Geography Theme 1

What are the 3 population demographic terms for working and age population groups

Young dependants, economically active, Old dependents

Case study for a country with a large dependent population, specific location, statistics

Gambia, located in west Africa

• 65+% young dependent population

• 5 births per woman

• The North Bank Division (area most affected by desertification, a lot of exploitation of land for agricultre)

Name 7 problems due to too many young dependants:

Economic:

• Less working population

• not enough taxpaying people

• Higher taxes for economically active

• Not enough money for healthcare, education, infrastructure

• Burden on economically active population

• Desertification due to overpopulation where the wood in forests is overused- The North Bank Division

• Many living in poverty

Social

• Not enough access to health care for the young, poor sanitation

• Spread of diseases due to high rates of unvaccinated children

• Inadequate education -overcrowded schools

• Vaccination and disease control is a public health risk

• Lack of adequate housing for larger families/ overcrowded houses

• youth unemployment- lack of jobs for young population

• Resource allocation- clothing, food, water- high rates of malnutrition

• Exploitation of children for agriculture and economic gains

• Overcrowded homes

Name 7 causes for to too many young dependants:

Social

• 95% are Muslim- contraceptives are not socially accepted

• It is a largely accepted belief that women should not have a say in the amount of children they birth

• A 5th of girls are married underage

• Children are used for exploitation- work in agriculture The North Bank Division

• There is a tradition of large families where number of children is associated with status

Economic

• Much of the population lives under thre poverty line and can not afford good education, contraception or healthcare

Case study for a sparcely populated area

Canada, the worlds second largest country with a small population of 38M. The vast northlands are mostly uninhabitable, resulting only 4 people per km2.

Only small hamlets such as ‘Resolute’ can survive in the northlands

Factors influencing to why Canada is sparcely populated

Physical

• 40% is covered by the Arctic circle

• Half the land is permafrost and causes slumping, sinkholes and landslide (no infrastructure or settlements)

• Small communities are much more difficult to access

• Average winter temperature of -30C° means there is a lack of arable land

• rugged topography with many mountains and wilderness make travel difficult

Other

• Air travel is particularly expensive, unaccessible and inconvenient

• Quality of life is generally lower due to weather conditions- less desirable

Problems faced in sparcely populated areas

• Depopulation

• An ageing population

• Not enough economically active people to support old dependents

• Lack of adequate social services

• Lack of infrastructure

• Economic decline

• Lower quality of life due to isolation

• Underutilization of resources such as minerals and land

• Weaker, more vulnerable populations

• Communities are difficult to reach during crisises (natural disasters, disease)

• Increased prices/ lack of accessibility to resources

Case study on a densely populated region

Bangladesh, an over-populated country situated is southern-central Asia with a population of more than 160’000’000 and more than 1’100 people per km2

Dhaka, the capital, is the most densely populated city

Effects of a high population density in Bangladesh

Economic

• Poverty rates are high

• Feeding the population and reparing after natural disasters means low investment in public services

Social

• Generally low standard of living

• Overcrowding- crowded houses, schools, hosptals ecc.

• Unsanitary conditions, rapid spread of diseases

• High rates of underemployment and Unemployment

• Low quality of education- literacy rates at ca. 70%. No free education system

• Bad acces to healthcare- High infant mortality rates, low average lifespan

• High rates of pollution (Dhaka)

Environmental

• Lack of resources (food, water)

• Deforestation leading to natural disaster like floods and tropical storms

Causes of high population density in Bangladesh

Economic

• Extremely high rates of rural to urban migration resulting in overcrowding

• Industrialisation has lead to urbanisation

• Bangladesh is in the 3rd stage of the DTM causing them to have a high birth rate

Social

• Large numbers of refugees fleeing from Myanmar

• Many people were concentrated in certain areas (Dhaka) under british rule

• Children are used for labour in agriculture

• Cultural norms favour larger families

• Limmited access to education, particularly for females, no free education system (70% female litiracy rates)

• Lack of acces to contraception

• HIgh birth rate

Case study on a population with high old dependendency rates

Japan, located in East Asia, has a shrinking population with a fertility rate of 1.3. 1/3 of the population is old dependants

Fukuoka is Japan’s oldest city

Causes of Japan’s old population

Social

• Delayed Marriages

• Good healthcare- high life expenctancy, more older people

• Healthy Lifestyle and diet practices

• Public Health Policies promote healthy living and disease prevention

• Cultural norms emphasize respect and care for the elderly

• Long working hours and demanding job environments make it difficult for people to balance work and family life

• The post-World War II baby boom resulted in a large cohort that is now aging

Economic

• High living costs descourage couples from raising children

• More women in the workforce, more buisness opportunities

Conseguences of Japan’s elderly population

Economic

• A shrinking working-age population leads to labor shortages

• Higher expenditures on pensions, healthcare, and elder care services

• Reduced Economic Growth

• Higher taxes for economically active population

• Not enough tax-payers to support the older population

Social

• Burden on economically active population

• social isolation and loneliness for elderly individuals

• Higher demand for healthcare services and long-term care facilities, straining the system

• Healthcare costs rise

Case study for an international migration

Australia, a large country in Oceania, Ca. 30% percent of the population is born oversea.

Western sydney ‘latte line’

Negatives of migration to Australia

• Geographical location isolates it from other landmasses

• Very high cost of air travel

• high living costs

• difficult employment circumstances- very competitive Australian job market

• increase in population spiked a demand in housing

• financial instability, and huge economic disparities- one in three residents in western Sydney live in poverty