Unit 2

Population Distribution

The pattern of human settlement -- the spread of people across earth.

Population density

A measure of the average population per square mile or kilometer of an area. It measures how crowded a place is.

midlatitudes

Regions between 30N and 60N and between 30S and 60S. Moderate climates and better soils than do regions of higher or
lower attitudes. Most people live in midlatitudes.

Social stratification

The hierarchical division of people into groups based on factors such as economic status, power, ethnicity or religion.

Arithmetic population
density

The most commonly used population density, calculated by dividing a region’s population by its total area.

Physiological
population density

Calculated by dividing the population by the amount of arable land.

arable

Land suitable for growing crops.

Carrying capacity

The population it can support without significant
environmental deterioration.

Agricultural population
density

Compares the number of farmers to the area of arable land.

redistricting

When urban areas are increasing in population and rural areas are shrinking. Result in physically smaller urban districts and larger rural districts.

overpopulation

When a region has more people than it can support -- partially dependent on its population distribution and density.

Age-sex composition
graph

Graph based on only age and gender data. Can provide information on birth rates, death rates, how long people live on average and economic development. (population pyramid)

Population pyramid

Visual tool used to study population, also known as the age-sex composition.

Cohort

Vertical axis on a pyramid that shows age groups. Often listed in the middle but can be shown on the left or right side

Birth deficit

The slow down of births.

Baby boom

A spike (increase) in births.

Baby bust

The end of a baby boom when births are lower until the boomers reach child-bearing age.

echo

An increase that reflects an earlier baby boom.

Crude birth rate (CBR)

The number of live births per year for each 1,000 people

Total fertility rate (TFR)

the average number of children who would be born per woman aged 15 to 49 in a country, assuming every woman lived through her childbearing years.

Anti-natalist policies

Programs designed to decrease the number of births in a place.

Pro-natalist policies

Programs designed to increase the fertility rate in a place.

Life expectancy

The number of years the average person will live.

Infant mortality rate

The number of children who die before their first birthday.

Demographic Transition
Model

Model that shows five typical stages of population change that countries pass through as they modernize.

Epidemiological
Transition Model

Predictable stages in disease and life expectancy that countries experience as they develop, identified by Abdel Omran.

Rate of natural increase

The percentage of which a country’s population is growing or declining, without the impact of migration. Calculated by RNI = (CBR-CDR)/10%

immigrants

People who have moved into a country.

emigrants

People who have moved out of a country.

Demographic Balancing
Equation

Used to calculate a country’s total population change. Equation as follows Total Population Change (TPC) = Births - Deaths + Immigrants - Emigrants

Malthusian Theory

The theory by Thomas Malthus that the world’s population was growing faster than the rate of food production, leading to mass starvation.

Neo-Malthusians

Those who have adapted Malthus’ ideas to modern conditions, arguing that global overpopulation is a serious problem and even greater threat for the future.

Push factors

Negative circumstances, events, or conditions present where people live, reasons people decide to move away.

Pull factors

Positive conditions and circumstances of a place that people are drawn to once they decide to leave a place.

Asylum

Protection from the danger faced in one’s home country.

Intervening obstacles

Barriers that make reaching someone’s desired destination more difficult.

Distance decay

The further apart two places are, the less likely it is that people will migrate between those places.

Gravity model of
migration

The belief in the greater pull in larger communities and the assumption that more people are likely to migrate from a large community than a small one.

Step migration

A process in which migrants reach their eventual destination through a series of smaller moves.

Counter migration

Each migration flow produces a movement in the opposite direction

Return migration

When immigrants move back to their former home.

Forced migration

A type of movement in which people do not choose to relocate, but do so under threat of violence.

Internally displaced
person (IDPs)

Migrants who must flee to another part of the same country quickly in order to stay alive, without bringing their belongings, to get away from a political or environmental crisis in their home country. These individuals intend to return home when it is safe to do so.

refugees

Migrants who must flee across international borders in order to stay alive and get away from a political or environmental crisis in their home country. These individuals have a well-founded fear that they will be harmed if they return home.

Chain migration

When people move to communities where relatives or friends migrated previously.

Ethnic enclaves

Neighborhoods filled primarily with people of the same ethnic group.

xenophobia

A strong dislike of people who practice another culture.

Brain drain

When migration out of a country is made up of many highly skilled people

remittances

Money immigrants send to their families and friends in the country they left.

Crude death rate (CDR)

The total number of deaths a year per 1,000 people

Infrastructure

The facilities and structures that allows people to carry out typical activities

Dependency ratio (DR)

A value comparing the working to the non working parts of a population

Doubling time

The time it takes for a population to double in size, estimated with the Rule of 70 equation -70/growth rate per year

Demographic momentum

Countries in transition from stage 3 to stage 4 experience an extended growth population for at least one generation due to life expectancy increasing while fertility rates decrease

Boserup Theory

Opposing Malthus, a Danish economist suggested that the more people there are, the more hands there are to work, rather than just mouths to feed. As population increases, inventions are created to increase food population

Dependent population

People under 15 years old or over 64 years old. Considered too young of too old to work full-time

Voluntary migration

Movement of people by choice

Migration

The permanent or semipermanent relocation of people from one place to another

Emigrate

When people migrate away from somewhere

Migration transition model

Wilbur Zilensky’s theory, argues that countries in stage 2 or stage 3 of the demographic transition model experience rapid population growth and overcrowding

Intervening opportunity

Opportunities in route of migration that disrupt the original migration plan

Rual-to- urban migration

Due to the need for more people to work, people are more likely to move from farming areas to cities

Transnacional migration

When people move from one country to another, or internationally rather than internally

Transhumance

Process of herders moving with their animals to different pastures during different seasons

Guest workers

Transnational migrants who relocate to a new country to provide labor that isn’t available locally

Guest worker policies

Policies that regulate the number of workers who can temporarily enter each country to work in specific industries for a defined amount of time

Family reunification

Policies that allow migrants to sponsor family members who migrate to the country