CHAPTER 2 —> Population

Distribution

the arrangement of a feature in space

Arithmetic Density

The total number of people divided by the total land area.

Physiological Density

The number of people per unit of area of arable land, which is land suitable for agriculture.

Agricultural Density

The ratio of the number of farmers to the total amount of land suitable for agriculture

carrying capacity

Largest number of individuals of a population that a environment can support

sex ratio

The number of males per 100 females in the population.

doubling time

The number of years needed to double a population, assuming a constant rate of natural increase.

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.

Epidemiological Transition Model

The theory that says that there is a distinct cause of death in each stage of the demographic transition model. It can help explain how a country's population changes so dramatically.

Malthusian Theory

The theory that population grows faster than food supply

Neo-Malthusians

People who believed in Malthusian Theory and in the idea that population was not only outstripping food but other resources

Pronatalist

a government policy that encourages or forces childbearing, and outlaws or limits access to contraception

Antinatalist

Policies that discourage people from having children (China's One Child Policy)

arable land

land suitable for growing crops

Census

population count

CBR (Crude Birth Rate)

The total number of live births in a year for every 1,000 people alive in the society.

CDR (Crude Death Rate)

The total number of deaths in a year for every 1,000 people alive in the society.

Demography

The scientific study of population characteristics.

Dependancy Ratio

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

Medical Revolution

Medical technology invented in Europe and North America that is diffused to the poorer countries of Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Improved medical practices have eliminated many of the traditional causes of death in poorer countries and enabled more people to live longer and healthier lives.

ZPG (Zero Population Growth)

Birth rate is equal to death rate

Maternal Mortality Rate

Number of deaths per thousand of women giving birth.

life expectancy

A figure indicating how long, on average, a person may be expected to live

infant mortality rate

The total number of deaths in a year among infants under 1-year-old for every 1,000 live births in a society.

epidemic

A widespread outbreak of an infectious disease.

Pandemic

Disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects a very high proportion of the population.

Ecumene

The portion of Earth's surface occupied by permanent human settlement.

Natural Increase Rate

The percentage growth of a population in a year, computed as the crude birth rate minus the crude death rate.

Overpopulation

The number of people in an area exceeds the capacity of the environment to support life at a decent standard of living.

Population Pyramid

A bar graph representing the distribution of population by age and sex.

total fertility rate

The average number of children born to a woman during her childbearing years.

HDI (Human Development Index)

a measure of a country's standard of living, including health and education