POPULATION
World pattern of population distribution
The world’s population distribution is divided into 3 main groups:
1. Areas of low density (less than 10 people per km2). Examples include Sahara Desert and Canada
2. Areas of medium density (10-50 people per km2). Examples include California, south-east Australia and the Nile Valley in Egypt
3. Areas of high density (above 50 people per km2). Examples include South and East Asia and Europe
The difference between density and distribution
- Population Distribution = the way people are spread out across the Earth’s surface
- Population Density = the number of people living within a given area (usually a square kilometre)
Reasons for different populations
Densely populated areas are areas which have large numbers of people per km2. These are areas where there are many advantages for the people such as warmer climate, fertile soil and flat land.
Sparsely populated areas are areas which have small numbers of people per km2. These are areas where there are many disadvantages for the people such as extreme climates (too cold, too dry), infertile soil and lack of employment.
For example, the UK has densely populated areas in large cities and along good transport links, but sparsely populated areas along rugged coast lines and highland areas.
Also Brazil has densely populated regions close to large cities but sparsely populated regions in the tropical rainforest and areas which suffer drought.
World Population Growth
The population of the world grew very slowly up until about 1900. The population then exploded and increased rapidly and still continues today. The world’s population has continued to grow because the birth rate has remained higher than the death rate.
Birth rate and death rate
Birth rate is the amount of people who are born per 1000 of the population
Death rate is the amount of people who die per 1000 of the population
Demographic Transition Model
The Demographic Transition Model attempts to explain the cycles that a population can go through. It is based on what has happened in the United Kingdom.
Stage 1- This is where the birth rate is high and the death rate is high. The population remains stable at this point (very few countries are now at this stage)
Stage 2- This is where the birth rates are high but the death rates begin to fall. This results in the population increasing. Lots of countries in the developing world are at this stage, due to improved medical care, but poor education.
Stage 3- This is where the birth rate starts to fall. The growth of the population begins to slow down. Today many LEDC’s are at this stage as they are beginning to educate their people about birth control and more women are keen to go to work instead of having large families.
Stage 4- Low birth rate and low death rates. At this point the population total begins to stabilise and most MEDC’s are at this stage.
Stage 5?
It is thought that some MEDC countries are now going through a stage 5 where the population has begun to decline. This leads to an aging population as people are not dying due to good medical care, but babies are also not being born due to good access to contraception and a stronger desire amongst women to work. In some countries such as the UK, the death rate is now higher than the birth rate due to unhealthy diets, pollution and lack of exercise.
Contrasts between MEDC’’s and LEDC’s
- In many MEDC’s natural increase is low due to low birth rates and low death rates
- In LEDC’s there has been a massive population explosion due to high birth rates and lower death rates
Population Pyramids
The population pyramid of an MEDC would have a small bottom third, a larger middle and small top third
The population pyramid of an LEDC would have a large bottom third which gradually decreases in size towards the top
Migration
Migration is the movement of people from one area to another within a country (internal migration) or from one country to another country (international migration).
There are several reasons for why people may want to migrate.
These can be classified into push and pull factors.
PUSH FACTORS
Poverty
Drought and famine
Pressure on the land
Few jobs
Lack of services
Remoteness
Pull Factors
Better paid jobs in industry
Better schools and hospitals
Shops and entertainment
Water supply, electricity
Reliable food supplies
Improved housing
Migration can either be voluntary or forced. Forced migration is when people have no choice but to move (for example due to war, disaster, famine)
Voluntary migration is when people choose to move to another country for a better life (for example, moving for a better education, employment, family)
Advantages/disadvantages of emigration/immigration to losing/host country
Advantage for the host country = Extra labour. May bring skills/money. Cultural exchange brings new skills and ideas.
Disadvantage for the host country = A strain on the resources, especially in LEDC’s. Can lead to poor housing being built and poor medical care.
Advantages for the losing country = Reduces burden on the country as there are fewer people to provide for. Money is sent back to family members from host countries.
Disadvantages for the losing country = A loss of labour and skills
The social, economic and political effects of population change
Social
Pressure on land as more people move in. Conflicts of cultures from migrants can lead to civil wars. Pressure on medical systems and schools
Lack of skilled workers due to ageing populations. Pressure on medical system
Economic
Lack of money for services due to strain on government
Fewer people to work so higher taxes need to be paid to cover costs of pensions and medical care
Political
Government are not able to finance growing population or provide work for them so informal sector becomes dominant
Government forced to charge people more taxes to cover growing costs of an elderly population
Strategies for coping
MEDC’s
Advertising for workers from other countries to come and work in sparsely populated areas such as the Shetlands
Tax incentives for large families to increase birth rates in France
Banning contraceptives
Extending urban areas to encourage people to move away from densely populated cities in the Netherlands
LEDC’s
Indonesian transmigration policy whereby people are offered incentives to move to one of the sparsely populated islands
China’s one child policy whereby each couple are only allowed to have one child per household
Settlements being built away from over populated areas in Brazil
Summary
- The world’s population distribution is divided into 3 main groups
- Population Distribution- the way people are spread out across the Earth’s surface
- Population Density- the number of people who live within a given area (usually a square kilometre)
- Densely populated areas are areas which have large numbers of people per km2. These are areas where there are many advantages for the people such as warmer climate, fertile soil and flat land.
- Sparsely populated areas are areas which have small numbers of people per km2. These are areas where there are many disadvantages for the people such as extreme climates, infertile soil and lack of employment.
- Birth rate is the amount of people who are born per 1000 of the population
- Death rate is the amount of people who die per 1000 of the population
- Migration is the movement of people from one area to another.
- The Demographic Transition Model attempts to explain the cycles that a population can go through.
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