ss3201 Unit4 Population (2025-26)

Population Growth Rate

The rate at which a country's population is changing in a given year, based on the sum of its natural increase rate & its net migration rate.

Carrying capacity

The number of people that the Earth's resources can support using available technology.

Hunting and gathering

The killing of wild animals and fish as well as the gathering of fruits, roots, nuts, and other plants for sustenance. Associated with the Paleolithic era of human history.

Neolithic Revolution (First Agricultural Revolution)

Development of farming more than 10,000 YA made cultural and other technological advances possible. Humans went from finding food to producing food, which gave them more control over the environment. People could not only grow food, but could now produce more food than needed, creating a surplus.

Industrial Revolution (2nd Agricultural Revolution)

The transition during the 1760s - 1840s in Europe and the United States from rural, agricultural-based economies where goods were produced by hand to urban-based economies where goods were machine-made. The appearance of machinery greatly increased global carrying capacity and human population increased dramatically.

Green Revolution (Third Agricultural Revolution)

A movement to increase food production by developing high-yield, disease-resistant, and faster-growing varieties of crops such as wheat, corn, and rice.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Species whose genetic structure has been changed by humans to give them characteristics deemed desirable or beneficial

Demographic Transition Model

A sequence of demographic changes in which a country moves from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates through time

High Stationary (Pre-transition) stage

A stage in the demographic transition in which a country has a high birth rate, a high infant mortality rate, and a high death rate in all age groups.

Early expanding (Early Transition) stage

A stage in demographic transition in which the death rate drops dramatically while the birth rate remains high, resulting in a high population growth rate

Late Expanding (Late transition) stage

A stage in demographic transition in which a declining birth rate and a relatively low death rate lead to a slowing population growth rate.

Low Stationary (Post-transition) stage

A stage in the demographic transition where the birth rate has declined to the point where it approximates the death rate. Both are at a low level.

Declining stage

A stage in demographic transition where there is extremely low birth rate, a low death rate, a fertility rate less than 2 and a great many older people

Population pyramid

A graph that describes the composition of a population in terms of age and gender

Dependency ratio

The number of people under age 15 and over age 64 compared to the number of people active in the labor force

Natural decrease

When the number of births is lower than the number of deaths

Natural increase

When the number of births is higher than the number of deaths

Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

The average number of children a woman will have throughout her childbearing years in a particular country.

Demographic trap

A term used by demographers to explain a country remaining in Early Transition Stage with a high birth rate & a low death rate leading to high population growth

Overpopulation

When the demands of a growing population exceeds the country's carrying capacity

Population control

Limitation of population growth through such measures as contraception, sterilization, and abortion.

Structural Change Model

In this model, governments adopt measures to force, or strongly encourage people to change their behaviours.(e.g., India and China).

Change by diffusion model

In this model the spread or diffusion of new ideas and social norms occurs through various forms of social interaction and the influence of mass media (e.g., TV, news, magazines, etc.). People are influenced, but not forced to adopt change (e.g., Kerala).

Population implosion (Underpopulation)

A dramatic decline in total population & an increase in aging population that occurs when the total fertility rate falls below 2.1.

Replacement Level Fertility

A fertility rate of at least 2.1 in order to naturally maintain the population

Birth dearth

When a country's fertility rate is low enough to cause a natural population decline

Brain gain

The increase in numbers of highly educated & skilled workers due to immigration

Brawn gain

The increase in numbers of workers in high demand heavy-labor jobs

Emigration (Emigrant)

Movement of individuals out of a country

Immigration (Immigrant)

Movement of individuals into a country

Migrant

Person who moves from one place to another, especially in order to find work or better living conditions

Greying population

A population structure where the proportion of people aged 65 or over is high and rising.

Net migration

The total population change as a result of migration

Pronatalist strategies

Ideas, policies, or approaches that encourage people to have more children (cash payments or tax benefits to parents)

Pull factor

Factors or conditions that attract people to move to new places. (good educational opportunities, plentiful resources, job opportunities, high standard of living)

Push factor

Factors or conditions that cause a person to leave the place where they live. (low wages, Poverty / unemployment, high crime, political persecution)

Refugee

Involuntary migrants who leave their home country because they do not feel safe, often because of war and civil strife.