Population Flashcards
Population Structures
Developing
(Structure and Explanation)
Devoloping - Pyramid shaped.
WIDE BASE - Lots of children so there is a higher birth rate.
MIDDLE - Tapers quickly shows deaths. This could be due to a higher death rate from poor sanitation or disease.
NARROW TOP - Fewer old people as there’s a higher death rate and a low life expectancy.
Population Change
Changes in birth rates.
• Birth rates may be high because of a high infant mortality rate, so parents have babies to compensate for the ones they expect to die.
• There is also little access to reliable contraception, meaning more babies can be born.
• More children are born to help to look after parents in old age, as there may be a lack of care homes.
• Religion is also a factor as most religions will prohibit the use of contraception, leading to a higher birth rate.
• Birth rates fall because there is an increased access to contraception and family planning.
• There is a low infant mortality rate so parents don’t need to have so many babies.
• The desire for material possessions takes over the desire for large families as wealth increases meaning fewer babies.
• People are less religious these days, so are more comfortable using contraception.
• Sex education in schools helps lower birth rates.
Population Change
Changes in death rates.
• Access to a regular supply of clean water helps to reduce diseases and death rates.
• Improved diets such as those which include a variety of nutrients and protein help people to live a longer healthier life like in Japan where the life expectancy is 86 years old.
• Better pensions and good care for the elderly means that people are given the means by which they can live longer.
• Good sanitation has improved people’s health which means that death rates are lower.
• Good medical care has improved people’s chances of maintaining good health thus reducing death rates.
• Vaccinations have helped reduce worldwide infant mortality.
Population Density
Physical
(what makes places crowded or empty)
• Climate - People prefer to live in temperate climates where there is enough rain fall and no temperature extremes.
• Relief - People prefer to live on flat, low-lying areas as they are easier to build on and grow crops. Steep slopes make it difficult for machinery to operate and houses to be built.
• Soil Fertility - People prefer to live in areas with fertile soil so that crops can be grown to supply food. Where there are poor-quality soils, few crops can be grown so fewer people live there.
• Water - People are most likely to live in areas where there is a supply of drinking water as it is need for human survival. People cannot live without water so they tend to live where there is a fresh supply.
• Natural Resources - People are likely to live in areas where there are raw minerals such as gold and timber to exploit and sell. Natural landscapes can attract tourists.
Population Density
Human
(what makes places crowded or empty)
• Transport & Communications - Areas which are accessible tend to have higher population densities. places with good transport links such as railways attract people and industries which in turn create employment opportunities.
• Job Opportunities - Jobs in different industries encourage people to move to find work.
• Government Stability - Industries locate where there is government funding available, as a result more people move into these areas for work.
• Services (Health & Education) - Many urban areas are crowded as people move to cities like London for a variety of amenities and services like healthcare.
Indicators of Development
Social
(how do these statistics tell us if it is a developed or developing country)
• A high number of people per doctor show a lack of healthcare provision.
• The more people per doctor the less developed a country will be because there isn’t enough money to educate them.
• Developing countries often have poor education systems and lack of universities to train qualified doctors.
• Governments in developing countries cannot afford to keep hospitals stocked with adequate provisions.
Indicators of Development
Economic
(how do these statistics tell us if it is a developed or developing country)
• The lower the percentage of people working in agriculture the more developed a country will be because most people work in factories or services.
• Developed countries have fewer people working in farming because they can afford to import food from other countries.
• People work in mainly secondary and tertiary industries as there is more money to be made in these sectors.
• More people work in agriculture in the developing world because of the lack of mechanisation.
Population Structures
Developed
(Structure and Explanation)
Developed - Bullet Shaped.
NARROW BASE - Fewer children so there is a lower birth rate.
MIDDLE - Wide middle meaning there’s a lower death rate.
WIDER TOP - More older people as there’s a lower death rate and a high life expectancy.
