U2- Population Dynamics

Question 1

Define birth rate.

Answer 1

Number of children born per 1000 population in a year.

Question 2

Define death rate.

Answer 2

Number of people who die per 1000 population in a year.

Question 3

What is natural increase?

Answer 3

Difference between birth rates and death rates.

Question 4

Define life expectancy.

Answer 4

Average age at which people die in a population.

Question 5

Define infant mortality.

Answer 5

Number of children under the age of one who die every year per 1000 births in a year.

Question 6

Define fertility rate.

Answer 6

Number of children that women have in their lifetime.

Question 7

What is the demographic transition model?

Answer 7

The DTM shows how changing birth and death rates affect the total population of a country.

Countries move from stage 1 through to 5 as they develop.

Question 8

Describe stage 1 of the DTM.

Answer 8

Stable population.

High deaths but also high birth rates.

Question 9

Describe stage 2 of the DTM.

Answer 9

Rapidly growing population.

Improvements in healthcare➡️Death rate falls but birth rate remains high.

Question 10

Describe stage 3 of the DTM.

Answer 10

Population growth begins to slow.

Women want to work instead, and people become wealthier➡️ Birth rates begin to fall.

Question 11

Describe stage 4 of the DTM.

Answer 11

Slow population growth.

Birth and death rate balance, so population is stable.

Question 12

Describe stage 5 of the DTM.

Answer 12

Population declines (slowly).

Birth rates fall below replacement level and high life expectancy➡️ Birth rate falls below death rate.

Question 13

Describe the typical structure of a named developing country’s population pyramid and explain why this is.

Answer 13

Nigeria:

Wide base, youthful population.

Thin at the top, low life expectancy so few people aged over 80.

Question 14

Describe the typical structure of a named developed country’s population pyramid and explain why this is.

Answer 14

Japan:

Narrower base, few children being born.

‘Top heavy’, large number over 60= ageing population.

Question 15

How can economic growth influence population structure?

Use Japan and Nigeria as your examples.

Answer 15

In Japan children are seen as a cost, this reduces the number born.

In Nigeria children can be an asset, helping on the farm or getting a street job to boost family income so more children are born.

Question 16

How can migration influence population structure?

Use Japan and Nigeria as your examples.

Answer 16

Migration can boost a country’s working population.

There is little migration in Japan, so migration doesn’t help offset the ageing population. Many working-age men emigrate from Nigeria to seek better jobs in other countries.

Question 17

How can conflict influence population structure?

Use Japan as your example.

Answer 17

War and conflict often leads to a lower number of men in a country.

This is evident in Japan’s population pyramid, where the number of over 80s is very small due to deaths occurred in WW2.

Question 18

What challenges does an ageing population pose?

Answer 18

• Healthcare costs and demands rise.
• Cost of long term residential care and nursing homes.
• High dependency ratio=Small number of working age people will have to pay higher taxes to care for the elderly.
• Shortage of workers.

Question 19

What challenges and benefits does a youthful population pose?

Answer 19

A-In 20yrs, a large youthful population will turn into a large working population and boost the economy.

D-Cost of taking care of dependants.

D-Cost of schools and recreation for young people.

D-Healthcare needs of young people.

Question 20

Why might governments need to actively manage population?

Answer 20

1. Pressure on resources.
2. Overcrowding.
3. Ageing- some countries may encourage a higher birth rate to offset an ageing population.
4. Skills shortages- Countries may encourage immigration if it needs a greater work force.

Question 21

Describe in detail China’s anti natalist policy.

Why?

What?

Impact?

Answer 21

Why- Population grew very quickly throughout 1950s and 60s which became a problem.

What- ‘One Child Policy’ started in 1979 gave benefits to women with cash bonuses, better houses and maternity care and punished couples who had more than one child.

Impact- birth rates fell, raised issues with ageing society, preference to boys led to sex-elective abortion, social impact commented on how spoilt only children are.

Question 22

Describe in detail Singapore’s pro natalist policy.

What?

Impact?

Answer 22

What- couples with 3+ pay lower taxes, better housing, easier access to nursery schools and preference to school choice.

Impact- little impact with drive today to get couples together in first place, government is so desperate it now sponsors speed-dating events.

Question 23

Why might countries reduce immigration?

Answer 23

• Unpopularity of large scale immigration amongst voters.
• Fears that immigrants accept lower pay, reducing pay for everyone.
• Fears host country will become ‘swamped’ with immigrants.
• Large scale immigration can increase cultural tensions.

Question 24

Why might countries increase immigration?

Answer 24

• Reduce skill shortages and help economy to grow.
• Offset the problem of ageing by attracting working-age immigrants.
• Attract low skill, low wage workers because existing population won’t do the dirty work.

Question 25

By 2050, what does the UN predict will be the population?

Answer 25

Between 8.1 billion- 10.6 billion, most likely around 9.3 billion.