KEY QUESTION #3:

WHY DOES

POPULATION

COMPOSITION

MATTER?

(3 SLIDES)

KEY QUESTION #3: WHY DOES POPULATION

COMPOSITION MATTER?

• Population composition reflects the number of men & women in a place, as well as their ages

• A key graph that shows these two things is called a “population pyramid”…also called an “age-sex pyramid”

– Males are to the left of the center line

– Females are to the right

• The more “pyramid-like” a pyramid is, the lesser developed that place is

• Baby booms are definitely evident in looking at pyramids

Population Pyramids –

Charts that show the percentages of each age group in the

total population, divided by gender.

For poorer countries, the chart is shaped like a pyramid.

Infant mortality rates are high, life expectancy is shorter.

Population Pyramids –

Charts that show the percentages of each age group in the

total population, divided by gender.

For wealthier countries, the chart is shaped like a lopsided

vase. Population is aging, TFRs are declining.

Demographic Transition Pyramids

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 Chile

Fig. 2-18: Chile entered stage 2 of the demographic transition in the 1930s, and it

entered stage 3 in the 1960s.

Low Growth in Denmark

Fig. 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.

Percent of Population under age 15

Fig. 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 select

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).

KEY QUESTION #3: WHY DOES POPULATION

COMPOSITION MATTER? • Another measure of population is Infant Mortality Rate(IMR)

– Baby’s death during the first year of life

– Given in a number of cases per thousand births

• Caused by…

– Poor health of the mother

– Inadequate nourishment(mother and/or child)

– Disease/poor sanitation

– Lack of child-care knowledge

• Diarrhea and malnutrition are the top two causes of infant death

– 11 states(countries) have an IMR over 100(all in Africa, except Afghanistan)

Infant Mortality Rate – the number of deaths of children under the age

of one per thousand live births. The rate ranges from as low as 3

(Singapore, Iceland) to as much as 150 (Sierra Leone, Afghanistan). The

U.S. rate is just over 6. High infant mortality tends to result in higher

fertility rates as families seek “insurance” for the loss of children.

Infant Mortality Rate

KEY QUESTION #3: WHY DOES POPULATION

COMPOSITION MATTER? • Other figures include…

– Child Mortality(deaths of children between ages 1-5)

– Life Expectancy(figures can change quickly; Russia’s

life expectancy dropped 10 years since fall of USSR)

– Disease rates(AIDS rates tend to get the most

press/discussion)

• Also includes chronic diseases which affect the

middle-aged and old-aged population

Life Expectancy

HIV/AIDS Prevalence Rates, 2005

Fig. 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.

KEY QUESTION #4:

HOW DO

GOVERNMENTS

AFFECT POPULATION

CHANGE?

(2 slides)

KEY QUESTION #4: HOW DO GOVERNMENTS

AFFECT POPULATION CHANGE??

– Many governments have implemented policies to impact

their populations

– These policies fall into 3 groups

• EXPANSIVE: encourage large families

• EUGENIC: designed to favor one racial or cultural group over

others

• RESTRICTIVE: reduces the rate of natural increase

– EXAMPLES:

• Soviet Union, China under Mao Zedong & some European

states today have implemented expansive policies

• Nazi Germany implemented a eugenic policy

• One-Child Policy is a restrictive policy

Promoting One-Child Policy in China

China’s One-Child Policy

China’s One-Child Policy

China’s One-Child Policy

China’s One-Child Policy

KEY QUESTION #4: HOW DO GOVERNMENTS

AFFECT POPULATION CHANGE??

–Many limitations & contradictions

exist in terms of population policies

–Some of these places include Sweden,

the Philippines & Indonesia

•READ PAGES 70-73 AGAIN

•List limitations & contradictions in

your notes