Test 1

Question 1

Describe and give reasons for the rapid increase in the world’s population.

Answer 1

• Drastically better healthcare leads to lower IMR and higher life expectancy

Question 2

Describe and evaluate population policies.

Answer 2

Nigeria example:

1. 1988 it adopted its first population strategy - cut fertility rates from 6 to 4 & establish an optimum age of 18 for women and 24 for men. Nothing has been achieved - lack of political will, government financing, the availability/affordability of services, as well as the cultural preference for large families.
2. Other reasons for failure are poverty and under investment in education and health care. Children economic assets.
3. Needs to improve education, create more jobs & improve infrastructure, which would attract big companies.

Question 3

Definition of overpopulation

Answer 3

When the environment can not support the amount of people living there at an acceptable standard of living.

Question 4

Causes of overpopulation

Answer 4

• Tradition
• Seeing children as an economic asset
• Increasingly good healthcare
• Falling IMR and rising life expectancy

Question 5

Impacts of overpopulation

Answer 5

• All types of pollution - noise, air, visual, water, trash etc.
• Social services usually not built to withstand pressure of the population
• More homeless people

Question 6

Definition of underpopulation

Answer 6

When the people in a specific environment don’t have the population to exploit the environment to it’s fullest.

Question 7

Causes of underpopulation

Answer 7

• Poor healthcare
• Low life expectancy
• Remote, meaning people do not want to move there
• Poor social services

Question 8

Causes of overpopulation in Bangladesh

Answer 8

1. Polygamy & Child marriages 51%, with the median age of 1st birth 18.6yrs.
2. Using contraception 62%
3. Poverty 24%, children eco assets & school life expectancy 12yrs.
4. IMR 31/1000

Question 9

Consequences of overpopulation in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Answer 9

1. Lack of land for growing population, combined with rising sea levels = deforestation and migration to Dhaka.
2. Dhaka 22million & growing 3% a year. Many live in slums (2million) and work in informal sector e.g. Rickshaw riders 500,000 & many recycle waste on dumps in the city.
3. Pollution ( traffic, health impacts & conflict/violence over lack. A lot of violence directed towards women. Meetings taking place in cars – due to large traffic jams.
4. Lack of resources & poverty - Water lorries cannot meet the needs in Dhaka – acute shortages of water.
   28% of children in Bangladesh are stunted.