Geography Revision Notes

Mr. Kelly Topic: PopulationNovember 2012

Today we are going to learn;1. History of human population

growth2. Reasons why population

growth changes3. Population definitions

Lesson ObjectivesTitle: Population Dynamics

1. What does he predict will happen to future population growth?

2. Why does he think this will happen?3. What can be done to change this?4. Why is the highest population

growth in the poorest countries? 5. What impacts does having a larger

population have on the world?

Thoughts on the video

Population distribution is how people are spread across any given area.

There are many factors that affect population distribution such as physical and human factors such as climate, access to jobs, good natural resources and flat low lying land.

Population distribution and density

Population density is the number of people per square kilometre (km²). Examples1. Europe 51 people per km²2. Australia 2 people per km²3. Singapore 7,148 people per km²

Population Density

High Population Density

Website about Japan- http://www.international.ucla.edu/eas/japan/geography/density1.htm

Low Population Density

Be able to locate countries on a map which have a high and low population density

Be able to explain why these areas have a low or high population density

Be able to discuss the problems of low and high population density

Note!

Birth rate- The average number of births per 1,000 people

Death rate- The average number of deaths per 1,000 people

Life expectancy- The average age you are expected to live in the country you were born in

Infant mortality- Is the average number of children per 1,000 born alive but die before the age of one.

Natural Increase- When the birth rate is more than the death rate

Natural decrease- When the death rate is more than the birth rate

Optimal population- When there is a good population level for the natural resources and land of an area

Important Population Definitions

1. Dependents are those who rely upon others of working age, e.g. children and old people

2. Economically active are those people who work to receive money, normally people who pay taxes and are between 18-70

Important definitions

Demographic information about a country is collected normally every 5 or10 years by using a census.

A census is a national record that collects information about everyone in the country during the time of the census. Examples of information collected are; age, gender, education, illnesses and commuter habits.

Census

How to calculate the natural population growth rate of a country.

Subtract the death rate from the birth rate and this will give you the population growth rate per 1,000.

E.g. Malta Birth rate= 10.3 Death rate= 8.3 Therefore population growth is 2.0 per

1000 people.

Key point about population

Now we will examine the key stages of the Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/demographic_trans/eng/Introduction/default.htm

Demographic Transition Model

This shows how changes in birth and

death rates can affect population

growth

These five stages are linked to

economic growth which means

normally you can determine the

population of a country depending on

the economic growth of that country.

Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

What does the DTM not take into account?

Migration Immigration- People moving INTO a

country Emigration- People moving OUT of a

country Time

LEDC’s are developing faster so the time period between each stage may be shorter

Important things to consider

Remember if you are talking about a country be able to say what stage of the DTM it is in.

Important!

What stage of the DTM are the following countries in and why?

1. UAE2. USA3. Kenya4. Brazil5. Japan

Test

1. Answer questions 3,4+5 on P. 16 of “The New Wider World workbook”.

2. Answer question 1c on P. 133 of “New Key Geography”

Homework

Demographic information about a country is collected normally every 5 or10 years by using a census.

A census is a national record that collects information about everyone in the country during the time of the census. Examples of information collected are; age, gender, education, illnesses and commuter habits.

Census

1. Life Expectancy is the average number of years a person can expect to live

2. Infant mortality is the average number of children per 1,000 born alive, who die before the age of one year

3. Dependents are those who rely upon others of working age

4. Economically active are those people who work to receive money

Important definitions

Population Pyramids

Population Pyramids show;1. The population of a country or

region divided into five year age groups.

2. The percentage of the total population in each of these age groups

3. The percentage of males and females in each age group

4. Changes in birth and death rate for each age group

Continued….

5. Life expectancy and infant mortality6. The proportion of elderly and young

people who are dependent on those of a working age- “The economically active group”

7. The effects of people migrating into and out of a country

1. Population density 2. Population distribution3. Factors that affect population

distribution (positive and negative) 4. Areas which are sparsely population

and areas which are densely populated

5. Population growth throughout history

6. Population change

Recap!

7. Demographic transition model8. Understanding and explaining the

demographic transition model 9. Population definitions10. Census11. What population pyramids show Please go back over your work or

ask me at the end of class if you are still unsure of any of these points!

Examples of Population Pyramids

Guess the country

Draw diagram A p. 8 Answer questions 1-9 on p. 16

Homework

Taken from the US Census Bureau! 1. Look beyond census numbers in

order to decipher problems in data collection. This involves knowing the history of a country and examining the extent to which past events have affected the population structure.

2. The effects of war in 1963 on males ages 20-24, might be apparent in a 2013 population, among males ages 70-74, for example.

Important points to consider

In many Persian Gulf States, for example, a large proportion of the labour force consists of international migrants, who are predominantly male. Because of this particular feature in Persian Gulf countries, the base population age-sex structures for these countries necessarily include a large male-dominant working-age population.

A good geographer would see this graph and be able to analyse this by breaking down the key points of this graph. ALWAYS look for possible reasons and back up why you think this is so

Examples of Population Pyramids

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc4HxPxNrZ0

Changing Population

Too many young people Need more schools Need more food

resources for growing population

Better health care for the youth

Need more recreational facilities, parks, cinemas, sports facilities

Better shopping facilities

Too many old people Better health care

needed for elderly Need more retirement

homes Need to ensure there

is enough economically active people to look after the dependents.

Need more social services for the old people.

Changing Population Structures

Overpopulation Under population Optimum population

Population

If the number of people living in an area is greater than the resources available to support that population, it is overpopulated. E.g. Nigeria in Africa

Picture

Overpopulation

1. Not enough housing2. Increased water and air pollution3. Shortage of food and water4. High crime rates5. Not enough health care and

education6. Increased traffic

Problems of overpopulation

If the number of people living in an area is less than is needed to make full use of the resources available then that area can be described as under populated. E.g. Australia has many resources but it is not using them fully.

Under population

1. Low birth rate2. Not enough workers to support the

growing economy3. Need to invite people from other

countries to help develop the economy. E.g. Australia taking in skilled people from Ireland

4. Less exports as products are not made due to lack of work force

5. Not enough economically active people to support the dependents.

Problems of under population

1. Describe some of the impacts of an increasing world population and draw diagram E page 11.

2. Explain how population pyramids can help to plan to the future

Homework

This is where there is an adequate supply of resources to meet the needs of the population. E.g Germany.

Optimum Population

The Chinese government realised in the 1970’s that it was facing a serious issue of over population.

In 1979 to try to combat this they introduced population control measures.

The main policy introduced was the one child policy which limited one child per family.

China’s one child policy

1. Couples had to seek permission before marrying and had to seek permission again before having a child

2. Those who followed the policy were given free education, priority housing and family benefits

3. Those who did not follow the policy were not given any benefits and were fined heavily.

4. Women who became pregnant a second time were forced to have an abortion.

Main points of policy

By the late 1990’s China estimated that its population is 230 million less because of the ‘one child policy’. The birth rate decreased dramatically from 31 births per 1000 to 19 births per 1000.

This has helped to address the severe issues of overpopulation as mentioned previously.

Successes of the policy

However, as mentioned in previous classes every action has a consequence and as geographers it is your job to both notice and comment on these consequences.

Modern changes in the policy

The desire for a boy is part of Chinese culture so as a result of the one child policy boys were preferred over girls.

The male population increased as a result of more boys, the female population consequently decreased as girls were often abandoned, killed or sold to baby-traffickers.

Think about this action on the present day population!

Consequences of the one child policy

Today there is a clear imbalance between the genders as there are more males than females in the 20-35 age group.

To help address this the Chinese government changed the policy.

1. Allowing all families in rural areas to have two children

2. Offering women a wider choice in methods of contraception

3. Allowing the option of voluntary family planning in 300 trial districts.

For a country that you have studied, describe policies used by the government to reduce rates of population growth.

IGCSE Question

An ageing population means that the population is getting older with more and more old people. What would this look like in a population pyramid?

This is because the life expectancy of China is increasing.

Life expectancy was 40 years old in 1950 it is now over 80 years old

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html

China’s ageing population

As the population is getting older this means there will be a large amount of elderly dependents.

This has problems because;1. Need money for pensions as there is none set

aside2. strain on working population/higher taxation;3. need for more money to be spent on care

homes/health, more doctors, nurses and medicines needed for old people

4. care/facilities for elderly, etc.;5. not enough workers for key positions;6. difficult to defend country;7. need to attract foreign workers;8. services for young under utilised/uneconomical,

etc.

This is the measure of the number of retired people per 100 people in the economically active group.

Eg. 20 old people per 100 working people is good

40 old people per 100 working people is bad as this means that the working people have to take care of more elderly people.

Old age dependency ratio

Russia’s population is in decline, each year the population is falling by about 700,000.

This is threatening economic growth as there will soon not be enough people who are economically active to support the dependents of the country.

To address this, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered birth incentives.

Russia’s birth incentives

1. Women with large families had the title “hero mother” and were given medals and expensive gifts.

2. Monthly child support payments were doubled for the first child

3. Having a second baby received a bonus payment.

4. The state will give women who give up work to have a baby 40% of what they used to earn.

Russia’s birth incentive policies

1. Complete population pyramid worksheet2. China’s one child policy has been highly

debated, discuss some of the present day problems that China would experience if this policy wasn’t introduced.

3. Is money the only way to increase population? Think of why money might not be successful in encouraging women to have children.

4. Why is it important to have a balanced population of gender and age? (Min half page answer)

Homework

1. Population distribution 2. Population density 3. Factors that affect population density and distribution 4. Population growth throughout history and the future

population trends 5. Natural increase 6. Birth rate 7. Death rate 8. Infant mortality 9. Life expectancy 10. Dependents 11. Economically active 12. The demographic transition model and each of the 5

stages

Summary

13. Population pyramids 14. Changing population structures 15. Population trends 16. Problems of old/young population 17. Problems of under/over population 18. China’s one child policy 19. China’s ageing population 20. Old age dependency ratio 21. Russia’s birth incentives

Continued

Revise population questions from past exam papers.

Be aware that questions change every year but you know the basic information you just have to adopt it to be a good geographer and answer the question to the best of your ability using all the information I taught you.

IGCSE Questions