japan have a pentagon shape with a narrowing base
Stage 5 of the demographic transition model indicates:
- Decreasing birth rate
- Increasing life expectancy
- The death rate is higher than the birth rate due to the ageing population
- Low infant mortality
- Ageing population: older dependent population
case study: high dependent population Japan general facts
- decreasing population - 128 million to 125.8 million in 13 years
- The fertility rate is 1.36 births per woman, which is well below the 2.1 fertility replacement rate
- The birth rate is 6.8 per 1000
- The death rate is 11.1 per 1000
- Japan has the highest life expectancy in the world at 84.36 years
Japan 5 causes
- lowered BR - later marriage - 30.7 for men and 29 for women
- dedication to raising healthy kids - more children growing healthy
- high employment rates for married women - reproduction happens later
- longer life expectancy due to good medical care, diets and a high quality of life
- fairly low fertility rate - less babies being born
Japan 6 impacts
- work force expected to fall 25% over next 20 years and half in next 50
- economic growth will slow as more of the population is retired
- declining labour productivity means rising price levels
- population will shrink from 127 million to 95 million in 2050
- healthcare and nursing home costs are expected to be almost 1 trillion in 2050
- falling working population means Japans position at 3rd largest world economy is impossible to maintain
5 physical factors affecting population distribution
- Climate - population density tends to be lower in colder regions and tropical deserts
- Water supply - settlements are usually located near a water supply for drinking, washing, etc.
- Natural resources - these include minerals such as coal and oil. Areas with large amounts of natural resources tend to have higher population density
- Relief - Mountainous areas tend to have lower population density due to difficulties in building and growing crops
- Soil quality - Population densities are highest where the soil fertility and quality are best. This makes it easier to grow crops
4 human factors affecting population distribution
- Job opportunities - More people live where there are more jobs. the number of jobs is often affected by the infrastructure (transport/communication) and capital (the money available)
- Political - Government investment in an area can improve the infrastructure, which increases industry/business and attracts more people
- quality of living - The better the housing, education and services the more people are likely to be attracted to an area, increasing the population density
- Cultural - In some cultures, larger families are valued highly or religious beliefs dictate larger families
case study: densely populated SG general facts
- population density of 8000 people per km^2
- 3rd most densely populated country in the world
singapore 8 causes of high density
- only 716 km², which means the population is living in a limited amount of space
- tropical climate with uniformly high temperatures between 25ºC and 27ºC
- Almost all the land is habitable and either flat or gently sloping, with the highest point at only 165 m above sea level
- Access to water supplies
- Excellent infrastructure and communication
- Low crime rates
- Stable government
- High immigration rates
singapore 6 impacts of high density
- Housing shortages
- High rents and house prices
- Only 1% of the land is used for agriculture, which means most of the food is imported
- Increased pressure on infrastructure such as public transport and services such as schools
- Increased waste
- Increased air and water pollution
case study: sparsely populated mongolia general facts
- Mongolia has an area of 1,564,000 km²
- The population density is 2 people per km²
mongolia 8 causes of low density
- The harsh climate in many areas with very cold winters, which can reach -30°C
- High altitudes mostly between 900 and 1500 m above sea level
- Vast areas of desert and semi-desert
- The climate and relief make agriculture very difficult
- Mongolia is a landlocked country, which makes trade difficult
- Poor infrastructure and communication; only about 20% of the few roads are tarmac
- Severe winters and hot summers can lead to a lack of pastures for grazing
- Low birth rates
mongolia 4 impacts of low density
- Difficulties in accessing services such as healthcare and education, particularly in rural areas
- Poor access to markets and trade
- A lack of economic activities
- Increased rural-urban migration
what is migration?
Migration is the movement of people across an official boundary, either internationally or nationally, intending to create a permanent place of residence
10 push factors
- unemployment
- war
- crime
- poverty
- divorce
- health
- harsh climate
- retirement
- drought
- famine
11 pull factors
- freedom of speech
- cheap land
- family ties
- no hazards
- employment
- marriage
- personal safety
- education
- higher wages
- better lifestyle
- health services
what is voluntary migration
Voluntary migration involves the free choice of movement
what is involuntary migration
where the migrant has no choice but to leave their place of origin
5 positive impacts of migration on country of destination
- More low-wage workers
- Job fulfilment
- Cultural enrichment
- Increased diversity
- Boost to local economy
5 negative impacts of migration on country of destination
- Job competition
- Increased pressure on natural resources
- Increased pressure on public services
- Discrimination and racial tensions (immigrants seen as stealing jobs)
- Overcrowding
5 positive impacts on country of origin
- Migrants may return with new skills
- Reduction in unemployment
- Less pressure on public services
- More resources available
- Remittances are a source of income and can boost local economy
5 negative impacts on country of origin
- Tax increases due to depopulation
- Reduction of workforce
- Brain-drain effect: less of a skilled workforce
- Ageing population with an outflow of young people
- Depopulation in rural areas affecting agricultural output
7 positive impacts on the mgirant
- There are usually better jobs on arrival
- They have escaped from conflict
- Usually a better quality of life
- A better education and job skills
- A sense of integration/hope
- Wider choice of job opportunities
- They can support their family back home through remittances
7 negative impacts on the migrant
- They can run out of money
- There can be a language and cultural barrier
- Many migrants can be exploited
- There can be passport, visa or immigration issues
- Weather conditions can be unsuitable for a migrant’s current clothing
- Problems with housing or accommodation upon arrival
- illness: as there is often no available healthcare
case study: mexico to US migration 5 pull factors
- Higher average incomes in the USA
- Lower unemployment rates in the USA
- High population growth in Mexico results in faster labour force growth and competition for few available jobs
- Quality of life is better in the USA than in Mexico
- Ability to send remittances back to Mexico
5 push factors from mexico
- High crime rates in Mexico
- Higher unemployment and poverty rates
- High rates of subsistence farming
- Hot arid and semi-arid conditions cause water shortages, which also limits agricultural potential
- Natural hazards such as earthquakes
7 impacts on mexico of migration
- rural areas are left with a shortage of economically active people
- In some rural areas, women outnumber men, with women having problems finding a suitable marriage partner
- Certain villages, such as Santa Ines, have lost two-thirds of their inhabitants
- In Axochiapan, husbands and fathers are absent for years, leaving women to raise their children, with the community becoming increasingly dependent on remittances
- Critics argue that dependence on remittances can slow local initiatives and incentives for people to move forward
- Young adults tend to migrate, leaving an ageing community behind
- With fewer children, these communities will gradually die out
9 impacts on USA of migration
- illegal immigration costs the U.S. millions of dollars for border patrols, fences and detention centres
- Mexicans are seen as a drain on the U.S. economy
- Migrant workers keep wages low, which affects unskilled Americans
- Cultural and racial issues are increased in urban regions
- The majority of illegal Mexican immigrants work as janitors, truck drivers, gardeners, construction labourers, or manual labour
- Tension has risen over concerns about the availability of jobs for working-class Americans and other immigrants
- Opposition to illegal immigration has seen the rise of ‘Minutemen’ groups; these are civilian groups who patrol the U.S. borders and confront illegal workers around the country
- Remittances are seen as money lost from the American Economy
- In 2021, $48.9bn was sent to Mexico from the U.S
