U2- Population Dynamics Flashcards
Define birth rate.
Number of children born per 1000 population in a year.
Define death rate.
Number of people who die per 1000 population in a year.
What is natural increase?
Difference between birth rates and death rates.
Define life expectancy.
Average age at which people die in a population.
Define infant mortality.
Number of children under the age of one who die every year per 1000 births in a year.
Define fertility rate.
Number of children that women have in their lifetime.
What is the demographic transition model?
The DTM shows how changing birth and death rates affect the total population of a country.
Countries move from stage 1 through to 5 as they develop.
Describe stage 1 of the DTM.
Stable population.
High deaths but also high birth rates.
Describe stage 2 of the DTM.
Rapidly growing population.
Improvements in healthcare➡️Death rate falls but birth rate remains high.
Describe stage 3 of the DTM.
Population growth begins to slow.
Women want to work instead, and people become wealthier➡️ Birth rates begin to fall.
Describe stage 4 of the DTM.
Slow population growth.
Birth and death rate balance, so population is stable.
Describe stage 5 of the DTM.
Population declines (slowly).
Birth rates fall below replacement level and high life expectancy➡️ Birth rate falls below death rate.
Describe the typical structure of a named developing country’s population pyramid and explain why this is.
Nigeria:
Wide base, youthful population.
Thin at the top, low life expectancy so few people aged over 80.
Describe the typical structure of a named developed country’s population pyramid and explain why this is.
Japan:
Narrower base, few children being born.
‘Top heavy’, large number over 60= ageing population.
How can economic growth influence population structure?
Use Japan and Nigeria as your examples.
In Japan children are seen as a cost, this reduces the number born.
In Nigeria children can be an asset, helping on the farm or getting a street job to boost family income so more children are born.
How can migration influence population structure?
Use Japan and Nigeria as your examples.
Migration can boost a country’s working population.
There is little migration in Japan, so migration doesn’t help offset the ageing population. Many working-age men emigrate from Nigeria to seek better jobs in other countries.
How can conflict influence population structure?
Use Japan as your example.
War and conflict often leads to a lower number of men in a country.
This is evident in Japan’s population pyramid, where the number of over 80s is very small due to deaths occurred in WW2.
What challenges does an ageing population pose?
- Healthcare costs and demands rise.
- Cost of long term residential care and nursing homes.
- High dependency ratio=Small number of working age people will have to pay higher taxes to care for the elderly.
- Shortage of workers.
What challenges and benefits does a youthful population pose?
A-In 20yrs, a large youthful population will turn into a large working population and boost the economy.
D-Cost of taking care of dependants.
D-Cost of schools and recreation for young people.
D-Healthcare needs of young people.
Why might governments need to actively manage population?
- Pressure on resources.
- Overcrowding.
- Ageing- some countries may encourage a higher birth rate to offset an ageing population.
- Skills shortages- Countries may encourage immigration if it needs a greater work force.
Describe in detail China’s anti natalist policy.
Why?
What?
Impact?
Why- Population grew very quickly throughout 1950s and 60s which became a problem.
What- ‘One Child Policy’ started in 1979 gave benefits to women with cash bonuses, better houses and maternity care and punished couples who had more than one child.
Impact- birth rates fell, raised issues with ageing society, preference to boys led to sex-elective abortion, social impact commented on how spoilt only children are.
Describe in detail Singapore’s pro natalist policy.
What?
Impact?
What- couples with 3+ pay lower taxes, better housing, easier access to nursery schools and preference to school choice.
Impact- little impact with drive today to get couples together in first place, government is so desperate it now sponsors speed-dating events.
Why might countries reduce immigration?
- Unpopularity of large scale immigration amongst voters.
- Fears that immigrants accept lower pay, reducing pay for everyone.
- Fears host country will become ‘swamped’ with immigrants.
- Large scale immigration can increase cultural tensions.
Why might countries increase immigration?
- Reduce skill shortages and help economy to grow.
- Offset the problem of ageing by attracting working-age immigrants.
- Attract low skill, low wage workers because existing population won’t do the dirty work.
By 2050, what does the UN predict will be the population?
Between 8.1 billion- 10.6 billion, most likely around 9.3 billion.
