Geography Case studies

Niger population

27 million

Niger growth rate

3.7%

Niger fertility rate

6.7 births per woman

Niger under 15 population

Over 50 percent

Niger causes

Early marriage, poor contraception, low female education, need children for farm work, high infant mortality historically

Niger impacts

Food shortages, school overcrowding, healthcare pressure, high dependency ratio, youth unemployment

Niger responses

Family planning, girls education, better healthcare, agricultural development, foreign aid

Nigeria population

223+ million

Nigeria status

Africa's largest population

Nigeria Lagos metro

20+ million

Nigeria causes

High birth rate, falling death rate, young population, better medicine, rural migration

Nigeria impacts

Slums, traffic congestion, pollution, housing shortages, pressure on water and electricity

Nigeria responses

Housing projects, road expansion, urban planning, family planning, job creation

Australia population

26 million

Australia area

7.7 million square kilometres

Australia density

3 people per km squared

Australia causes

Huge land area, desert interior, harsh inland climate, remote settlements, historically low population

Australia impacts

Labour shortages, infrastructure costs, long transport distances, uneven development, remote isolation

Australia responses

Skilled migration, regional incentives, better transport, housing zones, mining town growth

South Korea fertility rate

0.7

South Korea causes

High housing prices, career pressure, late marriage, childcare costs, long work hours

South Korea impacts

Shrinking workforce, pension pressure, more elderly dependents, school closures, slower growth

South Korea responses

Baby bonuses, childcare support, housing help, parental leave, work-life reforms

China one child policy

Started 1979, ended 2015, prevented 400 million births

China one child causes

Rapid growth, resource pressure, food shortage fears, faster development goals

China one child impacts

Slower growth, gender imbalance, ageing population, smaller workforce, 4-2-1 burden

China responses

Two child policy, three child policy, birth incentives, childcare support

Singapore fertility rate

Around 1.0

Singapore causes

Expensive living costs, career focus, small housing, late marriage

Singapore impacts

Ageing population, labour shortages, slower natural growth

Singapore responses

Baby bonus, tax relief, childcare subsidies, housing priority, migration workers

Syria to Lebanon refugees

1.5 million+

Lebanon population

About 6 million

Syria Lebanon causes

Civil war, violence, safety seeking, loss of homes

Syria Lebanon impacts

Housing pressure, water shortages, school overcrowding, job competition, social tension

Syria Lebanon responses

UN aid, refugee camps, international funding, NGO support

Bangkok migration case study

Rural Thailand to Bangkok

Bangkok metro population

10+ million

Bangkok migration causes

Low farm income, better jobs, education, hospitals

Bangkok migration impacts

Urban overcrowding, slum growth, traffic jams, rural ageing

Bangkok migration responses

Transport expansion, jobs outside Bangkok, housing schemes, regional development

Japan elderly population

29 percent aged 65+

Japan causes

Low fertility, high life expectancy, good healthcare

Japan impacts

Labour shortages, pension costs, healthcare pressure, rural depopulation

Japan responses

Robotics, raise retirement age, encourage births, selective immigration

Bangladesh density

1300+ per km squared

Bangladesh population

170+ million

Bangladesh causes

Fertile delta soils, rivers, farming jobs, flat land

Bangladesh impacts

Land pressure, flood risk, congestion, housing shortages

Bangladesh responses

Family planning, flood defences, sanitation

Bangkok urban growth

Thailand economic centre with 10+ million metro

Bangkok urban causes

Rural migration, jobs, services, opportunities

Bangkok urban impacts

Congestion, pollution, flooding, high rent

Bangkok urban responses

BTS, MRT, new roads, flood barriers, housing schemes

Khlong Toei population

80000 to 100000

Khlong Toei causes

Cheap land, migrants need housing, near port jobs

Khlong Toei impacts

Poor sanitation, overcrowding, fire risk, insecure homes

Khlong Toei responses

Upgrading schemes, utilities, NGO help, education

Mount Fuego eruption

June 2018, over 190 deaths

Mount Fuego cause

Cocos Plate subducts under Caribbean Plate, magma pressure, explosive eruption

Mount Fuego impacts

Pyroclastic flows, homes destroyed, ash damaged crops, roads blocked, tourism losses

Mount Fuego responses

Evacuations, rescue teams, shelters, monitoring, hazard zones

Sichuan earthquake

12 May 2008, magnitude 7.9, 69000+ deaths, 5 million homeless

Sichuan causes

Indian Plate pushing Eurasian Plate, stress on fault, sudden crust movement

Sichuan impacts

Collapsed buildings, landslides, schools destroyed, power cuts, displaced millions

Sichuan responses

Army rescue, camps, aid, rebuilding, stronger building codes

Ayeyarwady length

2170 km

Ayeyarwady importance

Fertile soils, transport, fishing, irrigation, freshwater supports millions

Ayeyarwady impacts

Flooding, erosion, pollution, dry season disruption, storm vulnerable delta

Ayeyarwady responses

Flood warnings, irrigation, waste control, transport upgrades, water treatment

Rayong coast location

Eastern Thailand

Rayong coast causes

Wave erosion, storm damage, development, tourism pressure, sand loss

Rayong coast impacts

Beach narrowing, threat to hotels, habitat loss, reduced tourism, flooding risk

Rayong coast responses

Sea walls, groynes, beach nourishment, zoning, sustainable tourism

Sumatra rainforest climate

Hot wet equatorial, high biodiversity

Sumatra causes

Rainfall, warmth, dense vegetation, timber demand, palm oil demand

Sumatra impacts

Deforestation, habitat loss, endangered species decline, soil erosion, haze, carbon emissions

Sumatra responses

National parks, replanting, sustainable palm oil, anti illegal logging, wildlife conservation

Great Barrier Reef length

2300 km

Great Barrier Reef importance

Largest coral reef, UNESCO site, tourism, fishing, biodiversity

Great Barrier Reef impacts

Coral bleaching, warming seas, pollution, tourist damage, crown of thorns starfish

Great Barrier Reef responses

Protected zones, visitor controls, water quality improvement, research, climate action

Sahara area

9 million km squared

Sahara rainfall

Less than 250 mm

Sahara causes

Subtropical high pressure, descending dry air, distance from oceans, clear skies

Sahara impacts

Water shortage, sparse vegetation, difficult farming, extreme temperatures, dust storms

Sahara responses

Irrigation, oasis farming, solar energy, drought planning, water conservation

Thailand National Parks examples

Khao Yai and Doi Inthanon

Thailand parks importance

Protect forests, wildlife, ecotourism, biodiversity

Thailand parks impacts

Poaching, littering, human wildlife conflict, management costs

Thailand parks responses

Ranger patrols, visitor rules, expanded protected areas, education, sustainable tourism

Apple TNC revenue

$300bn+

Apple facts

HQ USA, factories across Asia, global supply chain

Apple benefits

Jobs, technology transfer, supplier growth

Apple problems

Low wage criticism, dependence on TNCs

Apple responses

Better labour standards, diversify factories, green energy, new countries

South Korea development

From poor country in 1950s to HIC

South Korea success causes

Education, export led growth, planning, industrialisation, technology

South Korea impacts

Rising incomes, urban growth, healthcare improved, pollution during growth, ageing now

South Korea future

High tech, green economy, birth incentives, innovation