AP Human Geography – Population & Migration Vocabulary (Unit 2)

A comprehensive set of Vocabulary flashcards covering aging, migration, demographic transition, population theories, and related concepts from the lecture notes.

Aging population

Demographic trend where the average age rises as the elderly share increases; common in MDCs and some middle-income high-developing countries.

Pronatalism

Government policies designed to increase fertility; may include childcare subsidies, parental leave, and cash incentives.

Agricultural Density

Ratio of farmers to arable land; higher density often related to less developed economies.

Voluntary migration

Relocation based on potential opportunity or benefit chosen by individuals or families.

Arithmetic Density

Total population divided by total land area; used to compare population pressure at different scales.

Antinatalism

Policies that discourage childbearing to reduce fertility, which can be coercive or persuasive.

Boserup Theory

Idea that population growth stimulates agricultural innovation to increase food supply.

Asylum seekers

People who seek refugee status in another country; asylum granted if fear of persecution is well-founded.

Transnational migration

Migration across borders while maintaining ties to the country of origin.

Chain migration

Migration where people follow the path of relatives or friends to an established community.

Physiological density

Population divided by arable land; relates to potential food production capacity.

Carrying capacity

Largest population an environment can sustain without environmental damage.

Crude Birth Rate (CBR)

Number of live births per 1,000 people per year.

Crude Death Rate (CDR)

Number of deaths per 1,000 people per year.

Internally displaced people

People who flee danger within their own country but remain inside its borders.

Step migration

Migration in a series of smaller steps toward a final destination.

Demographics

Statistical data relating to a population and its subgroups.

Ehrlich Theory (Population Bomb)

Hypothesis that overpopulation could cause global catastrophe due to resource depletion.

Push factors

Conditions that push people to leave their current location.

Pull factors

Attractions that draw people to a new location.

Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

Model describing population change as societies develop, from high birth/death rates to low.

Asylum

Legally protected status granting residence due to danger in the home country.

Epidemiological Transition Model (ETM)

Model showing shifts in causes of death as a society progresses through the demographic transition.

Forced Migration

Migration prompted by threats to life, freedom, or safety; not voluntary.

Guest worker

Foreign laborer with a work visa who works temporarily in another country.

Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

Average number of children a woman would bear in a lifetime.

Migration

Permanent or semi-permanent relocation to a new area or country.

Natural Increase Rate (NIR)

Difference between birth rate and death rate; expresses population growth or decline.

Malthusian Theory

Idea that population grows faster than food supply, leading to inevitable scarcity.

Doubling Time

Time required for a population to double; approx. 70 divided by growth rate.

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)

Number of deaths of infants under age 1 per 1,000 live births.

Neo-Malthusians

Advocates who argue population growth threatens resources and promotes anti-natalist policies.

Paul Ehrlich

Author of The Population Bomb; prominent neo-Malthusian figure.

Intervening obstacle

Barrier that reduces or prevents migration (e.g., mountains, borders, costs).

Intervening opportunity

A more attractive alternative that reduces the desire to continue migrating farther.

Life expectancy

Average number of years a person is expected to live.

Rural-to-urban migration

Movement from rural areas to cities in search of opportunities.

Population pyramids

Bar graphs showing the distribution of population by age and sex.

Refugees

People who are forced to flee their country and cannot safely return home.

Gender/Sex Ratio

Ratio of males to females in a population.

Stage 5 of the epidemiological transition

Possible reemergence of infectious diseases; aging population and antibiotic resistance.

Stage 2 of Demographic Transition Model

High birth rate with falling death rate; life expectancy rises; uneven development.

Stage 3 of Demographic Transition Model

Death rates fall while birth rates decline; population grows but slows; urbanization increases.

Stage 4 of Demographic Transition Model

Population stabilizes at low birth/death rates; highly industrialized and urbanized.

Stage 5 of Demographic Transition Model

Negative population growth; aging population; low fertility around replacement level.

Replacement rate

Fertility rate (about 2.1 children per woman) that keeps population stable.

Zero Population Growth (ZPG)

Fertility falls to the point where natural increase is zero; common in developed countries.

Emigration

Migration away from a country or region.

Immigration

Migration into a country or region.

Net migration rate

Difference between immigration and emigration; positive means more entering than leaving.

Epidemic

Widespread outbreak of an infectious disease in a region.

Pandemic

Disease outbreak that affects a large geographic area or globally.

Ecumene

Portion of Earth's surface permanently inhabited by humans.

Non-ecumene

Areas unsuitable for permanent human occupation due to climate or terrain.

International Migration

Permanent or semi-permanent movement between countries.

Internal Migration

Permanent or semi-permanent movement within a country.

Remittances

Money migrants send back to their home country or family.

Brain drain/gain

Large-scale movement of educated people away from/into a country.

Quotas

Laws that cap the number of immigrants allowed entry each year.

Elder support ratio

Ratio of working-age adults to people aged 65 and older.

Youth Dependency Ratio

Ratio of working-age adults to children under 15.

Dependency ratio

Relation of dependents (young and old) to working-age people.

Infrastructure

Built environment systems (roads, utilities, housing, etc.) enabling society.

Age cohorts

Age-based groupings used in population pyramids (e.g., 0–4, 5–9).

Baby Boom

Period of unusually high birth rates; creates a bulge in population pyramids.

Baby Bust

Period of unusually low birth rates following a baby boom.

Echo Effect

Change in birth rates linked to a previous generation’s size rather than current fertility.

Population Momentum

Continued population growth despite falling fertility due to age structure.

Overpopulation

Population exceeding the carrying capacity of its environment.

Demography

Study of population characteristics and changes.

Sex Selection / Gender Preference

Preference for sons leading to sex-selective abortions in some societies.

GDP per Capita

Total value of economic production divided by the population; development indicator.

HDI (Human Development Index)

UN metric combining life expectancy, education, and standard of living to gauge development.