Population Dynamics Flashcards
What is the current global population how many people were added to the global total in 2008?
The global population is around 6.6 billion people and 65 million were added in 2008.
Why has population continued to increase? (6)
Mainly due to a decline in death and infant mortality rates due to:
1) Development of modern medicines, modern practices are better so people are kept alive longer.
2) Introduction or vaccination and immunisation programmes that help people to live longer e.g. smallpox
3) Improved access to cleaner drinking water and better sewage disposal.
4) Better healthcare - people are looked after and treated whey they are unwell so they survive longer.
5) Improved hygiene and better housing.
6) Better diets, e.g. promoting eating 5 a day.
Why are birth rates high in some countries? (3)
1) In some countries large percentage of the population work in agriculture, so children are seen as an economic benefit.
2) Women may not have a choice as their religion is against birth control.
3) It may be the culture to marry very young so women are more likely to have more children.
Named example of why a developed country’s population will decline?
Give three factors.
Give three reasons why birth rates are declining.
Russia
1) Falling life expectancy cause by industrial disease and alcoholism.
2) Outward migration of younger fertile men and women.
3) A low fertility rate of 1.2 children per woman.
Birth rates are declining because:
1) Women have access to birth control methods.
2) Women may choose to have few children as they are seen as an economic benefit.
3) Also more educated women choose to have a career before having children.
Named example of why a developing country’s population will grow quickly?
Give three reasons.
Yemen
1) Women marry very young and have a large number of children, fertility rate is 6.7.
2) Increased life expectancy partly due to improved child vaccinations.
3) High birth rate as the Islamic religion is against birth control.
What model is used to represent the change in birth and death rate and total population in a country as it develops?
The Demographic transition model (DTM)
What is stage one of the DTM?
Example?
Stage 1: High Fluctuating, Remote tribal communities
- High birth rate due to no birth control and high infant mortality.
- High death rate due to disease and famine
What is stage two of the DTM?
Example?
Stage 2: Early expanding, Yemen
- High birth rate
- Falling death rates due to improved healthcare and nutrition.
What is stage three of the DTM?
Example?
Stage 3: Late expanding, China
- Falling birth rates due to birth control and desire for smaller families.
- Falling death rates
What is stage four of the DTM?
Example?
Stage 4: Low Fluctuating, Japan
Low birth and death rates due to working women delaying starting families for their careers.
What is stage five of the DTM?
Example?
Stage 5: Decline, Germany
Death rate higher than birth rate due to an ageing population.
What can population pyramids be used to show?
What does the height of the pyramid show?
What does a wide base pyramid show? And the converse?
What does a broad shape at the top of a pyramid show?
Population pyramids are used to show features of a population such as age and gender.
The height of the pyramids shows the age people live to.
A wide base pyramid shows there is a large number of children in a population. A narrow base pyramid shows a small number of children.
A broad shape at the top of the pyramid shows a high proportion of people living longer.
What is a dependency ratio?
What can be used to calculate the dependency ratio?
What equation is used to calculate the dependency ratio?
A dependency ratio is a relationship between those who are and those who are not working in and area or country.
Population pyramids can be used to work out the dependency ratio.
Dependency ratio = (%under 15) = (%over65) / %between 15 and 64 x 100
What is a youthful population?
What are the disadvantages of a youthful population? (6)
A youthful population is a country where a very high percentage of people are under the age of 15.
Disadvantages:
1) Pressure on housing - not enough housing, people are forced to live on slums often around big cities e.g. New Delhi
2) Pressure on food supplies - famine, food distribution difficulties. Natural disasters such as drought, accentuate this problem.
3) Pressure on schooling - illiterate population, India’s literacy rate is 60%.
4) Pressure on health services - lots of expensive education and healthcare provision needed for children and babies.
5) Rapidly growing population need employment.
6) More difficult for women to work as they have to spend time looking after children, so are not earning income.
What are the advantages of a youthful population? (5)
1) Provides steady supply of workers, can encourage economies to grow.
2) Children provide support and security for the elderly.
3) Children are a valuable source of income for a family as they can work on the land from a young age.
4) As children get older they may be able to earn money in other way than working the land which will bring in more money for the family.
5) As children get older they can help care for younger children in the family.