Population dynamics

Question 1

What are the reasons for population explosion?

Answer 1

Improved medical care - hospitals, vaccinations, doctors, new drugs and scientific inventions
Improved sanitation and water supply
Improvements in food production
Improved transport - moving food, doctors
Decrease in child mortality

Question 2

Define under-population

Answer 2

when a country had declined too much that it can’t support its economic system

Question 3

Define over-population

Answer 3

too much population in an area: overcrowding, depletion in resources

Question 4

What are the effects of over-population?

Answer 4

Unemployment 
Shortage in hospitals/ schools/ housing 
Congestion
Inflation 
Shortage of electricity 
Noise, air and water pollution

Question 5

What are the effects of under-population?

Answer 5

shortage of workers
less paying taxes 
schools, hospitals and transport routes closed; few customers 
less innovation/development 
hard to defend 
have to attract migrants

Question 6

Define Carrying Capacity

Answer 6

The number of people the environment can support without there being negative effects on the population.

Question 7

Define Optimum population

Answer 7

This is the number of people that a region/country can ecologically support, usually less than carrying capacity.

Question 8

Define Population Density

Answer 8

Number of people living in a given area

Question 9

Define Population Distribution

Answer 9

how a population is spread out around a country or area

Question 10

Define Migration

Answer 10

the movement of people (or animals) from one area to another

Question 11

Define Birthrate

Answer 11

average number of live births in a year for every 1000 people

Question 12

Define Deathrate

Answer 12

the average number of deaths for every 1000 people

Population growth is related to the number of resources available for example water, wood and minerals

Question 13

Define Fertility rate

Answer 13

the average number of children a woman is expected to have in their lifetime

Question 14

Why are the death rates high in LEDC’s?

Answer 14

poor health care/few hospitals/doctors/nurses/clinics;
poor sanitation/poor hygiene/lack of toilets/dirty places;
poor access to safe/clean water/water borne diseases;
limited food supplies/malnutrition/starvation;
HIV/AIDS;
Natural disasters/drought/floods;
Lack of vaccinations/medicines/cannot cure diseases;
Lack of education about healthy lifestyles e.g. smoking/diet;
Lack of provision for elderly e.g. pensions/old people’s homes

Question 15

Why are the birth rates low in MEDC’s?

Answer 15

availability of contraception/family planning/abortions;
educated re. contraception/family planning;
able to afford contraception/family planning/abortions;
traditionally small families/don’t need to prove virility/not traditional to have large families;
the expense of bringing up children/childcare/don’t have to send children to work/can afford
to bring up children;
many women have careers/women are educated;
availability of pensions/do not need children to look after parents in old age;
a low infant mortality rate;
Lack of religious beliefs/don’t object to contraception

Question 16

What are the origins of HIV?

Answer 16

HIV-1 – arose in Central Africa
HIV-2 – arose in West Africa
HIV mostly occurs in women. When women give birth, they infect the child as well resulting in low death rate for infants.
The death rate of mothers results in a higher orphan generation. (the Year 2000 – 600000 orphans). Due to the countries being poor, there is a lack of state welfare, resulting in poverty and lack of education.