Population (Yr 11) Flashcards
What’s the death rate?
The number of deaths per 1000 people per year
What’s overpopulation?
When there are too many people in an area for the resources that are available.
What’s exponential growth?
When something, like population, doubles regularly.
What are birth rates?
The number of live births per 1000 people per year.
What’s optimum population?
The number of people that an area can support sustainably.
How do we know how many people live in a country?
Countries take a census every 10 years that asks questions about the number of people in a household, their ages, jobs etc.
They’re useful for the government to plan schools and hospitals.
However this information is harder to get in LEDCs.
What is population distribution?
The way in which people are spread out across the world. This distribution is uneven and changes over time.
What is population density?
The average number of people per sq km. it shows whether an area is sparsely or densely populated.
It’s calculated by following the formula:
P’ density = total population/ total land in sq km
What causes a sparse population?
Difficult accessibility Droughts and deserts Extreme climates Difficult terrain e.g. Mountains Volcanoes Land susceptible to natural disasters Poor farming land Lack of jobs
What causes a dense population?
Temperate climate Access to coast/docks and ports Higher job availability High birth rates Good land and soil Easily accessible locations Reliable energy supplies Good agriculture Transportation
What is the DTM?
DTM stands for demographic transition model and is a demonstration of the total population of a country over time in relation to the birth rates and death rates and how they change.
What does a population pyramid show?
The number of people within a country divided into different age groups and gender.
Stage 1, common for LEDCs, has a wide base (high birth rate), concave sides (high death rate) and is quite short (short life expectancy).
Stage 4, common for MEDCs, has a small base (small/declining birth rate), convex sides (low death rate) and is taller (longer life expectancy)
What is Boserup’s population theory?
The positive theory that if people were facing a crisis, they would invent a way to prevent it and that humans are intelligent beings who’ll find a solution to lack of resources.
The worlds population could continue to grow indefinitely.
What’s Mathulus’ population theory?
The negative theory that if the population got too big, there’d be a point of crisis.
Population is getting bigger faster than our ability to produce food and thought there’d be a limit to population growth.
Once population had grown to a point of crisis, there’d be a natural check e.g. A famine, war or natural disaster.
What’s zero growth?
When the birth rates and death rates in a country are about the same and the population is not increasing.
What’s negative growth?
Where the population is falling. These are usually richer countries with either the birth and death rates the same or there are fewer births than deaths.
What are the effects of an ageing population?
There are more people relying on the working population.
People working must pay for the pensions of people who’ve retired - more elderly dependents.
May have to work until 70 years.
Higher taxes
More old peoples homes
An economy which may run short of workers
(Looking at the graphs) the population has decreased but the elderly population has increased.
The population of England is at a record high but there are thousands of job vacancies
There are 5x more people aged 85 than there were in 1951
Case study: China - how does a government influence population?
China
1950 - they had the philosophy “a large population gives a strong nation”. Children were encouraged.
1959-61 - serious famine. Up to 20 million people died and the birth rate fell (more boys died than girls).
1960 - there was a population boom. It increased by 55 million per year but the government did nothing to reduce the birth rate.
1970 - mid 1970s onwards, the policy changed to “later (marriage), longer (gaps between children), and fewer (children). Government urged the population to decrease.
1980 - the new policy wasn’t effective.
Limits and contraception were pressured.
There were ‘granny police’ whose job was to ensure that women were taking the pill (if not, women could face being sterilized).
‘Boys are better’ - couples wanted sons so girls were killed or aborted in order to have a son.
‘Little emperors’ - only child’s (no siblings) were often very spoilt and greedy.
1990 - the one child policy was relaxed and birth rates increased slightly. Hard to avoid as many people born during the population boom were of child bearing age.
2000 - couples who had no siblings were allowed 2 children and people living in rural areas were allowed 2 if their first child was a girl (year of dragon)
2008 - Sichuan earthquake. Adoption was made easier for families who lost children and were allowed to try for another child.
Rules:
Can’t marry until late 20s
Can only have one successful pregnancy
Must be sterilised after 1 pregnancy
Case study: China - how does a government influence population? (One child policy)
ADVANTAGES
Pros:
- Approx 400 million births have been prevented
- Supporters for the policy feel it’s successful in cities and has provided better education for many children residing in the countryside.
- China has managed to limit its population growth according to the foreign and independent Chinese academics.
- Chinese government officials also stated, “compared with the worlds other developing countries wig large populations, we have realised this transformation half a century ahead of time”.
- Government has announced they’ll offer a range of benefits to families that have implemented the family planning policy.
- The policies range from health care to house renovation, poverty reduction, training programmes, land rearrangement, new technology, relocation subsidies and educational support.
- agencies hope it will enhance “population and family planning work” in rural areas and improve quality of life for those couples
- people were encouraged to obey the rules due to the 5-10% pay rise, priority housing and pension and family benefits.
Case study: China - how does a government influence population? (One child policy)
DISADVANTAGES
Cons:
- some believe it’s a mistake and will result in a number of serious demographic problems in the future. E.g. An ageing population that becomes male dominant meaning more elderly people who require support.
- illegal trade of children has causes suffering for thousands of people nationwide, especially poor families and hose on the fringes of society.
- government officials with more than one child will automatically lose their jobs
- benefit policies and mainly targeted at single child families and those with two daughters in rural areas.
- men in china outnumber women by over 60 million
- some feel the policy has led to an increase in forces abortions and penalties.
- since introduced, there’s been an increase in stolen children and it’s estimated that 70,000+ children are kidnapped each year and traded on the black market.
- traffickers can buy baby boys for £400 and girls are sold for as little as £200.
- many feel the policy has led to killing, adoption or selling off female infants because Chinese culture traditionally favours boys.
- disobeying could result in a 10% salary cut
Will China’s population be sustainable?
Population pyramids
1990 - very wide base, population boom, concave sides, short narrow top.
2000 - narrowing base, majority of people working age, same life expectancy
2030 - reducing birth rate, wider middle, increasing life expectancy, reduced death rates.
1990-2000: birth rates have decreased by approx 30 million and the sides are less concave which implies that reducing birth rates are are increasing life expectancy. Males and females more balanced.
2000-2030: dramatic fall in birth rates,breather working population, increased life expectancy - lower population has increased the availability of resources and improved people’s quality of life.
What are the main factors behind migration?
Money Jobs Better wages Healthcare Language Education Refugees War Asylum Persecution (race, gender, politics, religion etc.) Family or friends
What’s migration?
The movement of people from one country to live on another
What’s emigration?
The movement of people out of a country (leaving)
What’s forced migration?
The forced movement of people due to war or natural hazards.
What’s voluntary migration?
Unforced movement of people
What’s permanent migration?
A person who lives in a country which is different to the one in which they were born.
What’s temporary migration?
Migrants who move for a short period of time, often for work purposes before returning home.
What’s international migration?
To leave one country to go to another
What’s internal migration?
Moving within a country
What are refugees?
People who have fled from their homes in one country, often against their will, to seek a more secure life elsewhere.
What are asylum seekers?
A person seeking refuge in another country due to fear of persecution in their home country
What are economic migrants?
A person who leaves their home country to live in another country with better work or living conditions.
What are the barriers to migration?
Anything which stops or slows the rate of migration.
Physical - mountains, oceans, deserts, walls etc.
Economic - poverty, lack of money (for supplies, transport etc.)
Cultural - not speaking /understanding the language, new traditions and beliefs.
Political - immigration and emigration bans.
Emotional - leaving family and friends behind.
What are the positive and negative impacts of international migration on the country of origin?
(People leaving)
Positive:
Less pressure on services like hospitals and schools because of fewer people.
Money is often sent back to the country
Negative:
Labour shortage as most people of working age emigrate
Skills shortage as the most educated often emigrate
High proportion of older people left.
What are the positive and negative impacts of international migration on the destination country?
(People coming)
Positive:
Bigger labour force as the young often immigrate
Migrant workers pay tax which fund services
Negative:
Locals and immigrants compete for jobs
Increased demand for services e.g. Schools
Money is often sent home
What are the push and pull factors for internal migration within the UK?
Push:
Perceived lower quality of life in north - older housing and derelict land
Rural regions of Scotland and Wales have high unemployment, a decline in the farming workforce and rural depopulation
Decline in heavy industries - closure of ship building and coal mines etc. less job opportunities so move to south.
Pull:
South - growth in service industries, close to EU and more job opportunities, higher salaries, more social and sporting amenities and better communities (flatter) and channel tunnel.
North to South
Case study: international migration from Mexico to USA
What are the push and pull factors?
Push: Mexico Poor quality, overcrowded housing Not enough employment Labour intensive/hard farming Poor health care Pollution and rubbish Low paid jobs Only 54% children reach secondary school
Pull: USA Job and employment opportunities Good quality housing Better education Good healthcare Reliable power sources Food Better quality of life Glamour Shops Transport Chance of fame
Case study: international migration from Mexico to USA
What are the consequences for the host/recipient country?
Pros:
Majority of immigrants are young adults who join the work force and pay tax and support USAs greeting population
They are consumers of goods and services - increase demand and create jobs and wealth
Take low paid jobs which native Americans won’t do.
Cons:
Larger families so there are greater demand on education and healthcare
Poorly educated and unskilled - limited demand for this labour
Can depress wages and take american’s jobs
Case study: international migration from Mexico to USA
What are the consequences for the source country?
Pros:
Receive money sent by migrants (worth $24bn US)
Generates more foreign exchange
Cons:
Is selective by age and sex
Can result in societies losing their most productive members
Sexes become imbalanced as more men migrant than women.
Case study: international migration from Mexico to USA
How can international migration be managed?
Controlling illegal immigration
Physical barriers
Security and border patrols
Deportation
Point based systems - people who enter need a specific amount of points which are gained from things like age, education, work experience, language etc.
Limits and targets - so too many people or too few aren’t let in
What are the social and economic impacts of an ageing population?
Social:
Healthcare services stretched more - they need more medical care
People must spend more time as unpaid careers for older family members and have less leisure time
People may have less children as they can’t afford more because older relatives are dependent
The more old people, the lower the pension so people may have to work longer
Economic:
Working population pay taxes which would go up for state pension and healthcare
Economy would grow slower as less money is spent on things that help the economy grow e.g. Retirement homes
How can we cope with ageing populations?
Encourage larger families (unsustainable)
Encourage immigration (unsustainable)
Raise retirement age
Raise taxes
What are the social, economic and environmental issues with overpopulation?
Social:
- Services like healthcare can’t cope
- Children have to work to support their families miss out on education
- Not enough housing
- Food shortages
Economic:
- not enough jobs
- increased poverty
Environmental
- increased waste and pollution
- more natural resources are used up
How can overpopulation be controlled?
Birth control programmes.
Immigration laws - limit the number of immigrants or let less people of child-bearing age.
What’s natural increase?
The difference between the number of births and the number of deaths in a year.
What does a (stage 1) LEDC population pyramid look like?
Wide base meaning high birth rates - no contraception and people have lots of children as infants die.
Steep, convex sides meaning high death rates
Small population growth
Low, narrow top meaning low life expectancy
What does a (stage 5) MEDC population pyramid look like?
Narrow base meaning low/controlled birth rates
Negative population growth
Higher, wider top meaning low death rate and longer life expectancy
More older than younger people
What’s immigration?
When people move INTO an area
People moving OUT is called emigration
What are the push and pull factors to migration?
Push:
Economic - shortage of jobs, low wages
Social - poor standard of living, poor healthcare and education
Political - war, being persecuted for religion or political views
Environmental - natural disasters, poor environment or crime
Pull:
Economic - more employment, higher wages
Social - better standard of living, better healthcare and education
Political - being free to worship who they wish and join any political party, no war
Environmental- a cleaner environment, a safe place with little crime or risk of natural disasters
Explain the possible effects of migration in countries from which large numbers of people
have migrated:
Migrants send money home to support families which means foreign exchange comes into country / country is wealthier
Reduces overpopulation which means less demand for medical services / food supply
Loss of young / economically active people leading to a lack of workers in rural areas
Skilled workers migrate leading to skills shortage which impedes development
Leaves high proportion of older people so less family members to care for older people
Less unemployed more chance of remaining people in country getting jobs
Less workers left in country so less tax paid to government
Males more likely to migrate so gender imbalance/reduces birth rate
Farm workers leave so less food produced
The population in Kenya is changing because the death rate is decreasing. Explain why the death rate is decreasing:
Improved medical care/more hospitals /doctors /vaccinations so less people die from treatable diseases
Improved antenatal/postnatal care so mothers less likely to die in childbirth
Access to clean water so less likely to catch waterborne diseases
Improved sanitation less likely to get diseases such as cholera/typhoid
Better food supply / improved diet so less malnutrition/starvation
Education about reducing disease such as AIDS so condoms used
Aid projects which provide clean water to villages
