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Physical Factors

Climate (e.g., moderate), landforms (e.g., flat, low-lying), proximity to water bodies (e.g., coasts, rivers).

Human Factors

Culture, economics (e.g., job centers), history, and politics.

Scale of Analysis

The factors illustrating population patterns vary with scale (e.g., global scale focuses on continents; local scale focuses on neighborhoods).

Arithmetic Population Density

Total population $div$ Total land area (most common).

Physiological Population Density

Total population $div$ Arable (farmable) land area (shows pressure on food resources).

Agricultural Population Density

Total farmers $div$ Arable land area (shows level of farming efficiency/mechanization).

Impact of Density Methods

Each method reveals different information about the pressure a population exerts on the land.

Political Effects of Population Distribution

Distribution affects political representation and resource allocation.

Economic Effects of Population Distribution

Density can impact job markets, infrastructure needs, and business location.

Social Effects of Population Distribution

Density impacts access to services (e.g., medical care, schools).

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size the environment can sustain indefinitely, given available resources and technology.

Age Structure

The proportion of the population in different age groups.

Sex Ratio

The number of males per 100 females.

Population Pyramids

A visual tool (bar graph) used to assess population growth/decline and predict future needs (markets, services, etc.).

Rate of Natural Increase (RNI)

Birth Rate - Death Rate (excludes migration).

Population-Doubling Time

Time it takes for a population to double, based on the RNI.

Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

A model with stages that explains population change over time based on changes in birth rates and death rates.

Epidemiological Transition

Explains the shift in common causes of death (mortality) as a country develops (e.g., from infectious diseases in early stages to degenerative diseases in later stages).

Factors Reducing Fertility

Increased Access to: Education, employment, health care, and contraception.

Impact of Women's Roles

Changing social, economic, and political roles for females influence patterns of fertility, mortality, and migration (e.g., women migrating for work).

Causes of Aging

Determined by low birth rates, low death rates, and longer life expectancy.

Dependency Ratio

The ratio of people of 'dependent' ages (younger than 15 and older than 64) to the working-age population.

Consequences of Aging

Increased demand for pensions, healthcare, and social services, and a smaller tax base.