Population Flashcards
What is population density ?
The average number of people who live in each square kilometre.
What name is given when areas have a lot of people per square kilometre ?
High population density
What name is given when areas have a few of people per square kilometre ?
Low population density
How do we calculate the population density ?
total population divided by total land area in km squared.
Name a country which has a high population density ?
India
Name a country which has a low population density ?
Greenland
Where does the majority of the world’s population live in ?
The developing world
Where are the majority of places with high population densities found ?
In the developed world
What is population distribution ?
The spread of people across the world,i.e. where people live.
How is the population of the world spread ?
unevenly
List 3 human factors which influence global population distribution ?
Communications, employment opportunities and technological development
List 4 physical factors which influence global population distribution ?
Climate, relief, soils and natural resources
What effect does climate have on influencing global population distribution ? (3)
People prefer to live in temperature climates where there is enough rainfall and no temperature extremes (e.g. NW Europe) .
Very high temperatures make farming difficult.
Very cold temperatures make it difficult to grow crops as growing seasons are short, therefore food has to be imported or to build homes and transport links as the ground can be frozen in winter and muddy in summer . (e.g. Northern Russia)
What effect does relief have on influencing global population distribution ? (5)
Steep slopes make using machinery difficult.
Making houses, roads and railways is difficult
High, mountainous areas are too cold to grow crops and soils are too thin.
Areas are often remote and difficult to access.
Flat,low-lying land areas have deeper soil which makes it easier to grow crops.
What effect do natural resources have on influencing global population distribution ? (3)
More natural resources, such as coal, in an area means more industry= more job opportunities (e.g. Wales)
Countries with advanced technology attract higher businesses and create job opportunities. (e.g. Japan)
Scenery is a resource and can attract tourists so people go to work or even retire there. (e.g. California)
What effect do soils have on influencing global population distribution ? (2)
Areas with fertile soils (Ganges Valley) are good for growing crops to feed the population.
Poor soils with few nutrients mean there will be a low agricultural output = lower population
What effect do employment opportunities have on influencing global population distribution ? (1)
Jobs - e.g. manufacturing and service industries encourage people to move to find work. (e.g. SE Australia)
What effect do communications have on influencing global population distribution ? (2)
Areas with good transport links, such as roads and railways, will attract people and industry = employment opportunities (e.g. London)
Remote areas which are isolated and have poor transport links do not attract people.
Where is there the majority of population growth ?
In the developing world.
Describe the population of the world in the 1950’s
Relatively low and steady until 1950’s when there was a population explosion. Since then, there has been a rapid increase in the world’s population.
What are the 2 main causes of world population to change ?
Births and deaths
How are births measured ?
using the birth rate (BR - number of live births per 1000 people of the population per year )
How are deaths measured \?
using the death rate (DR - number of deaths per 1000 people of the population per year )
What is the difference between the BR and the DR called ?
Natural Increase (NI)
How do we calculate the natural increase ?
NI= BR (PER 1000 PEOPLE) - DR (PER 1000 PEOPLE)
How is the rate of NI given ?
As a percentage calculated by dividing the NI by 1000
Why are BR’s lower in developed countries ? (5)
Contraception and family planning is more readily available.
More women work and have a career.
Cost of raising a family has increased.
People marry later= less opportunity for large families.
Increased desire for material possessions (e.g. cars and holidays instead of children)
Why are DR’s lower in developed countries ? (3)
Advances in modern medicine (vaccinations against diseases, e.g. Measles)
Improvements to water and sanitation.
People are generally well fed (enhanced food production and storage)
Why are BR’s higher in developing countries ? (5)
Children are needed to work and bring in an income for the family.
Children are required to look after elderly parents because of a lack of pensions.
Lack of availability and knowledge of contraception.
High infant mortality rates, so parents have more children In the hope that some survive.
In some developing countries, children can be seen as a status symbol.
Why are DR’s higher in developing countries ? (7)
Lack of food caused by famine.
Malnutrition cause by poor diet.
Poor sanitation and lack of clean drinking water.
Natural disasters destroying crops.
High levels of disease, e.g. Malaria
Lack of doctors, medicine and healthcare.
War (e.g. Afghanistan)
What is population divided into ?
5 year age groups
What do we expect to see the shape of a population pyramid for a developing country ?
Pyramid
What are the problems of a developing country population structure ? (3)
Less than half the population is of the working age and have to provide for the rest of the people.
Countries need to spend a lot of money in hospitals, doctors and nurses due to so many births.
Once children reach school age, it cost a lot to provide school and teachers.
What are the advantages of population growth ? (3)
Large number of people available for armed forces = more power and less vulnerable to attack.
More workers = increased production in farms, factories and offices.
More workers = wage rates are lower = attracts international companies.