Population and Demography Lecture Notes

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards based on the provided lecture notes regarding population dynamics, demographic rates, and urbanization.

Aging population

A demographic state where the population is aging, which causes severe economic challenges as seen in Japan.

Birth rate

The national rate of births, which has reported a decline in many developed countries over the past decade.

Brain drain

The emigration of young scientists or skilled individuals from a country; new incentives are being introduced to prevent this.

Carrying capicity

The maximum demand for resources the environment can sustain; overpopulation can cause demand to exceed this Earth's capacity.

Contraceptive prevelance rate

The percentage of the population using birth control, which helps reduce unplanned pregnancies.

Crude birth/death rate

A measure of the number of live births per $1000$ people in a given year.

Demographic dividend

Economic growth achieved when the proportion of people in the working-age population increases while the ratio of dependents, including children and the elderly, decreases.

Dependency ratio

A ratio that, when high, puts financial pressure on the working population to support the elderly and children.

Fertility rate

The rate of reproduction; in many East Asian countries, this has fallen well below the replacement level.

Food insecurity

A lack of reliable access to sufficient food, which can be escalated by severe droughts caused by climate change.

Housing shortage

A deficit or lack of affordable housing, often resulting from rapid urbanization without proper planning.

Infant mortality rate

The rate of infant deaths; better medical care during childbirth has significantly reduced this infant morality rate.

Increasing demand

The growing need for resources like clean water and electricity driven by a rising population.

Life expectacy

The average period a person is expected to live, which has increased dramatically due to advancements in medicine.

Maternal mortality ratio

The ratio of mother deaths during pregnancy or childbirth; reducing this is a key global public health goal.

Median age

The age that divides a population into two equal groups; it is expected to reach $40$ in some countries by the next decade.

Migration patterns

The trends and models of how people move, which climate change is starting to alter as people move away from affected areas.

Population density

The number of people living per unit of area; cities like Tokyo and Hanoi have an extremely high density.

Reproductive health

Physical and social well-being in matters of the reproductive system; education in this area is critical for preventing early pregnancies.

Rural-urban migration

The movement of people from rural areas to major cities, leading to an increasing demand for infrastructure.

Urbanization rate

The speed at which a population shifts to urban areas as job opportunities move to industrial sectors.

Strain on resources

The heavy pressure placed on resources like clean water by rapidly expanding cities.

Youth bulge

A population with a large percentage of young people; these countries can achieve strong growth through education and job creation.

Population projection

A forecast of future population; recent ones suggest the global population may peak before the end of the century.

Homogenous

Consisting of parts that are all of the same kind or equivalent; related terms include homogeneity (cultural or racial) and homogenization.

Sparsely populated

Having few people per unit of area, such as Alaska which has only $113\,\text{people per square mile}$.