Population Definitions Flashcards
Abiotic factors
Physical factors — climate, fertile, soil, landscape, water
Ecumene area
Area where both abiotic and biotic factors combine to attract many people to area. 60% of world’s landmass ecumene.
Biotic factors
Social factors — government, communication, transport, power, employment
Population density
Number of people relative to area they occupy.
PEOPLE/KM squared
Higher the density, more crowded
Demography
Statistics of
• Size
• Development
• Structure of human populations
Overpopulation
Too many people for available land and resources to support them. A controversial topic.
Carrying capacity
Number of people area can support on sustainable basis
Sustainable development
Idea that community can develop and keep going if use resources in such way that it will ensure in survival.
Migration
Movement of people to change place of residence
Forced Migration
Person forced to move due to political factors
Voluntary migration
Person chooses to move to another country
Permanent migration
People change place of residence forever
Semi-permanent migration
Change residence for certain period of time
• few years (traveling, work overseas)
• daily (work)
• seasonally (seasonal work)
Migrant Worker/Economic Migrants
People who migrate to find work. Often leave families behind. Send Remittance Payments every month.
Remittance Payments
Payments to home by migrant worker. Globally R2500 million sent.
Political migrants
Those that choose to migrate for political reasons
Refugees
Those forced to migrate due to political reasons. Flee as not safe.
Malthusian Theory
- Resource quantity limits population
- Population usually increase with increase in resources
- Factors controlling population growth are private (birth control) and destructive (war & famine)
Remittance payments
Money sent by emigrant to their home country
