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out within a given area Population density- describes the number of people in a given area Birth rate- the number of births per thousand people per year Death rate- the number of deaths per thousand people per year Population explosion- the rapid growth in worl population since 1800
Population Distribution
The population of the world is spread out very unevenly Most people are living on a third of the Earths surface
Areas of high population: Western Europe India China Areas of low population: Canada North Africa Brazil Australia
Population Density
Densely populated- means over 50 people per km2 Sparsely populated- means under 10 people per km2 Choropleths are used to show population density
Factor
1. Relief 2. Climate 3. Vegetation 4. Soils
Positive
Flat land Moderate, warm, enough rain Open grassland Deep fertile soil
Negative
Mountainous terrain Extreme: very hot/ very cold/ very dry Dense Forest Thin infertile soil
5. Resources
6. Access 7. Economy
World population growth is caused by birth rates being higher than death rates The global population is expected to stabilise at 10.4 billion in 2200 95% of world population growth is in LEDCs
There are 4 main stages but MEDCs are entering a fifth stage where population starts to decline
Birth rates are high as there is no birth control and children are needed from labour
Death rates are high due to poor hygiene and diseases
Stage FourStage twoPopulation growth is rapid Birth rates are still high Death rates fall due to improved healthcare, sanitation and diet Stage threePopulation growth is slow Birth rates fall due to increases birth control, increased wealth and improved women's rights Death rates continue to fall slowly Population is high and fluctuating Birth rates are low due to contraception and low infant mortality rates Death rates low due to high quality healthcare
Population Structure
Population structure is shown as a population pyramid Horizontal bars show the percentage of population in each age group Population is divided into age groups of 5 years Males are shown on the left, females on the right We can identify trends in birth rate, death rate, infant mortality rate and life expectancy
Age
Age
Females
Males
Females
Steep concave sidesHigh death rate High infant mortality rate Wide base-
Typical LEDC
Narrow base-
Ageing Population
In MEDCs the birth rate can be so low that there is an ageing population Advantages There is more demand for chairlifts, holidays etc. so more businesses. This benefits society Disadvantages Social - facilities for young people are replaced by facilities for old people -longer queues at the post office on pension day Economic -Young people have to pay older peoples pensions -More care workers are needed to take care of older people Political -local MPs lose their seats for ignoring the grey vote -Gordon Brown is preparing to raise National Insurance to pay for increased NHS spending
1. 2. 3. 4.
Solutions Increase retirement age Reform the pension system Introduce pro-natalist policies (encouraging people to have children) Encourage immigration
Types of migration
Immigration- into a country Internal- movement within a country Permanent- stay forever
Voluntary- the persons own choice
Emigration- out of a country Internationalmovement between countries Temporary- return home later
Forced- no choice
Urbanisation
Occurring mainly in LEDCs
Push factors (from countryside) 1. Few jobs 2. Poor wages 3. Poor healthcare 4. Few education opportunities Pull factors (to cities) 1. Formal and informal jobs 2. Higher wages 3. Clinics 4. More schools 5. Excitement of city life
Impacts
Impacts on city 1. Tough life for migrants 2. Jobs are hard to find 3. Services become over-stretched 4. Migrants often live in squatter settlements Impacts on countryside 1. Countryside becomes depopulated 2. Fewer farmers 3. Decrease in food production 4. Population becomes unbalanced, mostly sick, children or elderly
Counter-urbanisation
Occurring mainly in MEDCs
Push factors (from city) 1. Lack of open space 2. Noise and air pollution 3. Traffic congestion 4. Fear of crime Pull factors (to countryside) 1. Attractive scenery 2. Safer for children 3. Larger houses 4. Improved transport allows commuting
Impacts
Impacts on countryside 1. Under pressure for more housing 2. This leads to friction between newcomers and locals Impacts on city 1. City becomes depopulated 2. Vacant buildings, boarded up 3. Services decline
Population Control:
-China -Mauritius -Kerala
Migration -Mexico-USA
Refugees
-Rwanda
China
Background: Country in Eastern Asia Population: 1.3 billion Aims to reduce birth rates Population Policies: 1. In 1979, the one child policy was announced limiting each family to one child 2. Permission is necessary to marry and have children 3. Women must be 25 to marry 4. Free health care and financial benefits for one-child families 5. Fines for having 2 children Impacts: 1. Birth rates have fallen and population growth has slowed 2. Boys are more valued than girls as they can work- girls have been abandoned 3. Population is becoming unbalanced, more boys than girls 4. Ageing population will cause dependency problems
Impacts: 1. Mexican migrants benefit US economy by working for low wages 2. Mexican culture has enriched US border states- food, music, language 3. Illegal migrants cost USA billions of dollars on border control and prisons 4. Mexico has a shortage of economically active people
Indonesia
Push factors (from Java) Migrants are leaving Java because: Pull factors (to Kalimantan) Migrants are moving to islands like Kalimantan because:
The Mega Rice Project aims to produce enough rice to feed the country and provide homes and jobs for people. Problems 1. Land taken from locals in Kalimantan 2. Land provided is infertile- they have to use dangerous amounts of fertilisers 3. Rations from the government are often late Successes 1. Some have been given homes and land and food 2. There is less pressure in Java
Rwanda
Background: Rwanda is a small country in central Africa, where the population is divided into 2 groups- Hutu and Tutsi. In 1994 over 2 millions Hutus fled Rwanda and became refugees. Refugees: The Hutus massacred 800000 Tutsis, and when the Tutsis fought back they fled to safety in neighbouring countries Impacts: 1. Refugee camps in neighbouring countries 2. Lack of food and clean water meant 50000 Hutus died in one week 3. Overcrowding in camps led to crime and violence 4. Deforestation for firewood and shelter