Population and Geographic Concepts in Human Geography

agricultural density

The ratio of the number of farmers to the amount of arable land.

crude death rate (CDR)

The number of deaths per 1,000 people in a population in a given year.

industrial revolution

A period of major industrialization that took place during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

population concentrations

Areas where populations are densely packed together.

antinatalist policy

A policy that discourages people from having children.

demography

The statistical study of populations, including the structure, distribution, and trends in population.

infant mortality rate (IMR)

The number of deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births in a given year.

population distribution

The way in which people are spread across a given area.

arable land

Land suitable for growing crops.

demographic equation

An equation that represents the change in population size as a function of births, deaths, and migration.

J-curve/S-curve

Graphs that represent population growth; J-curve shows exponential growth while S-curve shows logistic growth.

population density

The number of people living per unit of area, typically per square kilometer or square mile.

arithmetic density

The total population divided by the total land area.

demographic momentum

The tendency for a population to continue to grow even after fertility rates have declined.

life expectancy (longevity rate)

The average number of years a person can expect to live based on current mortality rates.

population explosion

A rapid increase in population in a short period of time.

baby boom

A significant increase in the birth rate, typically referring to the period after World War II.

demographic transition

The transition from high birth and death rates to lower birth and death rates as a country develops.

Malthus, Thomas

An economist who proposed the theory that population growth would outpace food production, leading to famine.

population pyramid

A graphical representation of the age and sex distribution of a population.

baby bust

A period marked by a decline in birth rates following a baby boom.

dependency ratio

The ratio of dependents (people younger than 15 or older than 64) to the working-age population.

maternal mortality rate

The number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births due to complications from pregnancy or childbirth.

potential workforce

The segment of the population that is eligible to work.

birth deficit

A decrease in the number of births compared to previous years.

dependent population

The segment of the population that is not in the labor force, including children and the elderly.

medical revolution

The advancements in medical technology and practices that have significantly improved health outcomes.

pronatalist policies

Policies that encourage increased birth rates.

Cairo Conference

A 1994 international conference that focused on population and development.

doubling time

The period of time it takes for a population to double in size.

neo-Malthusians

Modern proponents of Malthus's theories who advocate for population control.

redistricting

The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries.

carrying capacity

The maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely.

echo

A demographic phenomenon where a population increase follows a previous baby boom.

replacement fertility

The level of fertility at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next.

natural increase rate (NIR)/rate of natural increase (RNI)

The difference between the number of live births and the number of deaths in a population.

contraception

Methods or devices used to prevent pregnancy.

ecumene

The inhabited or habitable areas of the Earth.

sex ratio (gender ratio)

The ratio of males to females in a population.

non-ecumene

Areas of the Earth that are uninhabited or not habitable.

census

An official count or survey of a population, typically recording various details of individuals.

epidemiological transition

The transition from infectious diseases to chronic diseases as the primary causes of death.

social stratification

The hierarchical arrangement of individuals in a society.

overpopulation

A situation where the number of people exceeds the resources available to sustain them.

child mortality rate

The number of deaths of children under five years old per 1,000 live births.

epidemiology

The study of how diseases affect the health and illness of populations.

total fertility rate (TFR)

The average number of children a woman would have in her lifetime based on current birth rates.

pandemic

An outbreak of a disease that occurs on a global scale.

cohort

A group of individuals who share a common characteristic, typically age.

epidemic

A sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in a population.

underpopulation

A situation where the population is smaller than the resources available to sustain it.

physiological density

The number of people per unit area of arable land.

crude birth rate (CBR)

The number of live births per 1,000 people in a population in a given year.

graying population

An increasing proportion of elderly individuals in a population.

zero population growth (ZPG)

A condition where the number of births plus immigration equals the number of deaths plus emigration.

absolute/relative location

A method of identifying a location based on specific coordinates (absolute) or its relation to other locations (relative).

environmental determinism

The theory that the physical environment, particularly climate and geography, shapes human behaviors and cultures.

longitude/meridian

Lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole, measuring distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.

scale

The relationship between distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the ground.

accessibility

The ease with which a location can be reached from other locations.

equator

An imaginary line that divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, located at 0 degrees latitude.

map

A visual representation of an area, showing physical features, political boundaries, or other information.

scale of the data

The level of detail and extent of the data being analyzed, which can affect interpretations and conclusions.

aerial photography

The taking of photographs from an elevated position, often used in mapping and surveying.

field observation

The collection of data through direct observation of a location or phenomenon in its natural environment.

mental map

An individual's internal representation of a geographic area, shaped by personal experiences and perceptions.

sense of place

The emotional and cultural significance that a location holds for individuals or communities.

built environment

The human-made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity, including buildings, parks, and infrastructure.

fieldwork

Research conducted outside of a laboratory or office, often involving direct observation and data collection in the field.

patterns

The arrangement or organization of phenomena in space, which can reveal insights about geographic processes.

site

The specific location of a place, including its physical characteristics.

cartography

The art and science of making maps.

formal/uniform

Regions defined by specific criteria, such as political boundaries or physical features, where there is uniformity in one or more characteristics.

physical geography

The branch of geography that deals with the natural environment and how it interacts with human activities.

situation

The location of a place relative to its surroundings and other places.

cartographic scale

The scale at which a map is drawn, which affects the level of detail and the area represented.

region

An area defined by certain unifying characteristics, which can be physical, cultural, or economic.