Population Flashcards
1
Q
Census
A
- Census is a survey carried out every 10 years.
- Each householder is asked to complete a detailed questionnaire about the number of people living in their home.
- Householders answer other questions on their social, economic and cultural background.
2
Q
Scottish Household Survey
A
Scottish Household Survey is a continuous survey based on a random sample of the population which is cheaper than carrying out a full census.
3
Q
Civil registrations
A
Civil registrations of births, marriages and deaths keep an up to date count between censuses.
4
Q
Government records
A
Governments also collect data on migration, for example visa applications
and NHS records provide health data.
5
Q
National Population Sample Surveys
A
In China National Population Sample Surveys have been conducted annually, with 1% of the population being asked to complete the form.
6
Q
Sampling
A
Population surveys are conducted to gather social and economic data, and can be conducted at regional, national or international levels.
7
Q
Language barriers
A
- Countries with many official languages have to translate their census forms and employ enumerators who can speak multiple languages.
- Eg. Nigeria has six major languages and hundreds of unofficial languages requiring more enumerators.
8
Q
Literacy levels
A
Many people can’t read and write, and therefore are unable to complete the forms, or might make mistakes unintentionally
9
Q
Inaccessibility
A
- Poor infrastructure and difficult terrain may make it difficult for enumerators to distribute census forms.
- Eg. Amazon Rainforest.
10
Q
Wars
A
Conflict can make it too dangerous for enumerators to enter, or for data to quickly become dated.
11
Q
Cost
A
- Undertaking the census is a very expensive process, even for developed world countries.
- In developing countries, there may be higher priorities for spending, including housing, education and health care.
12
Q
Homelesness
A
- Many people in developing countries may be living in shanty towns, or are homeless, so have no official address making it difficult to count them.
- Eg. Dhararvi.
13
Q
Rural-urban migration
A
Rapid rural to urban migration, can make it difficult to gather accurate population data.
14
Q
Ethnic tension
A
- Ethnic tensions and internal political rivalries may lead to inaccuracies.
- E.g, northern Nigeria was reported to have inflated its population figures to secure increased political representation.
15
Q
Nomads
A
- Nomads/shifting cultivators can be easily missed or counted twice.
- E.g, the Tuareg/Fulani/Bedouin.
16
Q
Illegal immigration
A
People who are illegal immigrants are unlikely to complete a census for fear of deportation, leading to inaccurate data.
17
Q
Impact of high birth rate and growing populations
A
- The total population will put additional pressure on services and resources like education.
- Housing in many developing countries is already overcrowded. This problem is likely to continue, with many people being forced to live in shanty town housing.
- There will be a much larger potential workforce which may attract multinational companies to the country.
- An increase in the active age group, however, could also result in higher levels of unemployment or underemployment.
- Significant investment in maternity hospitals, immunisation programmes and education will be needed.
- It will be necessary to build more schools and train more teachers.
- Government policies may promote smaller families or encourage emigration to reduce the problems of over-population.
- It will also be necessary to invest in health-care to meet the needs of an ageing population.
18
Q
Impact of declining and ageing populations
A
- The increase in elderly will lead to an increased cost of pensions to the government and increased tax contributions for the economically-active population.
- The retirement age may need to be increased and more services for older people provided, such as care homes.
- There will be an increased strain/costs on the Health Service to meet the needs of the ageing population for example more hip-replacements or heart medication.
- The economically active group gets smaller and has to support a growing dependent population.
- A declining population may mean a lower unemployment rate in the future, however a decrease in the economically active population may lead to a skills gap.
- Citizens may be encouraged to invest in private healthcare schemes and/or pensions
- There may also be more demands placed on adult children to care for elderly parents
- A falling birth rate may lead to a decline in demand for services for children such as schools.
- In the longer term, companies may have difficulty recruiting young workers.
19
Q
Push factors- Poland to UK migration
A
- Not enough jobs with very few opportunities. Eg. in 2014 the unemployment rate in Poland was around 14%.
- Low paying jobs resulting in a low standard of living. Eg. poor quality housing.
- State benefits were very low compared to the UK. Healthcare in the UK is free at the point of delivery.
- Due to increased mechanisation/privatisation of farms rural unemployment rose sharply.
20
Q
Pull factors- Poland to UK migration
A
- Due to Poland joining the European Union, this allowed people to move freely with unlimited migration.
- Immigrant Polish workers earned wages five times greater than they could get at home.
- The exchange rate meant that the sterling conversion into zloty was favourable and meant that people could send money back to family members in Poland.
- There were plenty of available jobs in parts of the economy such as in construction and trades such as plumbers and electricians.
- Better provision of services, eg the NHS
- The number of Poles living in the UK meant that communities of friends and family were established – this became a pull factor.
21
Q
Impact on donor country
A
- A declining population means less pressure on limited resources like good quality housing and healthcare allowing living standards to improve.
- Migration helps reduce the unemployment rates for the donor country.
- Birth rate is lowered (typically migrants are male) so further reducing strain on resources such as education and health.
- Migrants often send money home to their families meaning people have more money - helps to improve standard of living in the donor country.
- The most educated and healthy leave which could hinder development and it tend to be older population that stay behind.
- Returning migrants return with knowledge and skills.
- There is less money raised in tax revenue for the donor country.
- Families and communities are affected by separation.
- There can be gender imbalances, as it is often males who move.
22
Q
Impact on recieving country
A
- The economy of the country often gains, as companies are able to draw upon new pools of skills and talent.
- The government receives tax from migrant workers.
- Migrant workers carry out jobs that British people will not do due to low wages and unsociable hours, including fish processing, farm work and cleaning.
- Public services can benefit, for example there is a high number of foreign nationals working in the UK’s NHS for example.
- Generally, migrants are perceived as hard workers and many are highly skilled and/or graduates so bring sought after skills, for example in construction.
- It creates a multicultural society – eg, shops or aisles in supermarkets selling foods and other products typical of the donor country.
- The language barrier and cultural differences can lead to racial tension with ethnic groups tending not to integrate which can add to the tension.
- Significant immigration may lead to over-crowded, multi occupancy accommodation due to the pressures on housing in certain areas.
- The education system may become strained due to the number of children for whom English is not their first language.
- A high number of migrants can lead to increased unemployment rates.
- If the receiving country is over populated or over crowded inward migration can increase pressure on the country’s natural resources such as food and water.
