Topic 1: Population

Question 1

population

Answer 1

• the total number of persons inhabiting a country, city, district, or any area

Question 2

demography

Answer 2

• the study of populations

Question 3

birth rate

Answer 3

• number of live births per 1000 of the population

Question 4

death rate

Answer 4

• number of deaths per 1000 of the population

Question 5

fertility rate

Answer 5

• average number of children per woman

Question 6

natural (population) growth

Answer 6

• difference between birth rate and death rate

* rate of natural change

Question 7

population density

Answer 7

• number of people per square kilometre

Question 8

carrying capacity

Answer 8

• number of people an area can support based on its resources and technology

Question 9

world population increase

Answer 9

• population explosion

* rapid decrease in death rates - medical /scientific advancements

Question 10

factors for high birth rate

Answer 10

• poor family planning
• little access to contraception
• children required to work on land
• children support their parents in old age
• desire to have a son, so parents keep trying
• religious beliefs or traditions

Question 11

factors for low birth rate

Answer 11

• emancipation of women, including education and increased career-mindedness
• access to contraception /family planning
• high cost of raising children
• anti-natal policies
• increased age of marriage
• urbanisation

Question 12

factors for high death rate

Answer 12

• low life expectancy and high infant mortality
• food scarcity, resulting in starvation
• lack of medical infrastructure and doctors, so diseases can not be treated properly
• poor hygiene and sanitation allows the easy spreading of disease
• sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS

Question 13

factors for low death rate

Answer 13

• long life expectancy and low infant mortality rate
• good hygiene and sanitation
• abundant food supply, so no starvation
• good access to medicine/hospitals
• reduction in wars/conflicts

Question 14

over-population

Answer 14

• not enough resources/technologies available to maintain an adequate standard of living for the people in the area

Question 15

under-population

Answer 15

• number of people living in area is less than what is needed to make full use of resources/technologies available

Question 16

optimum population

Answer 16

• area with a healthy balance between the available resources/technologies and the number of inhabitants

Question 17

consequences of over-population

Answer 17

• not enough housing
• water/air pollution
• shortage of food/water
• high crime rates
• not enough health care/education
• lack of employment
• poverty

Question 18

consequences of under-population

Answer 18

• shortage of workers
• low level of production
• resources underused
• high taxes
• lack of government income
• small market for goods/services
• low value of exports

Question 19

LEDC population pyramids

Answer 19

• show the age-sex distribution of a country/area
• narrow apex (few old dependents)
• broad base (many young dependents)
• concave slope (high death rate)
• rapidly tapering top (high death rate & low life expectancy)

Question 20

MEDC population pyramids

Answer 20

• wide apex (many old dependents)
• narrow(-ing) base (low or falling birth rates)
• convex slope & bulging sides (low death rates)

Question 21

ageing population (advantages & disadvantages)

Answer 21

• percentage of people over the age of 65 increases

benefits:
• increased development of grey industries (industries catering the needs of old people, such as specialised healthcare and care homes)
• elderly may pass skills and expertise on to the younger generation
• elderly may take care of their grand children, allowing parents to work at full capacity, and they may be active in volunteering or other forms of service

disadvantages:
• financial burden of elderly due to retirement: little contribution to economy (often little income) and cost of pension budgets places a strain on the working class – even requiring higher taxation to pay for the pensions
• reduced development of infrastructure for younger people eg. schools, playgrounds
• fewer people to defend the country

Question 22

the demographic transition model

Answer 22

• groups countries based on population trends to give a perception of development
• 4 stages of birth & death rate changing over time
• best look at a picture…

Question 23

population policies

Answer 23

• governments create policies to solve issues that affect birth & death rates to fit plans for the future of the country