IGCSE Population

Review and Revision

40 slides, 20 minutes; sit back and enjoy…..

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Population Distribution• Population distribution – the spread of the

population, where people live.

• Population density – the number of people per km squared.

• Densely populated – an area with a high number of people per km squared.

• Sparsely populated – an area where the number of people per km squared is low.

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Population Distribution• Where people live?• Why they live there (what

are the human and physical factors that explain population density and distribution)?

• A densely populated area of the world is Europe?

• A sparsely populated area of the world is Amazonia.

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Population Change

The Population FormulaNatural Population Change = Birth Rate (BR) – Death Rate (DR)

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The Demographic Transition Model

• This is a model which shows population change (births, deaths and natural change) over time.

• A model is a simplified version of reality.• The demographic transition model suggests all

countries go through 4 (or 5) stages of population change.

• The demographic transition model can be used to predict short and long term population changes.

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Population Pyramids

• Population pyramids show the population structure for an area or country in terms of age and sex ratios.

• The pyramid is useful because it helps us to predict short and long term population changes.

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Mozambique – An LEDC

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The UK – An MEDC

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Population Explosion

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Individual Decisions

This explosion occurred largely in LEDCs and results from millions of individual decisions that are influenced by the characteristics of

the places people live.

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LEDC Population Trends and Issues

High birth rates and falling death rates leading to rapid population growth –

the population explosionYouthful populations

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• Children needed as workers and to look after parents when they are older.

• Infant mortality rates are high, so high birth rates compensate for this.

• It is hoped children will grow up`, move to the city and get a good job, then send money home.

• Religion often forbids the use of birth control.• Having a big family increase peoples status and

importance in their village.• People (women) do not have access to

EDUCATION and contraception

Why traditionally are BRs high in LEDCs?

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Why did death rates fall in LEDCs?• Improved health care as knowledge,

technology and medicines are imported from MEDCs.

• Cleaner and safer drinking water, again as systems are imported from more developed countries.

• Better diets as more food is grown, often as a result of improved farming techniques developed in MEDCs.

• All leads to better living conditions and less disease which results in people living longer and falling death rates.

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Youthful Populations

Death rate maybe be falling in LEDCs but life expectancy is still low – the

result when combined with high BR is a youthful population

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• Lack of food and famine cause early death in many people.

• The spread of disease, for example cholera that comes from drinking dirty water, causes many deaths.

• Health care and hospitals are poor and often difficult to access.

Why is life expectancy low in LEDCs?

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YouthfulPopulation Pyramid

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Overpopulation Issues

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Overgrazing and Overcultivation

As seen in the Sahel region of Africa including Darfur in western Sudan

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Deforestation and Soil erosion

Again think Mato Grosso, Amazonia (Brazil) the Sahel (Darfur)Moses Lutta

Overcrowding and the growth of Shanty Towns

Favelas in Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)

Busties in India, e.g. Mumbai

Slums in JakartaMoses Lutta

Pollution and Waste

• Water pollution for example from human waste (villages in Bangladesh)

• Land pollution for example from farming (Mato Grosso, Brazil).

• Air pollution for example from increased car use (think Rio).

• Waste – see the Rio favela photo above

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Traffic CongestionAnd Rio once again – think of the road to Barra

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Crime and Lawlessness

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Other Problems

• Shortage of resources, food and raw materials.• Unemployment and underemployment.• Lack of money for basic health care and

schooling.• Rising crime, political coups and huge debts.• Low living standards and a lack of development.

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Youthful PopulationsMany young people (with a high youthful

dependency ratio) puts pressure on schools, taxes, families; and exacerbates problems

associated with rapid population growth and over population in LEDCS – this can hinder

development

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What are the sustainable management solutions?

Anti-natalist population policies and strategies

• Tanzania case study

• Kerela, India case study

• China, One Child Policy case study

• North Africa case study

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Disease – HIV/AIDS• In many LEDCs disease is another demographic

factor that has significant implications.• In Africa there are an estimated 30 million infected

with HIV, in India and China rates of infection arte growing.

• What are the social, economic, environmental and political impacts of HIV/AIDS?

• What can countries and the international community do about HIV/AIDS?

• You should have detailed information including a country specific case study from your AIDS report.Moses Lutta

MEDC Population Trends and Issues

Ageing population in MEDCs result from long life expectancies, low fertility

rates and the legacy of the post-war baby boom

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Why is life expectancy long?

• Top quality health care with well trained doctors, high-technology equipment and advanced medicines

• Access to clean water and high levels of sanitation (such as sewage) – reduces the spread of disease

• Food supply is plentiful and levels of hunger and malnutrition are low

• People’s working lives are often office based which can be healthier and involves a reduced risk of accidents

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Why are fertility rates low?

• Female education and emancipation are key as women then become involved in the decision making process

• Education about, and access and availability of, contraception

• Urbanization leading to reduced requirement for children as farm workers

• Increased perception of children as financial burden

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Post-war Baby Boom

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Example case studies where the issues of an ageing population are happening now.

Italy, UK, Germany, (western Europe), Japan, South Korea

Maybe even China???

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Ageing Population Pyramid

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Ageing Populations in MEDCs

Problems and Issues• Declining economically

active population and high (old age) dependency ratio

• Pressure on the pensions system

• Great demand for services such as hospitals, care homes, public transport

• Pressure on the housing sector with many old couples occupying large family homes

Opportunities• Tourism and other grey

Euro opportunities• A place in the sun and

impact on southern European hosing sectors

• Availability of skilled, experienced and “wise” people in labour force

• Availability of wiling part-time workers

• Reduced demand for schools and child care services

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What are the sustainable management solutions?

• Pro-natalist population policies (e.g. France)

• Encouraged immigration (UK and Italy although policies changing regularly)

• Raising retirement ages (currently gone up to 67 from 65 in UK)

• Forcing people to have private pensions and not rely on state (Slovakia’s 2nd tier)

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Completing the formula - MigrationPopulation change within an

area needs to consider both natural change (BR-DR) and migration (add

those who move in and subtract those who move out)

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Migration Case Studies

• Economic migration – Mexico to the USA

• Forced migration – Darfur (Sudan) internally displace people and refugees

• Rural to urban migration – urbanization in Brazil and the growth of mega-cities such as Rio de Janeiro

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Migration Case Studies

• Headline facts and figures – when, where, how many?

• Reasons – push (e.g. poor living conditions) and pull (e.g. better paid work with opportunities for career development) factors

• Impacts – on area of origin AND are of destination (positive, such as supply of cheap labour or remittances, and negative, such as impacts on origin population structures or exploitation)

• Long term sustainable management attempts e.g. wall on US border vs. better managed temporary work visas

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