Population
Geography
I. Population Distribution:
People are spread unevenly across the
Earth
- Around 90% of the world’s
people live in the Northern Hemisphere
- Most of these people live inside the mid-latitudes
People are living in areas that are
favorable for settlement:
- Mild climates (temperate) - Fertile soils (river valleys)
- Adequate supplies of freshwater
Areas that are commonly avoided:
- Polar regions - Deserts
II. World Population Today:
Just over 7 billion people currently inhabit
the earth
- Not always this way (remember the dot video)
- World population exploded only in the last 200 years following the Industrial Revolution
Why are people living longer?
- Increased food production
(improved farming technology & preservation techniques)
- Improved public sanitation
(water treatment & waste removal)
- Improved health care practices
Challenges of a growing population:
- Availability of space & jobs
- Strain on food & water supplies - Environmental protection
World’s Most Populous Countries
III. Population Density:
The average number of people living on 1
square mile of land
- Density = Population/Land Area
- Determines how crowded an area is - Varies from place to place within a country
CANADA BANGLADESH
POPULATION
(people) 33,000,000 150,000,000
LAND AREA
(sq. miles) 3,800,000 55,000
DENSITY
County, State People per Sq. Mi.
Loving, TX 0.17
Forest, WI 10
Blue Earth, MN 72
Honolulu, HI 1,441
San Francisco, CA 15,889
IV. Population Change:
The number of people in any place is a result of 3 major
factors:
- Birth rate: births each year/1,000 ppl. - Death rate: deaths each year/1,000 ppl. - Rate of natural increase = BR - DR
- Ranges from 0.5 to 3% per year (can be neg.) - Doubling time: # of years it takes for a population to double
- Migration: process of moving from one place to another - Emigrants: people moving OUT of a country
V. Population Movement:
Urbanization: the movement of people
from rural to urban areas
- For the first time in history, the world is more urban than rural
- Looking for jobs, education, & health care services
• Low birth rate
• Most of the people are over 18 years of age
• Long life expectancy • Low infant mortality rate
• Most people live in urban areas • High per capita Gross Domestic
Product
• High literacy rate • Highly industrialized
• People make a living in tertiary and quaternary economic
activities
• U.S., Canada, Australia, Europe
• High birth rate
• Most of the people are less than 18 years of age
• Low life expectancy
• High infant mortality rate
• Most people live in rural areas • Low per capita Gross Domestic
Product
• Low literacy rate • Little industry
• People make a living in primary or secondary economic
activities.
• Africa, Latin America, Asia
Population Pyramids
Show the percentages of males and
females by age group in a country.
Rapid Growth:
- Developing countries with high birth
rates
- Concerns: providing enough food,
water, healthcare, education…
- Benefits: large workforce
Slow Growth:
- Developed countries with low birth
rates and steady immigration
- Concerns: stagnation few
advancements
Negative Growth:
- Developed countries with
very
low
birthrates and/or steady emigration
- Concerns: an aging population,
labor shortages
- Benefits: less crowded, need to
provide fewer resources and
Total population
Stage 1: rural, agricultural society with high birthrates and death rates Stage 4: urban, industrial society with low birthrates and death rates
The Demographic Transition Model
Shows how birthrates and death rates
drop in countries as they industrialize
Stage One:
- Birthrates are high - Death rates are high
- Population growth is stable
Total population
Stage 1: rural, agricultural society with high birthrates and death rates Stage 4: urban, industrial society with low birthrates and death rates
Stage Two:
- Birthrates remain high - Death rates begin to fall
- Population begins to grow rapidly
- Developing countries who are starting to industrialize
Total population
Stage 1: rural, agricultural society with high birthrates and death rates Stage 4: urban, industrial society with low birthrates and death rates
Stage Three:
- Birthrates start to fall - Death rates stay low
- Population is growing but begins to slow - Developing countries with maturing
Total population
Stage 1: rural, agricultural society with high birthrates and death rates Stage 4: urban, industrial society with low birthrates and death rates
Stage Four:
- Birthrates are low - Death rates are low
- Population growth is very slow - Developed, industrial countries
Total population
Stage 1: rural, agricultural society with high birthrates and death rates Stage 4: urban, industrial society with low birthrates and death rates
Stage Five:
- Birthrates are VERY low - Death rates are low
- Population slowly decreases - Developed countries
