I. Population Dynamics

Into what three parts can an area be split into?

1. Overpopulation

2. Underpopulation

3. Optimum Population

Overpopulation

Occurs when more people live in an area than there are resources available.

Underpopulation

Occurs when fewer people live in the area than there are resources available.

Optimum Population

Occurs when there is a balance between the number of people and resources available.

What does birth rate mean?

Birth rate is the average number of live births given in a year for every 1000 people.

What is Death rate?

Death rate is the average number of deaths for every 1000 people.

How is the Natural Increase of a country calculated?

By subtracting death rate from birth rate to determine the overall growth or decline of the population.

total Fertility rate

Is the average number of children a woman has during her lifetime.

Infant mortality rate

Is the number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1000 live births per year.

Factors affecting mortality

• poverty

• poor access to health

• antibiotic resistance

• changing human migration patterns

• new infectious agents

• poor access to resources (food & water)

What are the Causes/Reasons for Overpopulation?

(7)

1. High Birth rate and low death rate

2. High fertility rate (average number of children a woman has during her lifetime)

3. Lack of family planning

4. Low level of education for women, therefore they get married earlier because they don’t have another choice.

5. High infant mortality rate (number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1000 live births per year) → leading to families having more children to ensure some survive

6. Religious beliefs → some cultures encourage having larger families

7. Greater life expectancy

What Impacts does Overpopulation bring? (8)

1. Lack of water, sanitization, housing and food. → Increased competition for resources, leading to social and economic challenges.

2. High cime rate and poverty in urban areas due to overcrowding.

3. Unemployment, due to limited job opportunities and increased population density.

4. Increased pressure on health, education, water and sanitization services.

5. Soil erosion and deforestation, to expand agricultural and urban development.

6. Lack of resources leading to Inflation and higher living costs.

7. More air and water, noise pollution and shortage of housing.

8. Traffic congestion as a result of increased vehicle use and population density.

What are the Causes/Reasons for Under population?

(7)

1. Low birth rate and high death rate

2. Low fertility rate (average number of children born to women during their lifetime)

3. Increased family planning and access to contraception (methods used to prevent pregnancy)

4. High level of education for women to have careers, therefore they marry late.

5. Low infant mortality rate (the average number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1000 live births) leading to families having fewer children.

6. Limited religious beliefs relating to a number of children, which decreases the chance of children per family.

7. Low life expectancy, due to disease, economic instability, or lack of healthcare resources.

What Impacts does Under population bring? (7)

1. More ageing population, therefore leading to more people in the retirement age, which reduces the work force and increases dependency ratios.

2. Low crime rate, due to better living conditions and fewer urban pressures.

3. Shortage of workers, due to fewer individuals available for employment, impacting economic growth.

4. There is no pressure on health and education: therefore, costs increase as the population ages.

5. Few people pay taxes, because of the smaller working population, leading to reduced government revenue.

6. Resources are not exploited fully, reducing the potential for economic development and growth.

7. Lack of services due to low demand, particularly in rural areas and innovation.

What are the two ways in which a population can change?

1. Migration

2. Natural population change

Define Migration

Migration is the action of moving from one place to another.

Define Natural population change

Natural population change is the difference between the death rate and birth rate

→ birth rate - death rate