Population Flashcards
3 ways to collect population data
Census
Birth & death certificates
Migration records
What is a census
A questionnaire that every household is required the complete, in Scotland it’s carried out every 10 years
Problems with a census
Expensive (Bangladesh) Lower literacy rates (Ethiopia) Difficult terrain (Nepal) Many different languages (India) War Zones (Afghanistan) Nomadic people (Maasai - Kenya) Distrust in government (Iraq)
Population structure - developing country
High infant mortality rate Religious beliefs Lack of birth control Children viewed as economic assets (working on farms) Large family traditions
High levels of disease Famine Lack of clean water and sanitation Lack of education War Poor healthcare
Population structure - developed country
Increased availability to birth control, accepted in society
Lower infant mortality rate
Increased standard of living
Changing status of women
Increased mechanisation, reduced need for workers
Expensive to have a child
Improved education
Accessable and widespread healthcare Improved hygiene Improved sanitation Improved food production and storage Pensions Rising standard of living
Consequences of population structure - aging population
Need more care services (day care, meals on wheels)
Need more sheltered housing and old people’s homes
Cost of health care rises
Working population pay more taxes for pensions
Fewer people paying taxes
Fewer people for armed forces
Rise in retirement age
Less money for services like schools
Consequences of population structure - youthful population
Need to spend a lot of money on healthcare needed for children
Expense of providing schools and teachers
Pressure to grow enough food
Deforestation to create farm land
Food prices rise because of demand, increasing poverty
Not enough housing so slums and shanty housing increase that lack basic amenities which spreads disease
Not enough jobs so unemployment high so crime rates rise
Schools and hospitals overcrowded
Volentary migration - Poland to England push & pull factors
Push factors:
High unemployment in young and rural
Average wage lower than uk
Low standard of living
Pull factors:
Low unemployment rate in UK
GDP was $39900 in UK (was $12700 in Poland)
High demand for skilled labour in UK
Didn’t have limit of numbers of immigrants allowed
Benefits for Poland
Reduced pressure on employment and resources (food and water)
Migrants develop new skills
Earn ‘hard currancy’ that can be sent back to Poland
Most young polish men migrated so birth rates reduced
Problems for Poland
Loosing high numbers of skilled ambitious educated population
Gaps in workforce having to be filled by elderly affecting economy
Reduced numbers available to defend Poland
Families have been divided causing domestic stress
Benefits for Britain
Polish prepared to do menial, unskilled, low paid jobs
Polish prepared to work long unsociable hours
Polish national insurance contributions helped uk cope with ageing population
Enriched uk culture
Problems for the UK
Polish workers could be exploited by employers
Increased pop in some areas will result in higher rents/prices
Increased pressure on education
Increased demand on NHS
Could be tentsions in areas not used to immigration
