Chapter TwoPopulation

Distribution of World PopulationPopulation concentrationsThe four largest population clusters [East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Western Europe]Other population clusters [W. Hemisphere, West Africa]

Sparsely populated regionsDry lands 20% to dry to farm; contain natural resources?Wet lands near equator b/t 20 north & south latitude; large amounts of rainfallCold lands covered with ice or permafrost; unsuitableHigh lands mountains are steep, snow covered

World Population CartogramFig. 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.)

World Population Distribution & Climate ZonesFig. 2-2: World population is unevenly distributed across the earths surface. Climate is one factor that affects population density.

Expansion of the Ecumene 5000 BC - AD 1900Fig. 2-3: The ecumene, or the portion of the earth with permanent human settlement, has expanded to cover most of the worlds land area.

Ecumene, 5000 B.C.

Ecumene, A.D. 1

Ecumene, A.D.1500

Ecumene, A.D.1900

Population DensityArithmetic total # of people divided by total land areaAnswers the where questionPhysiological# of people supported by a unit area of arable landProvides insights into the relationship b/t size of population & availability of resources in a regionAgriculturalRatio of the # of farmers to the amount of arable landThis measure helps account for economic differences (MDCs vs. LDCs)

Arithmetic Population DensityFig. 2-4: Arithmetic population density is the number of people per total land area. The highest densities are found in parts of Asia and Europe.

Physiological DensityFig. 2-5: Physiological density is the number of people per arable land area. This is a good measure of the relation between population and agricultural resources in a society.

Measures of Population Density

Distribution of World Population GrowthNatural IncreaseCrude Birth Rate (CBR) total # of live births per year for every 1,000 people aliveCrude Death Rate (CDR) total # of deaths per year for every 1,000 people aliveNatural Increase Rate (NIR) - % by which population grows in a year [(CBR-CDR)/10 = NIR]High base population means small changes in NIR have dramatic effectDoubling Time - # of years needed to double population assuming constant rate of natural increaseVirtually 100% of natural increase clustered in LDCs

Distribution of World Population GrowthFertilityTotal Fertility Rate average number of children a woman will have throughout her child-bearing yearsVary between LDCs & MDCS2.7 for world as wholeMortalityInfant Mortality Rate annual # of deaths of infants compared w/ total live birthsHigher rates in poorer countries; reflects countrys health-care systemLife expectancy measures the average # of years a newborn infant can expect to live at current mortality levels

World Population Growth1950 - 2005Fig. 2-6: Total world population increased from 2.5 to over 6 billion in slightly over 50 years. The natural increase rate peaked in the early 1960s and has declined since, but the number of people added each year did not peak until 1990.

Natural Increase RatesFig. 2-7: The natural increase rate (NIR) is the percentage growth or decline in the population of a country per year (not including net migration). Countries in Africa and Southwest Asia have the highest current rates, while Russia and some European countries have negative rates.

Crude Birth RatesFig. 2-8: The crude birth rate (CBR) is the total number of births in a country per 1000 population per year. The lowest rates are in Europe, and the highest rates are in Africa and several Asian countries.

Total Fertility RatesFig. 2-9: The Total fertility rate (TFR) is the number of children an average woman in a society will have through her childbearing years. The lowest rates are in Europe, and the highest are in Africa and parts of the Middle East.

Infant Mortality RatesFig. 2-10: The infant mortality rate is the number of infant deaths per 1000 live births per year. The highest infant mortality rates are found in some of the poorest countries of Africa and Asia.

Life Expectancy at birthFig. 2-11: Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years a newborn infant can expect to live. The highest life expectancies are generally in the wealthiest countries, and the lowest in the poorest countries.

Crude Death RatesFig. 2-12: The crude death rate (CDR) is the total number of deaths in a country per 1000 population per year. Because wealthy countries are in a late stage of the Demographic Transition, they often have a higher CDR than poorer countries.

Variations in Population GrowthThe Demographic Transition [4 stages]Low growthagricultural revolution allowed for more people to surviveHigh growthIndustrial revolution spurs movement into stageCDR decreasing, CBR stableMedical revolution pushed LDCs into stage in late 20th centuryModerate growthCBR begins to drop, still higher than CDRPeople decide to have fewer offspring => decline in mortality & IMR; economic changes (work in cities)Low growthCBR = CDR & NIR nears zero (0) => Zero population growth

Variations in Population GrowthPopulation pyramidsAge distributionDependency ratio larger the % of dependents, the greater the financial burden on those workingSex ratio# of males per 100 females; slightly more males born, but have higher death rates

Countries in different stages of demographic transition

Demographic transition and world population growth

The Demographic TransitionFig. 2-13: The demographic transition consists of four stages, which move from high birth and death rates, to declines first in death rates then in birth rates, and finally to a stage of low birth and death rates. Population growth is most rapid in the second stage.

World Population & Growth Rates, 400,000 BC - AD 2000

Demographic Transition in EnglandFig. 2-14: England was one of the first countries to experience rapid population growth in the mid-eighteenth century, when it entered stage 2 of the demographic transition.

Percent of Population under 15Fig. 2-15: About one-third of world population is under 15, but the percentage by country varies from over 40% in most of Africa and some Asian countries, to under 20% in much of Europe.

Population Pyramids in U.S. cities Fig. 2-16: Population pyramids can vary greatly with different fertility rates (Laredo vs. Honolulu), or among military bases (Unalaska), college towns (Lawrence), and retirement communities (Naples).

Rapid Growth in Cape Verde Fig. 2-17: Cape Verde, which entered stage 2 of the demographic transition in about 1950, is experiencing rapid population growth. Its population history reflects the impacts of famines and out-migration.

Moderate Growth in ChileFig. 2-18: Chile entered stage 2 of the demographic transition in the 1930s, and it entered stage 3 in the 1960s.

Low Growth in DenmarkFig. 2-19: Denmark has been in stage 4 of the demographic transition since the 1970s, with little population growth since then. Its population pyramid shows increasing numbers of elderly and few children.

Will the World Face an Overpopulation Problem?Thomas MalthusArgued worlds rate of population increase was far outrunning development of food suppliesPopulation increased geometrically, whereas food supply increased arithmeticallyNeo-MalthusiansMedical technology resulted in gap b/t population growth & resources widening in some countriesWorld pop. Outstripping variety of resources which will lead to war & civil violence

Overpopulation ProblemCritics of MalthusPossibilists, Contemporary analysts, Marxists, Economic, Political leadersDeclining birth ratesMalthus theory & realityFood production increased more rapidlyPopulation increased at a slower rate; NIR declinedReasons for declining birth ratesEconomic developmentDistribution of contraceptives

World Health ThreatsEpidemiological Transition focuses on distinctive cause of death in each stage of demographic transitionStage 1 pestilence & famine; Black PlagueStage 2 receding pandemics; CholeraStage 3 degenerative & human-created diseases; cardiovascular disease, cancerStage 4 delayed degenerative diseasesStage 5 reemergence of infectious & parasitic diseases

Food & Population, 1950-2000Malthus vs. Actual Trends Fig. 2-20: Malthus predicted population would grow faster than food production, but food production actually expanded faster than population in the 2nd half of the 20th century.

Crude Birth Rate Decline, 1980-2005Fig. 2-21: Crude birth rates declined in most countries during the 1980s and 1990s (though the absolute number of births per year increased from about 120 to 130 million).

Use of Family PlanningFig. 2-22: Both the extent of family planning use and the methods used vary widely by country and culture.

Women Using Family Planning

Family Planning Methods used in three countries

Promoting One-Child Policy in China

Cholera in London, 1854Fig. 2-23: By mapping the distribution of cholera cases and water pumps in Soho, London, Dr. John Snow identified the source of the water-borne epidemic.

Tuberculosis Death RatesFig. 2-24: The tuberculosis death rate is good indicator of a countrys ability to invest in health care. TB is still one of the worlds largest infectious disease killers.

Avian Flu, 2003 - 2006Fig. 2-25: The first cases of avian flu in this outbreak were reported in Southeast Asia.

HIV/AIDS Prevalence Rates, 2005Fig. 2-26: The highest HIV infection rates are in sub-Saharan Africa. India and China have large numbers of cases, but lower infection rates at present.