The growth of world population - chapter 1

Question 1

What was the world population in 1999?
Increasing or decreasing?
Natural increase peak?
Natural increase now?
How much is the global population increasing by each year?
Estimated world population for 2050?

Answer 1

6 billion.
Has been rapidly growing for the last 200 years.
1960’s - natural increase was at 2.2%.
1.2% natural increase.
80 million global pop. increase per year - exponential growth.
9 billion world pop. by 2050 - overpopulation.
1540: 300 million world pop.

Question 2

What continents have very low growth rates?
What was their share of the world in 1995?
What is their expected share in 2050?

Answer 2

Europe, North America and Australasia.
1995 - share was 20%.
Decrease to 12% by 2050.
Estimated that Europe’s population will shrink by 90 million.

Question 3

Which areas have rapid population growth rates?

Answer 3

Asia has a rapid, but declining, growth rate.
1995 - 2050 - China, India and Pakistan will contribute most to the population growth.
2050 India will overtake China as the world’s most populous country - both account for 36% world’s pop.
Saharan Africa - particularly Nigera and the Democratic Republic of Congro - also has a rapid population growth rate.

Question 4

How does health interrelate to cause growth in the world’s population?
7

Answer 4

1. Disease control.
2. Birth control measures.
3. IM rates.
4. Diet and malnutrition.
5. Number of doctors and nurses.
6. Sexual health.
7. Sanitation.

Question 5

How does education interrelate to cause growth in the world’s population?
5

Answer 5

1. Health education.
2. The age at which compulsory school finishes.
3. Females in education.
4. Levels of tertiary (secondary school) education.
5. Literacy levels.

Question 6

How does social provision interrelate to cause growth in the world’s population?
3

Answer 6

1. Levels of care for the elderly.
2. Availability of forms of media.
3. Clean water supply.

Question 7

How does cultural factors interrelate to cause growth in the world’s population?
4

Answer 7

1. Religious attitudes to birth control.
2. Status gain from having children.
3. Role of women in society.
4. Sexual morality.

Question 8

How does political factors interrelate to cause growth in the world’s population?
4

Answer 8

1. Taxation to support services.
2. Strength of the economy.
3. Impact of war and conflict.
4. Access to healthcare and contraception.