Demography and Population Studies

Comprehensive vocabulary terms and concepts covering demography, population changes, migration patterns, and density factors based on lecture notes.

Demography

The study of size, density, and distribution of population.

Demographers

People who study population and factors that cause changes in population.

Birth rate

The number of births per thousand population in a year.

Death rate

The number of deaths per thousand population in a year.

Rate of natural change

The difference between the birth rate and the death rate.

Natural increase

Occurs if the rate of natural change is positive; when birth rate > death rate.

Natural decrease

Occurs if the rate of natural change is negative; when birth rate < death rate.

Infant mortality rate

The number of deaths of children under 1 year of age per 1000 live births per year.

Life expectancy at birth

The average number of years a newborn infant can expect to live under current mortality levels.

Immigration rate

The number of immigrants per thousand population entering a receiving country in a year.

Emigration rate

The number of emigrants per thousand population leaving a country of origin in a year.

Rate of net migration

The difference between the immigration and emigration rate.

Formula to calculate population change

$$\text{birth rate} - \text{death rate} \pm \text{net migration}$$

Formula to calculate natural population growth rate

$$\text{birth rate} - \text{death rate}$$

Overpopulation

When there are too many people so there are not enough resources to sustain everyone and the population exceeds the carrying capacity.

Carrying capacity

The largest population that the resources of a given area can support.

Optimum population

The total population at which GDP (per head) is at its highest level.

Polygamy

A tradition where people have many wives, often leading to high birth rates in some LEDCs.

Anti-natal policies

Policies used by governments to reduce population growth rates, such as the one child policy.

Underpopulation

When there are not enough people to fully exploit the resources or there are surplus resources.

Replacement level

A level that population growth falls below when death rates are higher than birth rates, leading to population decline.

Stage 1 of the Demographic Transition Model

High stationary stage: pre-industrial society with high and stable birth rates and high, fluctuating death rates resulting in slow population growth.

Stage 2 of the Demographic Transition Model

Early expanding stage: birth rates remain high while death rates decline due to better nutrition and healthcare, causing high natural increase.

Stage 3 of the Demographic Transition Model

Late expanding stage: birth rates begin to decline as social norms change and death rates keep falling, though natural increase remains high.

Stage 4 of the Demographic Transition Model

Low stationary stage (stabilisation): low birth and death rates lead to low natural increase and slow population growth.

Stage 5 of the Demographic Transition Model

Natural decrease stage: birth rates fall below death rates, leading to a natural decrease in population and an ageing population.

Migration

Movement of people from one area to another, within or out of the country.

Push Factors

Negative factors that cause people to leave an area, such as unemployment, low pay, war, or drought.

Pull Factors

Positive factors that attract people to a new area, such as employment, higher pay, or better healthcare.

Voluntary migration

When individuals have a free choice about whether to migrate or not.

Involuntary migration

When people are made to move against their will due to human or environmental factors.

International migration

Migration that involves movement between countries.

Internal migration

Migration that occurs within a country, from area to area.

Rural-urban migration

Migration occurs from rural areas to cities.

Remittances

Money sent home by international migrants to support their families or invest in their home country.

Brain drain

The loss of skills, innovation, and workforce in a home country due to migration.

Bright light syndrome

The pull factor of better entertainment in urban areas.

Population density

The number of people living per unit of area/ per $km^2$.

Population distribution

The way in which population is spread out over a given area.

Pro-natalist policy

A government policy aimed at increasing the rate of natural population growth, often by providing benefits for having children.