Managing Human Population

Flashcards covering key concepts from the unit on managing human population.

What is the current world population as per the lecture notes?

8.2 billion

Projected world population in 2050?

More than 9 billion

What criteria does the World Bank use to classify countries?

Income groups: LICs (Low Income Countries), MICs (Middle Income Countries), HICs (High Income Countries)

What is the GNI per capita for High Income Countries (HICs)?

More than US $13,205

What percentage of the world’s population do HICs constitute?

20% of the world’s population

What is Thomas Malthus's theory regarding population growth?

Population growth is faster than food supply, leading to poverty and famine.

What is Ester Boserup's view on population and agriculture?

Population determines agricultural methods and ingenuity can match demand.

What is the concept of overpopulation?

A function of the number of individuals compared to resources available.

What defines underpopulation?

Population density is lower than normal, not enough people to fully utilize resources.

What does an optimum population level achieve?

The highest economic standard of living and effective exploitation of available resources.

What is the growth rate of the human population as discussed?

Approximately 0.9% per year, increasing by around 71 million people annually.

What does the dependency ratio indicate?

The total number of people too young or too old to work divided by those aged 15-64.

What is the Total Fertility Rate (TFR)?

An estimate of the average number of children a woman will bear during her childbearing years.

What role does women's education play in population control?

Increased education typically leads to lower fertility rates.

What is urban sprawl?

The spread of low-density urban or suburban development outward from city centers.

What policies may countries implement when populations are declining?

Pronatalist policies, which encourage higher birth rates.

What is an antinatalist policy?

Policies that aim to reduce birth rates, such as family planning and contraception.

What was China's one-child policy?

A policy implemented to limit population growth by permitting only one child per family.

What solutions are suggested for resolving global population growth issues?

Family planning, improve healthcare, elevate women's status, increase education.