THE HUMAN POPULATIONCh 9, Section 2: Changing

Population Trends

Standards: SEV5e

WHAT ARE THE TOP 5 MOST POPULATED COUNTRIES? As of 2012:

1. China- 1.3 billion2. India- 1.2 billion3. United States- 313

million4. Indonesia- 248 million5. Brazil- 194 million

China’s population is slowing and India is projected to surpass China by 2030.

India’s projected population in 2050 is 1.6 billion.

DO ALL POPULATIONS GO THRU THE DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION IN THE SAME WAY? Not every country

progresses thru the DT at the same rate or in the same way.

Some countries have modern industry but low income (China)

Some countries are stable & educated but with low industrialization

WHAT EFFECT DOES POPULATION HAVE ON RESOURCES? Most developed

countries have already gone through the demographic transition during a time when resources were plentiful.

Developing countries are currently experiencing their largest growth of the demographic transition during a time when the resources on the planet are already stressed.

WHAT IS INFRASTRUCTURE? When a country grows at

a rapid rate it uses resources at an increased rate which will overwhelm the infrastructure of a community.

Infrastructure are basic necessities of a community such as Water supplies Sewer lines Power plants Roads Subways Schools Hospitals

WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS OF RAPID GROWTH? Rapidly growing

populations use resources faster than the environment can renew them

Resources most critically affected by rapid growth: Vegetation Water Land

WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS WITH RAPID GROWTH & VEGETATION?

In many developing countries, wood is main source of fuel.

When pop. is low, people can gather dead wood on ground.

When pop. is high, people cut down trees to get fuel wood.

Without wood, cannot boil water for drinking, cook food, or stay warm. Water must be boiled b/c it

is usually contaminated with disease causing parasites.

WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS WITH RAPID GROWTH & WATER?

If population grows too rapidly, the local water supply cannot keep up.

Water supplies may dry up faster than they can be replaced by rain water

Plumbing infrastructure may be non-existent or not sufficient for growing population People may drink and wash from

same water used for sewage disposal.

Causes outbreaks of disease such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery All of these diseases result in

diarrhea Diarrheal diseases cause more than

40% of the deaths in Africa*

WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS WITH RAPID GROWTH & LAND USAGE? Growing

populations have shortage of arable land.

Arable land is land that can be used to grow crops.

Also competition for land to be used not only for farming, but also for housing & natural habitats.

WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS WITH RAPID GROWTH & LAND USAGE? Ex: Egypt

Egypt pop. 73 million & growing at rate of 2% each year.

Egypt needs Nile River valley for farming (only 4% of land in Egypt is arable)

The Nile River valley is also the only place where people can live b/c most of the country is desert.

As population increases, valley land will be used for housing which means less land available to grow food.

WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS WITH RAPID GROWTH & LAND USAGE?

Another problem with land usage is urbanization.

Urbanization- when people in rural areas move to cities.

Urbanization leads to suburban sprawl- people move to suburbs around cities and commute into cities for work.

City infrastructure can’t keep up with immigration of people into cities or suburbs Lots of traffic jams Less land for farms Inadequate plumbing Not enough or inadequate

housing

A housing development in Arizona

WHAT IS BEING DONE TO MANAGE POPULATION GROWTH? Less developed

countries are beginning to realize the economic strain overpopulation has on their countries.

Some governments try to limit birth rate by: Offering monetary

incentives/tax incentives to only have 1-2 kids

Advertising family planning programs

Legal punishments

Family planning pamphlet from India.

WHAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON POPULATION & DEVELOPMENT (ICPD)

Conference held by United Nations

Debated relationship between populations, development, and environment

Results of Conference: Provide access to family

planning methods & related reproductive health services

Reduce infant mortality rates to below 35/1000 live births & under 5 year old mortality rates to 45/1000

Close gap in maternal mortality btwn developed & developing countries.

Increase life expectancy at birth to more than 75 years.

Achieve universal access to & completion of primary education. Ensure the widest and earliest possible access by girls and women to secondary & higher levels of education

WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF WORLD POPULATION GROWTH?

Worldwide population is currently over 7 billion.

Worldwide fertility rates are declining

If current trends continue, most countries will achieve replacement level fertility by 2050 & population growth will slow/stop.

Most demographers predict world population will stabilize btwn 8 & 11 billion people.