AP Human Geography Vocab Review

Absolute location

Exact position using coordinates (e.g., 35.6762° N, 139.6503° E for Tokyo).

Relative location

Position relative to other places (e.g., "Denver is east of the Rocky Mountains").

Absolute distance

Measured in standard units (e.g., 500 km between cities).

Relative distance

a measure of the social, cultural, and economic relatedness or connectivity between two places - how connected or disconnected they are (e.g., "That store feels farther due to traffic").

Arithmetic density

Total people ÷ total land area (e.g., 150 people/km² in India).

Physiological density

Total people ÷ arable land (e.g., 1,000 people/km² of farmland in Egypt).

Density

Frequency of something in an area (e.g., high-rise buildings in Manhattan).

Spatial distribution

Arrangement of features (centralized: capital cities; linear: along rivers; random: scattered settlements).

Cartogram

Map distorting area for data (e.g., countries sized by population).

Choropleth map

Thematic map using colors (e.g., election results by state).

Dot density map

Dots represent frequency (e.g., each dot = 1,000 people).

Thematic map

Shows spatial patterns (e.g., climate zones).

Map projections

2D Earth representations (e.g., Mercator distorts Antarctica).

Map scale

Ratio of map distance to real distance (e.g., 1:100,000).

Mental map

an individual's internal representation of a place or area, influenced by their personal experiences, knowledge, and perceptions. (e.g., your neighborhood layout).

Formal/uniform region

anything that's consistent across the area — people, climate, landforms, political boundaries, resources, etc. (e.g., the Sahara Desert's arid climate).

Functional/nodal region

Organized around a node and is connected by movement, communication, or economic activity. (e.g., a metro area with a central city).

Perceptual/vernacular region

an area that people believe exists based on feelings, traditions, or stereotypes, not official boundaries. (e.g., "The Midwest").

Contagious diffusion

an idea, trend, or disease spreads rapidly and widely through a population because people are close enough to influence each other. (e.g., viral TikTok trends).

Hierarchical diffusion

From power nodes downward (e.g., fashion from Paris to suburbs).

Relocation diffusion

Through physical movement (e.g., immigrants bringing cuisine).

Stimulus diffusion

the main idea spreads, but it's adapted or changed. (e.g., McDonald's serving rice in Asia).

Geographic Information System (GIS)

Computer system for spatial data (e.g., crime hotspot analysis).

Global Positioning System (GPS)

Satellite navigation (e.g., smartphone maps).

Environmental determinism

the environment completely controls how humans live and develop — including their culture, behavior, and success. (discredited; e.g., "tropics hinder development").

Possibilism

the environment sets limits, but humans have the power to adapt, change, and create solutions. (e.g., Dutch polders reclaiming land).

Human-environment interaction

how people affect the environment and how the environment affects people. (e.g., Farming the land for food.).

Connectivity

the degree to which different places are linked or connected to each other through various means like communication, transportation, technology, or trade. (e.g., highway systems).

Distance decay

Interaction decreases with distance (e.g., fewer commuters from farther suburbs).

Time-space compression

Technology shrinks distance (e.g., Zoom calls across continents).

Place

Unique location with meaning (e.g., the Grand Canyon's natural beauty).

Site

Physical characteristics (e.g., New Orleans' below-sea-level elevation).

Situation

Relative location context (e.g., Singapore's strategic port position).

Sequent occupance

the concept that different groups of people occupy the same geographic area over time, and each group leaves its mark or influence on that place, contributing to its evolving cultural landscape. (e.g., Istanbul's Roman/Byzantine/Ottoman history).

Scale of analysis

Scale of analysis refers to the level at which a geographical phenomenon or pattern is studied

International date line

Where dates change (≈180° longitude).

Latitude/parallel

Horizontal lines (e.g., Equator at 0°).

Longitude/meridian

Vertical lines (e.g., Prime Meridian at 0°).

Metes and bounds

Survey using natural features (e.g., colonial U.S. property lines).

Township and range

Rectangular land division (e.g., U.S. Midwest grid system).

Topography

Physical land features (e.g., mountains, valleys).

Sustainability

Balancing current/future needs (e.g., renewable energy projects).

Austerity

Government policies that reduce spending to decrease budget deficits. Example: Greece cutting public services during its debt crisis.

Calorie consumption

The average number of calories consumed per person daily. Example: Americans average about 3,600 calories/day while Eritreans average 1,600.

Consumer goods

Products purchased for personal use. Example: Smartphones, clothing, and cars.

Ecotourism

Tourism focused on environmental conservation. Example: Costa Rican rainforest lodges that fund conservation.

Fair trade

Movement ensuring fair prices for producers in developing countries. Example: Fair trade coffee sold at premium prices.

Foreign direct investment (FDI)

When a company invests in business operations in another country. Example: Toyota building a factory in Texas.

Gender Development Index (GDI)

Measures gender gaps in health, education, and income. Example: Norway scores higher than Yemen.

Gender Inequality Index (GII)

Measures disparities in reproductive health, empowerment, and labor. Example: Sweden has lower inequality than Afghanistan.

Human Development Index (HDI)

A measure of a country's overall human development based on life expectancy, education, and standard of living (income). Example: Norway ranks highest globally.

International division of labor

How production tasks are divided among countries. Example: Design in US, manufacturing in China.

Microloan/microfinance

Small loans to entrepreneurs in developing nations. Example: $200 loan to buy sewing machines in Bangladesh.

Productivity

efficiency with which goods and services are produced, typically measured by the output per unit of input. Example: Automation increasing car factory output.

Purchasing power parity (PPP)

Adjusts income to reflect local costs. Example: $50 buys more in India than in New York.

Quaternary economic activity

All jobs that deal with information, knowledge, leadership, and decision-making. Example: Software engineers at Google.

Rostow's Stages of Growth Model

A 5-step theory showing how countries move from poor (agriculture) to rich (industry and services). Example: US in high mass consumption stage.

Traditional Society

The economy is based on subsistence farming and barter. Little technology.

Pre-Conditions for Takeoff

Start building infrastructure (roads, schools). Investments and external funding begin.

Takeoff

Rapid industrial growth. New industries emerge, usually textiles or food.

Drive to Maturity

The economy diversifies into many industries. Technology spreads; workers are more skilled.

Age of Mass Consumption

People have lots of disposable income. The economy focuses on consumer goods and services (cars, vacations, tech).

Stimulus spending

Government spending to boost economic growth, especially during recessions. Example: COVID relief checks in 2020.

Structural adjustment

Economic reforms required by international organizations (World Bank or International Monetary Fund) to improve a country's economy, often involving cuts to government spending, privatization, and deregulation. Example: Privatizing state industries in Argentina.

Wallerstein's World Systems Theory

Divides world into core, periphery, semi-periphery. Example: US (core) vs. Bangladesh (periphery).

Primary economic activity

Resource extraction. Example: Saudi oil drilling.

Secondary economic activity

turning raw materials into products Example: German auto factories.

Tertiary economic activity

providing services to people and businesses Example: Walmart retail workers.

baby boom

A sudden increase in birth rates, especially after war. Example: The U.S. experienced a baby boom after WWII (1946-1964).

carrying capacity

The maximum population size an environment can sustain. Example: A desert may have a low carrying capacity due to limited water.

census

A population count taken regularly by the government. Example: The U.S. conducts a census every 10 years.

crude birth rate (CBR)

The number of live births per 1,000 people in a year. Example: A CBR of 20 means 20 births per 1,000 people per year.

crude death rate (CDR)

The number of deaths per 1,000 people in a year. Example: A country with a CDR of 8 has 8 deaths per 1,000 people annually.

demographics (demography)

The study of population characteristics. Example: Age, gender, and income are demographic factors.

demographic regions

Areas grouped together based on similar population traits. Example: Western Europe is a low-growth demographic region.

demographic transition model (DTM)

A model that shows population change over time in five stages. Example: The U.S. is in Stage 4 of the DTM (low birth/death rates).

dependency ratio

The number of dependents (under 15 and over 64) compared to the working-age population. Example: A high dependency ratio strains social services.

doubling time

The number of years needed for a population to double. Example: A 2% growth rate results in a doubling time of 35 years.

ecumene

The portion of Earth occupied by permanent human settlement. Example: The Nile River Valley is part of Egypt's ecumene.

epidemiological transition model

Shows causes of death in each DTM stage. Example: Stage 1 is dominated by infectious diseases like the Black Plague.

echo boom

A second increase in births caused by the children of baby boomers. Example: Many Millennials are part of the echo boom.

fecund

Able to produce offspring; fertile. Example: A fecund woman can have children.

infant mortality rate (IMR)

The number of infant deaths (under age 1) per 1,000 live births. Example: A low IMR indicates good healthcare.

malthus, thomas (theory)

Believed population grows faster than food supply, causing crises. Example: Malthus predicted famine if population wasn't controlled.

mortality

The state of being subject to death; often measured by CDR. Example: High mortality often occurs in war zones.

natality

The number of births in a population; same as birth rate. Example: High natality leads to population growth.

natural increase rate (NIR)

Birth rate minus death rate (CBR - CDR). Example: A country with 25 CBR and 10 CDR has a NIR of 1.5%.

neo-malthusian

Modern supporters of Malthus's ideas who worry about overpopulation. Example: Neo-Malthusians fear running out of resources.

pandemic

A disease that spreads across a large region or globally. Example: COVID-19 was a global pandemic.

population densities

The number of people per unit area. Example: Bangladesh has high population density.

rate of natural increase (RNI)

Another name for NIR. Example: A positive RNI means a growing population.

s-curve

A population graph that starts slow, increases rapidly, then levels off. Example: The logistic growth model forms an S-curve.

j-curve

A population graph that shows exponential growth. Example: The world population during the 20th century followed a J-curve.

sex ratio

The number of males per 100 females. Example: A sex ratio of 105 means 105 males for every 100 females.

standard of living

The quality of life based on income, education, and access to goods/services. Example: Norway has a high standard of living.

total fertility rate (TFR)

The average number of children a woman will have in her lifetime. Example: A TFR of 2.1 is needed for population replacement.

under-population

When a population is too small to fully use resources or maintain the economy. Example: Some rural parts of Japan are under-populated.

zero population growth (ZPG)

When the birth rate equals the death rate, so the population stays the same. Example: Many European countries are close to ZPG.

activity space

The area within which people move during their daily routines. Example: A student's activity space may include their home, school, and nearby stores.

brain drain

The emigration of highly skilled or educated people from a country. Example: Many doctors from India move to the U.S., causing a brain drain in India.