Unit 3.1 Population Change & Politics

Question 1

What does a population growth rate of 2% mean?

Answer 1

For every 100 people, 2 more are added each year

Question 2

Name 4 things that affect the growth or decline of a population

Answer 2

Birth Rate (BR)
Death rate (DR)
Immigration (people moving into a country)
Emigration (people leaving a country)

Question 3

What is meant by Natural Increase (NI)?

Answer 3

It is the difference between the BR and DR

Question 4

Calculate the NI for a country with a BR of 43/1000 and a DR of 23/1000

Answer 4

NI = 43-23 = 20/1000

this is equal to 2 / 100 = 2%

Question 5

What is meant by a population explosion?

Answer 5

the number of inhabitants increasing very rapidly / suddenly

Question 6

What is a census?

Answer 6

An official count or survey of a population

Question 7

What is meant by dependant population?

Answer 7

young and old people who rely on support from others (age groups 0-14 and over 65)

Question 8

What is meant by independent population?

Answer 8

people who are economically active (age 15-64)

Question 9

Give a reason for women dying earlier than men in developing countries.

Answer 9

many women die during or shortly after childbirth due to unhygienic conditions & infection or other complications.

Question 10

Give 6 causes of a high birth rate

Answer 10

1. Little family planning and education in birth control
2. Contraceptives are unavailable (too costly or forbidden for religious reasons)
3. Children are needed to work at home
4. Children are needed to look after elderly parents in the absence of pensions.
5. Lack or education and therefore careers for women
6. Traditional beliefs that girls beed to marry at very young ages.
7. Large families indicate male virility and enhance prestige in the community.
8. A high IMR (Infant Mortality Rate) means families have lots of children in the hope that some will survive.

Question 11

What is meant by ‘Fertility Rate’?

Answer 11

The AVERAGE number of children that women have in that particular country or area.

Question 12

How might a country try to reduce the birth rate?

Answer 12

1. Empowering women to have careers
2. Providing family planning education.
3. Providing access to affordable or free contraception.
4. Raising the legal age at which a girl can marry.
5. Abolishing child labour.
6. Educate women on disease prevention in children especially.
7. improving health care.
8. Providing good sanitation and clean water.

Question 13

List 3 effects of a high birth rate

Answer 13

1. parents cannot afford to look after the whole family
2. Children cannot go to school as they have to work to help feed the family.
3. Families may not be able to afford healthcare.

Question 14

List 4 causes of a high death rate (DR)

Answer 14

1. Lack of clean water and good sanitation.
2. Inadequate health facilities.
3. Poor quantity and quality of food.
4. Lack of education around disease prevention.
5. HIV AIDS and other disease epidemics.
6. War and natural disasters such as drought.

Question 15

Describe the population pyramid of a country in early stage development.

Answer 15

Traditional pyramid shape. Very large base and getting increasingly narrow towards the top.

Question 16

Describe the population pyramid of a country in the middle stages of development.

Answer 16

These have a ‘bulge’ in the middle. = a large independent population.
A smaller proportion of children means a falling BR.
More people over 75 indicates and increasing life expectancy (LE)

Question 17

Describe the population pyramid of a country in late stage development.

Answer 17

Also a narrow bottom meaning a low BR.
Lots of old dependants due to very long LE.
A large proportion of people are not working.

Question 18

Name 3 causes of a falling birth rate

Answer 18

1. Government control policies to increase family planning education.
2. Availability of low-cost contraception.
3. increased empowerment of women through education.
4. Reduction in the IMR.
5. Abolition of child labour.

Question 19

What is meant by High Dependency ratio?

Answer 19

A falling birth rate and increased life expectancy means there is a high dependent population and smaller independent population. Each member of the working population has to support more and more members of the working population.

Question 20

List 5 problems of having too many old people.

Answer 20

1. Higher financial burden on working population.
2. Needing time off for caring duties.
3. Less innovative work force / older people have difficultly adapting to new technology.
4. Influx of foreign workers.
5. MNC’s less likely to be attracted to set up in the country.
6. need for more care homes.
7. Increased waiting time for health care.
8. Underuse / closure of facilities for the young.
9. Lack of young consumers to buy goods.
10. Not enough workers in years to come to support growing number of elderly

Question 21

Define ‘inhospitable’

Answer 21

a difficult environment in which to live.

Question 22

What is meant by overpopulation?

Answer 22

When a country does not have the resources to support its population - e.g it cannot provide sufficient housing, health care, education services or clean water.

Question 23

Name 4 features of China’s ‘1 child policy’

Answer 23

1. Couples are only allowed to have 1 child.
2. The age at which people were allowed to marry was raised.
3. Priority is given in job applications and extra pension benefits.
4. Preferential hospital treatment as well as schooling and housing benefits.
5. Heavy fines to couples having 2nd child.
6. Propaganda to spread the message.
7. Pressure from the community.

Question 24

Name 2 ways in which Russia has tried to increase its population

Answer 24

1. financial incentives given to families on their child’s 3rd birthday ($10,000).
2. Encourage immigration, especially of russian speaking migrants.