Chapter 1: Measuring Populations

Chapter 1: Measuring PopulationsSo far.....World Population

Current Population Clock

21:00 UTC (EST+5) Sep 02, 2012

World 7,036,815,592seven billion thirty-six million eight hundred fifteen thousand five hundred ninety-two

17:53 UTC (EST+5) Sep 13, 2012

World 7,039,111,459seven billion thirty-nine million one hundred eleven thousand four hundred fifty-nine

Future trends

Population distribution?

Population density?The average number of people livingin a square kilometre of land

How do you calculate populationdensity?

v

Factors effecting population distribution and densityPhysical and human factors affect where people live (distribution) and how many people live in a region (density).

Climate

Relief

Soils

Drainage

Resources

5. Resources:

Areas with many resources (e.g. Europe)tend to have higher population densitiesthan areas with few resources (e.g. Sahelof Africa).Regions with mineral deposits or energysupplies attract industry

Mineral deposits have often led to thedistribution of people to unfavourableregions. For example, settlements in desertregions in central Australia only exist becauseof gold mines. Large settlements can also befound in northern Sweden where iron ore.

Human factors....GovernmentSocio-economicHistoric6. Government

Stable political systems(e.g.Europe)-Tend to have high populations-Democratic Governments offering peace, justice and good servicesUnstable political systems(e.g.Afghanistan)-Tend to have low populations-They experience political conflict whichcauses emigration

Government policy can also have an impact on population distribution.

For example, the settlement of theAmazonian rainforest in Brazil

This settlement is due to:

The construction of the capital city Brasilia

(B) Government resettlement schemesenticing people to this previously sparsely populated region

7. Socio-economic

Areas experiencing economic growth havehigh population densities as they offer jobs andbusiness opportunities

People flock to these regions. This trend can alterthe population distribution. As people move to aneconomic core region (e.g. Greater Dublin Area)its population grows but the donor regionspopulation lowers (e.g. Poorer rural peripheralregions in the west).

Religious factors have an affect on population distributions: -The Mormons in the USA tend to settle in Utah to be close to others practising the same faith.-The Amish community in Pennsylvania, USA tend to live in more isolated areas.

8. Historic:

Events in history have shaped the distribution patterns of people across the world:

Conquest and colonisation of the Americas in the 1500s resulted in mass European migration to the sparsely populated North and South Americas

The Plantation brought Scottish and Welsh people to Ireland

The Great Famine forced a great number of Irish to emigrate to the USA and Britain

Exemplar Exam questions...Regions can be defined by many factors i.e. Economic, Human and PhysicalExplain how any one of the above factors has defined an Irish Region studied by you.

Describe and explain, using examples which you have studied, the difference between the terms population density and population distributionFactors Affecting Population Distribution and DensityPopulation GrowthKey terms:Birth Rates: The number of live births per thousand of a population

Death Rates/ Mortality Rates: The number of deaths per thousand of a population

Natural Increase: The difference between birth rates and death rates. Birth rates are higher than death rates

Natural Decrease: Death rates are higher than birth rates

Factors influencing death rates and birth ratesSocial, Cultural and Economic factors influence birth rates and death rates

Education and status of women

Standard of living

Government policy

Religion Society and customs