AP Human Vocab Unit 2 Part 1

population density

The number of people living in a given area, usually measured as people per square kilometer or square mile

population distribution

pattern of human settlement

midlatitudes

The regions between about 30° and 60° latitude north and south, where most of the world’s population lives due to moderate climate and fertile land.

social stratification

The division of society into levels or classes based on factors like wealth, power, education, or social status.

arithmetic population density

The total number of people divided by the total land area, showing the average number of people per unit of land.

redistricting

The process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts, usually to reflect changes in population.

infrastructure

The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (like roads, bridges, water supply, and electricity) needed for a society to function.

overpopulation

A situation in which the number of people in an area exceeds the capacity of the environment to support them with resources like food, water, and shelter.

physiological population density

The number of people per unit of arable (farmable) land, showing how much pressure the population puts on productive land.

arable

Land that is suitable for growing crops.

agricultural population density

The number of farmers or agricultural workers per unit of arable (farmable) land, showing how much farming pressure exists on productive land.

carrying capacity

The maximum number of people that an environment can support sustainably with its available resources.

age-sex composition graph

A visual representation (also called a population pyramid) that shows the number of people of different ages and sexes in a population.

population pyramid

A type of age-sex composition graph that displays a population’s structure by age groups and gender, often shaped like a pyramid for growing populations.

cohort

A group of people in a population who share a common characteristic, usually their age, studied over a period of time.

birth deficit

A period when the number of births in a population is lower than usual, often due to war, famine, or other disruptive events.

baby boom

A temporary marked increase in the birth rate, often occurring after a major event like a war.

baby bust

A period when birth rates drop significantly, often following a baby boom.

echo

A smaller increase in births that occurs when the children of a baby boom generation reach childbearing age, creating a “wave” in population growth.

dependency ratio

The ratio of people too young or too old to work compared to the working-age population, showing the economic burden on workers.

potential workforce

The segment of a population that is of working age, typically considered people between ages 15 and 64.

dependent population

The portion of a population that is too young or too old to work, relying on the working-age population for support.

demographic balancing equation

A formula that calculates population change by adding births and immigration and subtracting deaths and emigration.

immigrants

People who move into a country or region to live there permanently.

emigrants

People who leave their country or region to live permanently in another place.

crude birth rate

The number of live births per 1,000 people in a population in a given year.

total fertility rate

The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime.

life expectancy

The average number of years a person is expected to live based on current mortality rates.

infant mortalit rate

The number of deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births in a given year.

crude death rate

The number of deaths per 1,000 people in a population in a given year.

rate of natural increase

The percentage by which a population grows or declines in a year, calculated as births minus deaths, excluding migration.

population doubling time

The number of years it takes for a population to double in size at its current rate of natural increase.

demographic transition model

A model that shows how a country’s population changes over time through different stages of birth rates, death rates, and overall population growth.

demographic momentum

The tendency for a population to continue growing even after birth rates decline, due to a large proportion of people in their childbearing years.

epidemiological transition model

A model that describes how patterns of disease and causes of death change as a country develops, shifting from infectious diseases to chronic and degenerative diseases.

malthusian theory

The idea that population grows faster than food supply, which can lead to famine, disease, and other checks on population growth.

pronatalist policies

Government policies that encourage people to have more children, often through incentives like tax breaks, parental leave, or childcare support.

boserup theory

The idea that population growth can drive agricultural innovation, as humans develop new farming methods to produce more food.

neo-malthusians

People who build on Malthus’s ideas, warning that population growth can outpace resources and lead to environmental and social problems.

anti-natalist policies

Government policies designed to reduce birth rates, often through family planning programs, contraception access, or incentives for smaller families.