CHAPTER 2

POPULATION

WHY IS POPULATION IMPORTANT?

1. Helps explain issues in human geography

2. It’s connected to everything!!!! (economics, health, politics….)

Demography – the scientific study of population characteristics

Census – most important source of data for human geographers

ISSUE #1

Where is the World’s Population Distributed?

Geographers look at two properties to understand global population distribution….

CONCENTRATION(which areas are clustered, which are

sparse? )

DENSITY

2/3 of the world’s population lives in East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Western Europe

Different ways of measuring this: Arithmetic, Physiological, Agricultural

POPULATION CONCENTRATIONS

HIGHLY POPULATED

1. East Asia

2. South Asia

3. Europe

4. Southeast Asia

- large clusters in North America and Africa?

- what does ecumene mean?

SPARSELY POPULATED

1. Dry Lands

2. Wet Lands

3. Cold Lands

4. High Lands

Population Distribution – people are not distributed uniformly across Earth’s surface

World Population Cartogram

Fig. 2-1: This cartogram displays countries by the size of their population rather than their land area. (Only countries with 50 million or more people are named.)

worldmapperWorld Growth

In a cartogram, countries are displayed by size of population rather than land area

Ecumene – Seen thousand years ago humans occupied only a small percentage of Earth’s land area, primarily in Southwest Asia, Eastern Europe, and East Asia. Even 500 years ago much of North America and Asia lay outside the ecumene. Still, approximately three-fourths of the world’s population live on only five percent of Earth’s surface. The balance of Earth’s surface consists of oceans (about 71 percent) and less intensively inhabited land.

ARITHMETIC• Total number of people

divided by total land area (population density)

• Helps geographers compare populations of different parts of the world (helps understand “where”, people live, but not “why” there is uneven distribution)

ARITHMETIC/POPULATION DENSITY

PHYSIOLOGICAL• Number of people

supported by a unit area of arable land

• Helps us understand the capacity of land to support the population

• The higher the PD, the more pressure on the land to produce enough food

PHYSIOLOGICAL DENSITY

AGRICULTURAL

• Ratio of the number of farmers to the amount of arable land

•Helps explain economic differences

• MDCs have lower AD (why? Benefits?)

AGRICULTURAL DENSITY

LIST 3 PHYSICAL SIMILARITIES THE MOST POPULATED REGIONS SHARE…

LIST 3 PHYSICAL SIMILARITIES THE MOST POPULATED REGIONS SHARE…

1. Live near ocean and/or river w/ easy access to a river

2. Live in low-lying areas

3. Fertile soil

4. Temperate climate

5. All in the NH, between 10*N and 55*N

- exception?

POWERPOINTS• Title: Region you have (ex. East

Asia)

• Population – fraction of world’s population there

• Map – of that region

• Concentration – highest/most important area of concentration

• How do people make their living?

• Title: Type of Land you have (ex. Dry Land)

• Description – description of the land

• Location – where is this type of land found? Lat/Long, regions, countries…

• Map/Picture – of an example of that type (ex. Sahara)

• Challenges – what problems does this type of land present

Note Format for Regions

Region:Population:Concentration:Occupation:

Note Form for Land Areas

• Land• Description• Location• Example• Challenges

Answer the following:

1. Define Arithmetic, Physiological and Agricultural Density

2. Tell one thing each of those types of density helps geographers do/understand….

3. Who tends to have a lower Agricultural Density, MDCs or LDCs? Why?

ISSUE #2

Why is Global Population Increasing?

Through most of human history population growth was virtually nil. Population increased rapidly beginning in the 18th century.

IMPORTANT MEASUREMENTS

Crude Birth Rate Crude Death Rate

Natural Increase Rate

MEASURING NIR

• just subtract CDR from CBR

ex. CBR = 20 (20 per 1,000) CDR = 5 (5 per 1,000)

- therefore the NIR = 15 or 1.5 % (remember, it’s out of 1,000; not 100)

--- know the global trends over the past 60 years (pp.50-51)

The NIR declined from its historic peak in the 1960s, but the number of people added each year has not declined very much because with

world population increasing from 2.5 billion to more than 7 billion people during the period, the percentage has been applied to an ever

largerbase.

TRUE/FALSE?

• As NIR decreases, the overall population automatically decreases as well.

TRUE/FALSE?

• As NIR decreases, the overall population automatically decreases as well.

FALSE – see graph on p.51

WHERE IS NIR INCREASING?

• Almost all growth in NIR is clustered in LDCs

• It is negative in parts of Europe

* What are the implications of this?

NATURAL INCREASE RATE

FERTILITY

• Global map of CBR mirrors that of NIR, why?

• What is the TFR?– Sub-Saharan Africa vs.

Europe?

CRUDE BIRTH RATE

TOTAL FERTILITY RATE

MORTALITY

• CDR does not follow the pattern of other demographic statistics when comparing LDCs and MDCs– Why not?

CRUDE DEATH RATE

POPULATION PYRAMIDS• They are used to show a

country’s unique population structure

• They can vary greatly within a country– Why?

• Make sure you understand Dependency Ration and Sex Ratio (p.54)

Laredo has a broad pyramid, indicating higher percentages of young people and fertility rates. Lawrence

has a higher percentage of people in their twenties because it is the home of the University of Kansas.

Naples has a high percentage of elderly people, especially women, so its pyramid is upside down.

DEPENDENCY RATIO

SEX RATIO

KEY ISSUE #2 REVIEW

Provide an example/explanation of how a country’s NIR could equal

1.6%.

True/False – the NIR peaked in the 1960s and then decreased during

the late 20th century.

True/False – As the NIR decreased the overall population must also

decrease.

True/False – The nations with the highest NIR tend to also be the

same as those with high CBRs and TFRs.

If a nation has a very high life expectancy would you expect it to

most likely have a high or low infant mortality rate?

In general, the IMR reflects a nation’s ___________________

True/False – the combined CDR for LDCs is actually lower than that of

MDCs.

Which of the following has the highest CBR?

a. sub-Saharan Africab. Europec. East Asia

Which of the following has the lowest CDR?

a. sub-Saharan Africab. Europec. South America

Which of the following has the highest NIR?

a. sub-Saharan Africab. North Americac. South Asia

Which of the following has the highest TFR?

a. Middle Eastb. Europec. North America

Which of the following has the lowest IMR?

a. North Americab. Southeast Asiac. South America

Provide an example/explanation of how a country’s NIR could equal

1.6%.

(CBR is 100 and CDR is 84)

True/False – the NIR peaked in the 1960s and then decreased during

the late 20th century.

(True)

True/False – As the NIR decreased the overall population must also

decrease.

(False)

True/False – The nations with the highest NIR tend to also be the

same as those with high CBRs and TFRs.

(True)

If a nation has a very high life expectancy would you expect it to

most likely have a high or low infant mortality rate?

(low)

In general, the IMR reflects a nation’s ___________________

(health care system)

True/False – the combined CDR for LDCs is actually lower than that of

MDCs.

(True)

Which of the following has the highest CBR?

a. sub-Saharan Africab. Europec. East Asia

(sub-Saharan Africa)

Which of the following has the lowest CDR?

a. sub-Saharan Africab. Europec. South America

(South America)

Which of the following has the highest NIR?

a. sub-Saharan Africab. North Americac. South Asia

(sub-Saharan Africa)

Which of the following has the highest TFR?

a. Middle Eastb. Europec. North America

(Middle East)

Which of the following has the lowest IMR?

a. North Americab. Southeast Asiac. South America

(North America)

ISSUE #3

Why Does Population Growth Vary Among Regions?(one of the most important Key Issues in the book!)

List what you think are the 10 most populated countries in the world

1. China 2. India 3. U.S. 4. Indonesia 5. Brazil 6. Pakistan 7. Bangladesh 8. Nigeria 9. Russia10. Japan

List what you think will be the 10 most populated countries in the world in

the year 2050

1. India2. China3. U.S.4. Pakistan5. Nigeria6. Indonesia 7. Bangladesh8. Brazil9. Ethiopia10. Democratic Republic of the Congo

WORLD POPULATION

2010• 1. China • 2. India • 3. U.S. • 4. Indonesia • 5. Brazil • 6. Pakistan • 7. Bangladesh • 8. Nigeria • 9. Russia • 10. Japan

2050• 1. India• 2. China• 3. U.S.• 4. Pakistan• 5. Nigeria• 6. Indonesia • 7. Bangladesh• 8. Brazil• 9. Ethiopia• 10. Democratic Republic of the

Congo

PDS

DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION• A process of change in a

society’s population

• This transition will vary in different places, at different times

• Process has different stages, every country is either 2,3, or 4

STAGE 1: LOW GROWTH• Characterizes most of humanity

throughout Earth’s history

• NIR = 0 (roughly); high CBR and CDR

• Agricultural revolution led to population increase (8000 BC)

but unreliable food supply kept societies in stage 1 until mid-1700s

STAGE 2: HIGH GROWTH• After 1750 world population grew

MUCH faster

• CDR plummets and CBR remains about the same (NIR goes way up because the gap between CDR and CBR is high)

• industrial revolution (mid-1700s) spurred this change and pushed some countries into stage 2

• Countries in Europe and NA entered S2 in about 1800, many in Asia and Africa didn’t get there until 1950 (why? – medical revolution)

STAGE 3: MODERATE GROWTH• CBR drops sharply and CDR falls, but at

a much slower rate than in S2 (population increases but only moderately because the gap between CBR and CDR narrows)

• European and NA countries entered S3 in the first half of the 20th century

• Most Asian and LA countries moved there recently, most African countries are still in S2

• People choose to have fewer children (social behavior changes)

• ---read p.59

STAGE 4: LOW GROWTH• CBR declines until it equals CDR

(NIR = 0)

• Also called zero population growth (TFR results in a lack of change in total population)

• Most European countries are here

• Social changes explain the change from S3 to S4 (p.60)

TYPE 2

• List the factors that push a society from stage 1 to stage 2, stage 2 to stage 3, and stage 3 to stage 4.

TYPE 2• List the factors that push a society from stage 1 to stage 2, stage 2

to stage 3, and stage 3 to stage 4.

a. Industrial rev. and medical rev. - push from 1 to 2

b. People decide to have fewer children – push from 2 to 3 (lower IMR, economic changes such as not working on farms and smaller living spaces in urban settings)

c. People have even fewer children due to things such as more women in the workforce, more leisure, time, more use on birth control … - push from 3 to 4

Which stage am I?

1. CBR and CDR are about the same, have good technology, food supply and health care

2. Most of human history has been in my stage

3. CBR stays relatively the same as it was in the previous stage, but CDR plummets

4. NIR increases, but moderately, as gap between CDR and CBR narrows

Which stage am I?1. CBR and CDR are about the same, have good technology, food supply and

health care ; zero population growth(Stage 4)

2. Most of human history has been in my stage(Stage 1)

3. CBR stays relatively the same as it was in the previous stage, but CDR plummets

(Stage 2)

3. NIR increases, but moderately, as gap between CDR and CBR narrows; CBR drops sharply

(Stage 3)

As a country moves through the demographic transition, the shape of the pyramid flattens. Cape Verde’s pyramid has a broad base, as

is typical of a country in Stage 2. Chile’s graph still resembles a pyramid and Denmark’s pyramid is flat, an indication of the aging

of the population.

STAGE 2-High Growth: CAPE VERDE (p.64)

STAGE 3-Moderat Growth: CHILE (p.65)

STAGE 4-Low Growth: DENMARK (p.66)

POPULATION PYRAMIDS

• Draw a pyramid representing each stage (2,3,4) – no pyramid for stage 1

• Add a brief description explaining why the pyramid represents that particular stage

• Draw 2 pyramids, not labeled, that your classmates will have to identify ( they can be any stage)

DECLINING BIRTH RATES

• Global CBR has been declining quickly since 1990

• 2 strategies have been especially effective

1. Lowering birth rates through education and healthcare

2. Lowering birth rates through contraception

Ex. Bangladesh

--- debates/issues with contraception?

DECLINING CRUDE BIRTH RATES

MALTHUS(1798 – An Essay on the Principle of Population)

What did he Say?

• Global population was growing much faster than the Earth’s food supply

• Population increases geometrically

• Food supply increases arithmetically

MALTHUS(population growth is outrunning food supply)

Neo-Malthusians

• Believe it is worse than Malthus anticipated:

1. more countries have entered stage 2 so gap between population and resources is greater than he anticipated (especially in LDCs)

2. not just food is being outstripped, world population is too much for other resources as well (clean air, arable land, water, fuel)

Critics of Malthus• Food supply is not fixed, it can

be expanded (possibilism)

• Larger population can actually stimulate economic growth, leading to more production of food and technologies

• Marxists don’t blame pop. growth, they blame inequalities of capitalism

MALTHUS’ THEORY & REALITY• Since 1950 world food

supply has grown faster than global NIR (why?)– new techniques, better

seeds, use of more land, Green Revolution

• He was close on food production, but predictions about population were off

• During past ¼ century population has been increasing at a much slower rate than previous ½ century

• However, this still adds to our population (why?) – so he wasn’t completely wrong

Production of wheat and rice has increased more rapidly than its population.

POPULATION FUTURES

• It is predicted that the NIR will be much slower in the 21st century than in the 20th – Why?

DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION- STAGE 5?

• What 2 major breaks from the past characterize the 4 stages of the DT?

• Stage 5 would be characterized by:– Very low CBR– Increasing CDR– Negative NIR

--- some European countries already have negative NIRs (Russia)

Nearly all of the world’s population growth is forecast to be in developing countries

Stage 5 of the Demographic Transition would be characterized by a negative NIR, because the CDR would be greater than the CBR.

FAMILY PLANNING STRATEGIES

INDIA CHINA• Began the One Child Policy in 1980

– Subsidies– Longer maternity leave– Permit– More land, maybe– Delayed marriage

• Free contraceptives

• Role of the State Family Planning Commission?

• Rules of the One Child Policy have been relaxed recently (in what ways/)

• Overall, China has had more success in slowing down population growth

• 1952 – becomes first country to start a national family planning program

• Clinics provide info about methods of birth control

• Abortion is legal

• Sterilization program?

• Education/advertisements

• Overall, India has had little success in slowing down population growth

ISSUE #4

Why Do Some Regions Face Health Threats?

WORLD HEALTH THREATS

• In most countries lower CBRs have been responsible for declining NIRs, but in some regions(especially sub-Saharan Africa) lower NIRs have resulted from higher CDRs

• Epidemiologic transition focuses on causes of death in each stage of demographic transition

STAGES 1

• Stage of pestilence and famine

• Infectious and parasitic diseases are main causes of deaths (animal and human attacks too)

BLACK PLAGUE

STAGE 2

• Stage of receding pandemics

• Improvements of IR reduced spread of infectious diseases

• Poor people in crowded areas had high death rates

• 1832 – ½ million die in New York from cholera

• 1831 – 1/8 of Cairo’s population dies of cholera

CHOLERA

Cholera outbreak in London, 1854

STAGE 3• Stage of degenerative and

human-generated diseases

• Decrease in deaths from infectious disease

• Increase in chronic disorders associated with aging (exs. Cancer and heart attacks)

ATTACK

STAGE 4• Stage of delayed

degenerative disease

• Same causes of death as in stage 3, but medical advances allow people to live longer

• Better diets, new types of surgery, less smoking….

MALE CANCER

PERCENT OBESE

STAGE 5???

What is it?• Reemergence of infectious

and parasitic diseases

• This stage would mean higher CDRs

• Others say just a temporary setback

Reasons for it?1. Evolution (of the diseases, not

humans)

2. Poverty (diseases controlled in MDCs are spreading in LDCs)

3. Increased connections/Improved travel

Ebola interview

Avian Flu, 2003 - 2006

Fig. 2-25: The first cases of avian flu in this outbreak were reported in Southeast Asia.

NEW TB CASES

HIV RATES

HEALTH CARE

• 2 major indicators of health in a country are:1. Infant Mortality Rate2. Life Expectancy

INFANT MORTALITY RATES

LIFE EXPECTANCY

PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE

• You are responsible for pages 71-73 on your own

HEALTH CARE EXPENDITURES

GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES ON HEALTH CARE

The lowest rates of hospital beds are in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia

The lowest rates are in sub-Saharan Africa

The highest percentages are in Europe

Chapter 02: Review

The country with the largest population in Africa is

a) Algeria.b) Egypt.c) India.d) Nigeria.e) South Africa.

The country with the largest population in Africa is

a) Algeria.b) Egypt.c) India.d) Nigeria.e) South Africa.

Explanation:Nigeria is Africa’s population leader. India is not located in Africa. South Africa is an economic leader.

The number of people per unit of arable landis the

a) arithmetic density.b) physiological density.c) agricultural density.d) land-use density.e) population density.

The number of people per unit of arable land is the

a) arithmetic density.b) physiological density.c) agricultural density.d) land-use density.e) population density.

Explanation:This is the definition of physiological density which is different from arithmetic and agricultural densities.

The spread of the Avian flu through Egypt and Sudan is most closely associated with which geographic feature?

a) A major interstate highwayb) The Nile Riverc) The ridgeline of a mountain ranged) The Trans-African railwaye) The Orinoco River

The spread of the Avian flu through Egypt and Sudan is most closely associated with which geographic feature?

a) A major interstate highwayb) The Nile Riverc) The ridgeline of a mountain ranged) The Trans-African railwaye) The Orinoco River

Explanation:The Nile is the major north-south transport route in Egypt and Sudan.

Which of the following is the least significant factor affecting population growth rates?

a) Doubling timesb) Sex ratioc) Total fertility rated) Crude death ratee) Crude birth rate

Which of the following is the least significant factor affecting population growth rates?

a) Doubling timesb) Sex ratioc) Total fertility rated) Crude death ratee) Crude birth rate

Explanation:Sex ratio refers to the percentage of men and women born in a country. The other terms are closely related to the rise and decline of population size.

Which of the following countries has the highest infant mortality rates?

a) Venezuela b) Greenlandc) Icelandd) Malie) Saudi Arabia

Which of the following countries has the highest infant mortality rates?

a) Venezuela b) Greenlandc) Icelandd) Malie) Saudi Arabia

Explanation:Like its neighbors in Saharan Africa, Mali has some of the highest infant mortality rates in the world.

In which stage of the demographic transition are birth rates stable and death rates declining?

a) Stage 1b) Stage 2c) Stage 3d) Stage 4e) This situation does not occur in any of the four stages.

In which stage of the demographic transition are birth rates stable and death rates declining?

a) Stage 1b) Stage 2c) Stage 3d) Stage 4e) This situation does not occur in any of the four stages.

Figure 2-14 clearly shows stable birth rates and declining death rates in stage 2.

Population growth rates are lowest in _________ of the demographic transition.

a) stage 1b) stage 2c) stage 3d) stage 4e) stage 5

Population growth rates are lowest in _________ of the demographic transition.

a) stage 1b) stage 2c) stage 3d) stage 4e) stage 5

Explanation:High birth and death rates negate one another in stage 1 and result in very low population growth.

Dependency ratios are highest in

a) Africa.b) South America.c) Europe.d) North America.e) East Asia.

Dependency ratios are highest in

a) Africa.b) South America.c) Europe.d) North America.e) East Asia.

Explanation:With the highest birth rates, Africa—and other places in stage 2 of the Demographic Transition—has a large proportion of dependents among its population.

Which stage of the Epidemiologic Transition is characterized by a decreasing number of deaths from infectious diseases and a rising toll from degenerative diseases?

a) Stage 1b) Stage 2c) Stage 3d) Stage 4e) Stage 5

Which stage of the Epidemiologic Transition is characterized by a decreasing number of deaths from infectious diseases and a rising toll from degenerative diseases?

a) Stage 1b) Stage 2c) Stage 3d) Stage 4e) Stage 5

Explanation:Infectious diseases characterize stages 1 and 2. Stage 5 marks the resurgence of infectious and parasitic diseases.

The most lethal global epidemic disease in recent years has been

a) tuberculosis.b) malaria.c) AIDS.d) SARS.e) Ebola.

The most lethal global epidemic disease in recent years has been

a) tuberculosis. b) malaria.c) AIDS.d) SARS.e) Ebola.

Explanation:While tuberculosis and malaria are deadly killers, none of the choices exceeds the global destruction caused by AIDS.

Which of these continents has the highest agricultural density?

a) Asiab) Australiac) Europed) South Americae) North America

Which of these continents has the highest agricultural density?

a) Asiab) Australiac) Europed) South Americae) North America Explanation:China, India, and other Asian countries still have a large percentage of the workforce that are farmers.

Which of these continents has the highest crude death rate?

a) Asiab) Australiac) Europed) South Americae) North America

Which of these continents has the highest crude death rate?

a) Asiab) Australiac) Europed) South Americae) North America Explanation:Europe’s overall population is older than any other continent.