Chapter 3 Managing Human Population

Question 1

Population Density and Factors

Answer 1

• Population Density: The number of individuals per unit area or volume. It is** calculated by dividing the total population size by the area or volume**.
• Factors Influencing Population Density and Distribution: Environmental factors (availability of resources - water, climate), economic factors (job opportunities, urbanization), social factors (cultural preferences, migration), political factors (government policies), and historical factors (colonization, war).

Question 2

Population size and factors

Answer 2

• Population Size and Composition: Population size refers to the total number of individuals in a population, while population composition refers to the distribution of individuals across different age groups (age structure) and other demographic characteristics.
• Changes in Birth Rates, Death Rates, and Migration Rates: Changes in these rates can influence population size and composition. High birth rates lead to population growth, high death rates result in population decline, and migration can affect the distribution of populations.

Question 3

Population Change Impacts

Answer 3

• Impacts of Ageing Populations on Countries: Ageing populations can pose challenges for countries, including lower tax revenues, increased spending on pensions and healthcare for the elderly, pressure to raise retirement ages, and potential strains on social welfare systems.

Question 4

• Dependency Ratio

Answer 4

The dependency ratio is calculated as the sum of the young population (0 to 14 years old) and the old population (65 years and older), divided by the population aged 15 to 64 years. It provides an indication of the proportion of the population that is dependent on those of working age.

The smaller the population, the greate the pressure on economy.

Question 5

• Differences in Population Structures between High-Income Countries (HICs) and Low-Income Countries (LICs):

Answer 5

Population structures can differ due to variations in birth rates, death rates, access to healthcare, education, and economic development. HICs often have lower birth rates, lower infant mortality rates, and a higher proportion of older adults compared to LICs.

Question 6

what are impacts of ageing populations on countries?

Answer 6

lower tax revenues
higher pension spending
pressure on health care
pressure to raise retirement age

Question 7

Strategies for managing a changing population.

Answer 7

• improved availability of contraception
• improved education about contraception
• improved education and opportunities for women
• improved health care
• local, national and global policies - pronatalist and anti-natalist policies
• UN Agenda 21 and Club of Rome (implement to address human population growth and impact on environment)