Human Population Growth Vocabulary

Population

A group of same species organisms living in the same area.

Demographics

The study of populations.

Fertility

The number of offspring born per mating pair, individual or population.

Mortality

The death rate of a population.

Life expectancy

The average age of death for a population.

Carrying capacity

The number of organisms a region can support without "crashing."

Megacity

A city of 10 million or more people.

Population pyramid

A graph showing a population's distribution of age groups over time.

Urban sprawl

The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas.

Gentrification

The arrival of wealthier people in an existing urban district, related to increase in rents and property values. Often used negatively.

Replacement level

The amount of fertility needed to keep the population the same from generation to generation.

Anthropocene

The geological age dominated by human activity. Now.

Immigration

Individuals moving into a region.

Emigration

Individuals moving out of a region.