Unit 1: Demography - The Human Population Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering human population demography, carrying capacity, the Demographic Transition Model (DTM), population pyramids, and demographic ratios.

Cultural Landscape Analysis

Making inferences on how human activity and culture shape and transform the physical landscape.

Carrying Capacity

The ability of land to support humans and sustain human population growth.

High Carrying Capacity (Ecumene)

Habitable regions that actively support human growth and settlement, including coastal areas, rivers / valleys, flat terrain, and temperate climates.

Low Carrying Capacity (Non-Ecumene)

Regions that hinder or do not support human population growth due to severe environmental extremes, such as deserts (too hot / dry), polar regions near the North and South Poles (too cold), and rugged mountain ranges (too high).

Temperate Climates

Climates with moderate temperatures, seasonal changes, and an absence of extreme heat or cold.

DTM Stage 1

Stage identified with hunter-gatherers, characterized by high birth and high death rates, stable or very slow population growth, and hunger and pestilence as dominant health factors.

DTM Stage 2

Stage identified with sandals, characterized by high birth and declining death rates, rapid population boom, and infectious diseases or poor health access (such as Malaria, AIDS, and Cholera).

DTM Stage 3

Stage identified with bikes, characterized by declining birth and declining death rates, population growth beginning to slow, and man-made diseases (such as smoking, alcohol, hazardous working conditions, and urban pollution).

DTM Stage 4

Stage identified with cars, characterized by continuing decline in birth and death rates, population growth slowing to a slight increase, and degenerative diseases (such as heart disease and cancer in elderly).

DTM Stage 5

Stage identified with planes, characterized by death rate surpassing birth rate, population decline, and degenerative diseases (such as heart disease and cancer in elderly).

Population Pyramids

Graphical representations used to measure and analyze a population by age and sex cohorts.

Rising Population Shape Profile

A pyramid or broad-base shape profile on a population pyramid.

Declining Population Shape Profile

A kite or inverted shape profile on a population pyramid.

Dependency Ratio

Compares the size of the economically active working population (ages 16–65) against non-working dependents (children and the elderly).

Sex Ratio Distortion (More Males)

Sex ratio distortion caused by strict anti-natal programs or significant incoming labor migration.

Sex Ratio Distortion (More Females)

Sex ratio distortion caused by armed conflict, war, or heavy male emigration.

NIR Doubling Time Calculation

Calculation used to determine population doubling time based on the Natural Increase Rate (NIR); for example, if an NIR is $3.5\%$, doubling time is $20$ years ($70 / 3.5 = 20$).