Population Geography / Demography Flashcards
Define demography
- study of statistics that illustrate the changing structure of human populations
- includes: composition (age, ethnicity, gender), growth rates, density, mortality, fertility, migration
Define population distribution
The way in which a population is spread over an area
Define population density
The number of people per specified area (population per km^2)
Africa - annual population growth rate
- high fertility rate: (having children younger than other countries) (low access to contraception) (traditional domestic roles of women)
- culturally, people have had larger families due to higher infant mortality rates
- the population is expected to double between 2018 and 2050 - with birth rates of up to 6.62 / woman
Global pattern of population increase (developed v developing)
Developing world: accounts for 83% of the population but 98.5% of the world’s population increase
Of 7.5 billion, 6.3 billion inhabit the developing world
Replacement rate is 2.1, in the developed world growth has slowed dramatically (Western Europe’s rate at 1.58)
Causes of rapid growth
- Decrease in child mortality rates and increase in life expectancy (due to advances in medical science, access to education)
- Death rate has halved since the 50s (19.7 to 7.8 per 1000)
- Life expectancy has increased from 35 years (1850) to 76 (men) and 82 (women)
Spatial patterns of fertility
- highest birth rates found in Africa
- total fertility rate: a measure of the average number of children born to a woman of childbearing age
- many countries have experienced a decline in TFR (such as Kenya from 8.1 to 3.9)
Spatial pattern of mortality
Death rate / mortality = measure of the number of deaths / 1000 people in a year
- World wide = 8
- Highest MR found in Sierra Leone (92/1000)
Population distribution based on environment
- biophysical opportunities and constraints
- land makes up 30% of the Earth’s surface, deficiency of water (28%), soils unfit for cultivation (22%), water logging (10%) and permafrost (6%) allow for only 11% of land that offers no serious limitation
Exponential population growth
- when a factor grows by a constant proportion (i.e. doubling)
Current population growth
More than 77 million annually (1.3-1.5% growth)
Natural increase formula
Natural increase = crude birth rate - crude death rate
Demographic transition
Transition from a high birth and death rates to lower birth and death rates as a country develops from a pre-industrial to an industrialised economic system
Human population planning
Practise of artificially altering the rate of growth of a population
Example of discouraging pregnancy
Chinese Government’s One Child Policy
Example of encouraging pregnancy
Australia’s baby bonus: “One for mum, one for dad, one for the country” - offered lump sum payments of 2000-3000 dollars
Population decline in MEDCs
Result of a sub-replacement fertility (lower than 2.0), urban decay, white flight or rural flight, violence, disease or other catastrophes
Japan’s decline
- Highest percentage of people aged 60+ in the world, with 1/4 of the japanese population over 65
- Japanese men no longer possess the level of ambition to date, marry and reproduce (more committed to work ethic, or prefer lower commitment levels like online gfs)
- Women have the ability to make further strides in the workplace
- fertility rate of 1.4
- less than 2% of babies are born out of wedlock
definition: Migration
the act of moving from one place to another with the intention of staying at the destination permanently or for a relatively long period of time
Emigration
movement out of an area
Immigration
movement of people into an area
Internal migration
Population movements within a country
International Migration
Movement across national borders
Voluntary migration
Movement by a population who wishes to improve their economic and social wellbeing / gain personal freedom
Forced migration
Result of circumstances beyond the control of the individual such as natural disasters, wars and civil unrest
Internally displaced
Those displaced by conflicts within their country of origin
Refugee
A person who cannot return to their country of origin without risking serious harm because of a well-grounded fear of persecution
Features of contemporary population
- globalisation of migration
- an increase in the volume of migration
- a growing diversity in the type of migration
- increase proportion of women in all types of migration
- increasing international mobility of highly qualified personnel
- movements associated with economic and social change in industrialised countries
International migration stat
More than 244 million people live outside the country they were born in (a 41% increase since 2000)
Resettlement migration
- number of professionals migrating permanently has increased
- Europe, North America and Australia have accepted thousands of doctors and engineers from developing countries
Stats about Australia and immigration
- Since WWII, Australia has welcomed 7 million+ immigrants. One in three of Australia’s current population was born overseas.
- 2015-2016: Australia received 189770 migrants, 128550 = skilled migration stream, 57400 = family migration stream, 72840 = general skilled migration
Contract migration
- undertaken for a contractual period
- part of the income sent home
- 50 - 60 million of 244 million immigrants are foreign workers
Guest workers
Jobs that locals are less willing / unable to do - fulfilled by guest workers who live under strict contracts
link to women domestic exploitation
Business migrations
Globalisation of economic activity influences an increase in international movement of professionals (Japan’s firms have more than 110 500 assigned overseas)
Forced migration
Movement of refugees and IDP.
- 70-80s: large numbers escaping Lebanon and Afghanistan + Syria
- South America: thousands fled repressive military regimes
- collapse of Soviet Union
Refugees, Asylum Seeker and IDP stats
- 5 million refugees in 2016
- 3 million IDPS
- 8 million asylum seekers
Brain Drain
describes the loss of educated people from LEDCs to MEDCs
- Asia to America: 192 000
Brain Drain: Haiti
Rate of 83.4%, 200 000 people enter the workforce annually (only demand for 10%)
Case Study: Syrian Forced Migration
- Began with demonstrations in 2011 protesting the dictatorial leader
- more than 5 million refugees have fled the country
- population has more than halved
Internal Migration - Australia
15% of the population change their address annually
people with higher education tend to move more
highest migration rates are those with industry qualifications in tourism and mining
One Child Policy
Use of propaganda
Use of ‘grandmas’ (surveillance)
Use of benefits such as birth coupons, monthly payments, preferential treatment for that child, pension benefits
Use of punishments: forced sterilisation, loss of benefits, fines of up to 15% income, child is not a member of the population
One Child Policy Stats
Estimated 200 million prevented births.
Patriarchy: 117 boys for every 100 girls
Elderly population: 130 million elderly residents
