FRQ Topics #1: Population Geography: Distribution, Growth, and Demographic Models

Population Distribution

The pattern of where people live on Earth's surface; uneven due to physical and human factors.

Ecumene

Portion of Earth's surface permanently occupied by humans; has expanded over time with technology.

Arithmetic Density

Total population ÷ total land area; shows overall density but not distribution.

Physiological Density

Population ÷ arable land; shows food pressure and agricultural capacity.

Agricultural Density

Farmers ÷ arable land; high = less developed, low = more developed (technology allows fewer farmers).

Major Population Clusters

East Asia, South Asia, Europe, Southeast Asia, Eastern North America.

Emerging Clusters

West Africa (especially Nigeria) due to rapid growth.

Sparsely Populated Areas

Dry lands (deserts), cold lands (polar), wet lands (rainforests), high lands (mountains).

Factors Encouraging Settlement

Mild climate, fertile soil, fresh water, trade routes, jobs, political stability.

Carrying Capacity

Maximum population an area can support with its resources.

Crude Birth Rate (CBR)

Births per 1,000 people per year; higher in developing countries.

Crude Death Rate (CDR)

Deaths per 1,000 people per year; can be high in both poor (disease, conflict) and very developed countries (aging).

Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

Average number of children per woman; replacement rate is ~2.1 in developed countries.

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)

Deaths of infants under 1 per 1,000 live births; lower in developed countries.

Life Expectancy

Average lifespan; high in developed (70+), low in developing (50s-60s).

Natural Increase Rate (NIR)

Percentage growth of population per year (CBR - CDR, not including migration).

Dependency Ratio

Ratio of dependents (under 15 & over 65) to working-age population; high ratios strain resources.

Sex Ratio

Number of males per 100 females; often skewed by culture (e.g., China, India).

Population Growth Factors

Healthcare access, economic opportunities, cultural norms, government policies.

Population Policies

Pronatalist (encourage births, e.g., France) vs. Antinatalist (reduce births, e.g., China's One Child Policy).

Population Pyramid

Visual showing age and sex distribution.

Expansive Pyramid

Wide base, high birth rates, short life expectancy; often Stage 2 (ex: Nigeria).

Stationary Pyramid

Balanced shape, long life expectancy, stable growth; often Stage 4 (ex: USA).

Constrictive Pyramid

Narrow base, declining birth rates, aging population; Stage 5 (ex: Japan).

Youth Bulge

Large proportion of young people; linked to political instability and job demand.

Aging Population

Large elderly population; creates economic burden for pensions and healthcare.

Cohorts

Age groups in pyramids (e.g., 0-4, 5-9); help identify past events (wars, baby booms).

Demographic Momentum

Even if fertility drops, population can keep growing due to large youthful base.

Reference Map

Shows locations/features (political boundaries, roads, cities).

Thematic Map

Shows patterns of data (population, climate, etc.).

Choropleth Map

Uses shading/color intensity to show data differences.

Dot Map

Uses dots to represent occurrences; can show density.

Cartogram

Resizes countries/regions according to data (e.g., population size).

Isoline Map

Connects points of equal value (e.g., temperature, elevation).

Proportional Symbol Map

Uses varying symbol sizes to show magnitude.

Small-Scale Map

Shows large area with little detail (ex: world map).

Large-Scale Map

Shows small area with great detail (ex: city map).

Geographic Scale

Local, regional, national, global; scale affects interpretation of data.

Map Projection Distortion

Shapes, areas, distances, or directions are distorted when Earth is flattened.

Demographic Transition Model

Stages of population change based on birth and death rates.

Stage 1 (Pre-Industrial)

High CBR & CDR, low growth; no countries here today (only isolated groups).

Stage 2 (Early Industrial)

High CBR, falling CDR (medical/agricultural advances), rapid growth; ex: Sub-Saharan Africa, Afghanistan.

Stage 3 (Late Industrial)

Falling CBR, stable/declining growth, urbanization, education, women in workforce; ex: Mexico, India.

Stage 4 (Post-Industrial)

Low CBR & CDR, stable or very slow growth, service economies; ex: USA, most of Europe.

Stage 5 (Possible Future)

Very low CBR, rising CDR, declining population; ex: Japan, Germany.

Causes of Transitions

Industrialization, healthcare, urbanization, education, women's empowerment, contraception.

Epidemiologic Transition

Changes in causes of death across DTM stages (famine & disease → infectious disease → chronic diseases).

Malthusian Theory

Population grows faster than food supply; predicts overpopulation crisis.

Neo-Malthusians

Modern concern about resources (food, energy, water) running out.

Criticism of Malthus

Technology & trade increase food supply; uneven distribution is the real issue.

DTM Limitations

Based on Europe's experience; some countries don't follow the same path (due to war, migration, policies).