Topic 1: Population Flashcards
population
• the total number of persons inhabiting a country, city, district, or any area
demography
• the study of populations
birth rate
• number of live births per 1000 of the population
death rate
• number of deaths per 1000 of the population
fertility rate
• average number of children per woman
natural (population) growth
- difference between birth rate and death rate
* rate of natural change
population density
• number of people per square kilometre
carrying capacity
• number of people an area can support based on its resources and technology
world population increase
- population explosion
* rapid decrease in death rates - medical /scientific advancements
factors for high birth rate
- poor family planning
- little access to contraception
- children required to work on land
- children support their parents in old age
- desire to have a son, so parents keep trying
- religious beliefs or traditions
factors for low birth rate
- emancipation of women, including education and increased career-mindedness
- access to contraception /family planning
- high cost of raising children
- anti-natal policies
- increased age of marriage
- urbanisation
factors for high death rate
- low life expectancy and high infant mortality
- food scarcity, resulting in starvation
- lack of medical infrastructure and doctors, so diseases can not be treated properly
- poor hygiene and sanitation allows the easy spreading of disease
- sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS
factors for low death rate
- long life expectancy and low infant mortality rate
- good hygiene and sanitation
- abundant food supply, so no starvation
- good access to medicine/hospitals
- reduction in wars/conflicts
over-population
• not enough resources/technologies available to maintain an adequate standard of living for the people in the area
under-population
• number of people living in area is less than what is needed to make full use of resources/technologies available
optimum population
• area with a healthy balance between the available resources/technologies and the number of inhabitants
consequences of over-population
- not enough housing
- water/air pollution
- shortage of food/water
- high crime rates
- not enough health care/education
- lack of employment
- poverty
consequences of under-population
- shortage of workers
- low level of production
- resources underused
- high taxes
- lack of government income
- small market for goods/services
- low value of exports
LEDC population pyramids
- show the age-sex distribution of a country/area
- narrow apex (few old dependents)
- broad base (many young dependents)
- concave slope (high death rate)
- rapidly tapering top (high death rate & low life expectancy)
MEDC population pyramids
- wide apex (many old dependents)
- narrow(-ing) base (low or falling birth rates)
- convex slope & bulging sides (low death rates)
ageing population (advantages & disadvantages)
• percentage of people over the age of 65 increases
benefits:
• increased development of grey industries (industries catering the needs of old people, such as specialised healthcare and care homes)
• elderly may pass skills and expertise on to the younger generation
• elderly may take care of their grand children, allowing parents to work at full capacity, and they may be active in volunteering or other forms of service
disadvantages:
• financial burden of elderly due to retirement: little contribution to economy (often little income) and cost of pension budgets places a strain on the working class – even requiring higher taxation to pay for the pensions
• reduced development of infrastructure for younger people eg. schools, playgrounds
• fewer people to defend the country
the demographic transition model
- groups countries based on population trends to give a perception of development
- 4 stages of birth & death rate changing over time
- best look at a picture…
population policies
• governments create policies to solve issues that affect birth & death rates to fit plans for the future of the country
