APHUG - Unit 2: Population and Migration Vocabulary

Midlatitude

any region between 30° and 60° north and south of the equator; where the majority of people live

Baby boom

a spike in the birth rate, especially after a period of conflict/war or times of economic abundance

Carrying Capacity

the total number of people an area can support without damaging the environment

Dependency Ratio

the comparison between the potential workforce and the dependent population of a given population

Redistricting

boundary adjustments made as a result of population growth or decline

Arithmetic Population Density

the total population divided by the total land area

Overpopulation

more people than a given land area can support; dependent upon distribution and density

Population Distribution

the pattern of human settlement; the spread of people across the earth

Population Pyramid

a graph that presents the age-sex composition of a given population

Arable

suitable for agriculture (growing)

Physiological Population Density

the total population divided by the total area of arable land

Baby Bust

a decline in the birth rate after a baby boom

Social Stratification

the hierarchical division of people into groups based on economic status, power, ethnicity, etc.

Cohorts

age groups on a population pyramid

Arithmetic Pop Density

the measure of the average population per square mile in a given area

Potential Workforce

the group expected to make up the labor force of a given population; ages 15-64

Dependent Population

the group that relies on the labor force because they are too young or old to work; ages 0-14 and 65+

Agricultural Population Density

the total number of farmers divided by the total area of arable land

Birth Deficit

the slow down of the birth rate in a given population

Boserup Theory

the more people there are, the more hands there are to work, rather than just more mouths to feed

Rate of Natural Increase

the percentage at which a country’s population is growing or declining without the impact of migration

Demographic Transition Model

the stages of population growth as contextualized by a country’s transition from an agrarian to an industrial society

Malthusian Theory

the arithmetic growth of food production and the exponential growth of population leads to food scarcity and overpopulation

Anti-natalist Policy

social and/or legal attempts to decrease the number of births in a country

Crude Birth Rate (CBR)

the number of live births per year per 1,000 people

Epidemiological Transition Model

changes in death rates over time as explained by most common causes of death in a given society

Demographic Balancing Equation

future population  = current population + (CBR - CDR) + (immigration - emmigration)

Infant Mortality Rate

the average number of children who die before their first birthday

Immigrant

people who have moved into a country

Demographic Momentum

increase in population despite declining fertility rates, because of increased life expectancy

Emigrant

a person who leaves an old country and migrates across an international border with the intent of permanent relocation

Total Fertility Rate

the average number of children born to women ages 15-49

Pro-natalist Policy

social and/or economic attempts to increase the number of births in a country

Population Doubling Time

70 divided by the growth rate per year. assuming that the growth rate remains steady

Neo-Malthusian Theory

population growth leads to the depletion of non-renewable resources, which results in political, economic, and environmental catastrophe

Life Expectancy

the average number of years people live

Crude Death Rate (CDR)

the number of deaths per year per 1,000 people

Step Migration

a process by which migrants reach their final destination through a series of smaller moves

Forced Migration

involuntary migration where the migrants have no other choice but to move

Push Factor

negative circumstances, events, or conditions that compel a person to leave where they currently live

Chain Migration

when people settle in a city or community, in a new country, where others from their home country live

Immigrant

a person who migrates across an international border and goes to a new country with the intent of permanent relocation

Intervening Opportunity

an event or circumstance that disrupts a migrants original migration plan and alters their final destination

Guest Workers

transnational migrants who relocate to a new country to provide labor that isn’t available locally

Internally Displaced Persons

when involuntary migrants move to a different part of the same country

Refugees

when involuntary migrants move to a different country

Voluntary Migration

When people choose to relocate

Asylum

protection granted by the government of a country to and immigrant of another country who has legitimate fear of harm or death upon return

Migration Transition model

the size and distance between two places impacts the amount of interactions between them, including migration patterns

Remittances

money sent from an immigrant to family and friends still living in their home country

Pull Factors

positive circumstances, events, or conditions that compel a person to move somewhere else

Ethnic Enclaves

neighborhoods filled, primarily, with people of the same ethnic group

Intervening Obstacle

a barrier that makes it more difficult or even impossible for a migrant to reach their desired destination

Counter Migration

when a migration flow produces a secondary migration in the opposite direction

Return Migration

when immigrants move back to their former home country