Geography - Population

Birth Rate

• The number of live births per 100 people, per year

Death Rate

• The number of deaths per 100 people, per year

Natural Change

• The difference between birth rate and death rate

LEDC - Less Economically Developed Country. E.G. Kenya

MEDC - More Economically Developed Country. E.G. UK

 Grows gradually at first (1750-1950)                                       

Then grows rapidly (1950-2050)

Reaches 10 billion (2040)

Starts to steady out (2050)

Economically developing countries pop. grows

faster.

Doubled from 3 billion in 1950 to 6 billion in 2000

MEDC's start to decline from 2050 onwards

Stage 1 - UK, pre 1750, small tribes (now)

BR and DR high, fluctuating. No Birth control (rapid pop. growth). Poor sanitation (rapid pop. decrease) Pop. = low.

Stage 2 - Afganistan

DR fall = improved sanitation. BR high = no Contraception. Pop. grows = youthful Pop.

Stage 3 - Brazil, Kenya

BR falls = contraception available. DR falls = better sanitation. Pop. growth = slow.

Stage 4 - UK NOW!

BR = low (contraception available). DR = low (long LE). Ageing pop. Pop. = high, stable.

Stage 5 - Japan, Germany

BR below DR. Fertility rate = less than 2 (sub replacement). Pop = in decline

Birth Rates

• Access to birth control
• Wealth of parents
• Life choices
• Women having a good education and job
• Population policies

Death Rates

• Access to medicine/clean water
• Less infant mortality
• Better food

LEDC

• Triangular shape with a wide base
• Fall at each age group = high infant mortality
• Youthful pop. structure
• Low life expectancy  - less elderly people

MEDC

• Nearly rectangular shape
• Narrow base = low birth rate
• High LE = more elderly
• Stages even = low death rate
• Ageing pop. structure

Migration - The movement of people to another place to live or work.

Voluntary - People choose to move

Forced - People have to move

Internal - Movement within a country

International - Movement between countries

Immigrant - Someone entering a new country

Emmigrant -  Someone leaving a country

Introduced because:

• China had a large population (1 billion+) that grew (tripled since 1947)
• China had a high fertility rate (6 children per woman)
• A large famine was forecast for China

Rules

• Allowed one successful pregnancy (Ethnic Minorities not included)
• In rural areas, a 2nd child was allowed if the first was female
• If a 2nd child is born, it cannot be a Chinese Citizen

Push Factors - something that forces someone away from a place. They are negative.

Examples

• Fleeing from conflict
• Fleeing to avoid persecution
• Fleeing from natural disaster. E.g. flooding, volcano erupting etc.

Pull Factors - something that attracts a person to another place. They are positive.

Examples

• Moving to be closer to family/friends
• moving for better education, health care, career or weather
• Moving to somewhere with a lower crime rate
• Moving somwhere with a more stable political system

Causes

• Low death rate caused by a high life expectancy
• low fertility rates caused by a low birth rate

Problems

• Governments spend more on pensions/carehomes. (not education)
• Retirement age increases
• Long waiting lists for operations
• Elderly cannot afford housing

Solutions

• Make child care cheaper - more people are encouraged to have children
• Encourage immigrants in the 20+ age group
• Raise retirement age by 2 years
• Have Creches at work, no child care needed
• Encourage private pensions (govern. don't pay)

Push Factors

• Wages in Poland are low
• Unemployment is high (20%)

Pull Factors

• Higher wages in UK
• Low unemployment - many more jobs
• Education provided

Advantages for UK

• More income
• Skilled jobs taken
• Less ageing population

Advantages for Poland

• Reduce job Competition
• Workers send money back home

Disadvantages for UK

• Racial tension/language barriers
• Pressure on education facilities
• Less jobs when youths need them

Disadvantages for Poland

• Ageing population
• No skilled workers

Positives

• No famine
• Population growth was more sustainable

Negatives

• Gender imbalance (more girls than boys)
• Harsh fines if policy was broken and forced abortions/sterilisations
• No free health care/education for the 2nd child
• Stopped 400 million births