Unit 2A - AP Human Geography

Aging society population

A society where people live longer, birth rates stay low, and the average age of citizens gets older.

Agricultural density

Number of farmers compared to the amount of farmland.

Anti-natalist/restrictive policies

Government rules that try to lower birth rates.

Arable

Land that is good for farming.

Arithmetic density

Total number of people divided by total land area.

Baby Boomers

People born between 1946-1964, during a time of high birth rates after WWII.

Baby Bust

A drop in birth rates after the Baby Boom, as more women began working and getting higher education.

Boserup Theory

The idea that people will invent new farming methods to keep up with population growth (opposite of Malthus' idea that food limits population).

Carrying Capacity

The maximum number of people an area can support with its resources.

Child Mortality Rate (CMR)

Number of children who die between ages 1-5 in a population.

Climate

The long-term weather patterns of a place.

Contraception

Methods to prevent pregnancy (condoms, pills, IUDs, sterilization, etc.).

Crude Birth Rate (CBR)

Number of births per 1,000 people in a year.

Crude Death Rate (CDR)

Number of deaths per 1,000 people in a year.

Demography

The study of populations (size, structure, growth, and changes).

Demographic Momentum

Population keeps growing even when birth rates drop, because many people are still in their childbearing years.

Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

A model showing how populations change as countries develop (from high birth/death rates to low ones).

Dependency Ratio

The number of people who are too young or too old to work compared to working-age people.

Doubling Time

How long it takes for a population to double in size, usually found using the "Rule of 70" (70 ÷ growth rate).

Development

A country's standard of living and quality of life, based on economic, social, and technological conditions.

Epidemiological Transition Model

Shows that poorer countries mainly die from infectious diseases, while richer countries mainly die from chronic/lifestyle diseases.

Ehrlich Theory

Predicted overpopulation would cause famines and crises, calling for strict population controls.

Eugenic Population Policies

Government policies that favor one race or group over others.

Fertility

The ability to have children, or the birthrate of a population.

Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

The average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime.

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)

Number of babies who die before age 1 per 1,000 live births.

Life Expectancy

The average number of years a person can expect to live.

Malthusian Theory

The idea that population grows faster than food supply, leading to shortages and crises.

Medical/Public Health Infrastructure

A country's ability to provide healthcare through workers, equipment, data, and facilities.

Mortality

The number of deaths in a population.

Neo-Malthusians

Modern supporters of Malthus' ideas who argue population growth still causes problems like famine, poverty, and conflict.

Pandemic

A disease outbreak that spreads over a large area and affects many people.

Physiological Density

Number of people per unit of farmable (arable) land.

Population Pyramids (Age-Sex Diagrams)

Graphs that show the age and sex makeup of a population.

Pronatalist/Expansive Policies

Government policies that encourage having more children.

Rate of Natural Increase (RNI/NIR)

Population growth rate, found by subtracting deaths from births (as a percentage).

Replacement Rate

The number of children per woman needed to keep a population stable (about 2.1).

Overpopulation

When an area has more people than its resources can support at a decent standard of living.