AS Geography Paper 2 (Topic 4 -6)

Age structure

The distribution of people in different age groups within a population.

Ageing population

A population where the proportion of elderly people is increasing, usually due to low birth rates and high life expectancy.

Anti-natalist policy

Government measures designed to reduce birth rates and slow population growth.

Asylum seeker

A person who has left their country and is seeking protection in another country but whose refugee status has not yet been decided.

Barrier

A factor that completely prevents migration from taking place.

Birth rate

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

Brain drain

The loss of skilled and educated workers from a country due to migration.

Chain migration

when migrants move to the same host country

Constraint

A factor that limits migration, including both obstacles and barriers.

Cultural migration

Migration influenced by cultural reasons

Death rate

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

Demographic factor

A population-related reason for migration, such as age structure or population pressure

Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

A model showing how birth rates, death rates and population growth change as a country develops economically.

Densely populated area

A region with a high number of people per square kilometre.

Dependency

The proportion of people who rely on the working-age population for economic support.

Dependency ratio

The ratio of dependents (young and elderly) to the working-age population.

Destination area

The place to which migrants move.

Economic migration

Migration undertaken to improve employment opportunities and income.

Environmental migration

Migration caused by environmental factors

Exponential growth

A pattern of population increase where growth becomes more rapid over time.

Fertility

The number of children born within a population or to a woman over her lifetime.

Forced migration

Migration where people are compelled to move due to conflict, persecution,or disasters.

Infant mortality rate (IMR)

The number of infants who die before the age of one per 1,000 live births.

Intervening obstacle

A factor that makes migration more difficult but does not completely prevent it

Lee’s Model of Migration

A model explaining migration as a result of push and pull factors,intervening obstacles, and personal factors.

Life expectancy

The average number of years a person is expected to live.

Migrant

A person who moves from one place to another to live, either temporarily or permanently

Migrant characteristics

Personal factors such as age, education, skills, and financial resources that influence migration decisions and impacts.

Migration

The movement of people from one place to another with the intention of living there temporarily or permanently.

Migration flow

The number of migrants moving between places and the direction of movement

Mortality

The number of deaths within a population.

Natural increase

The difference between the birth rate and the death rate of a population.

Net migration

The difference between the number of immigrants and emigrants in a country.

Obstacle

A factor that makes migration more difficult or slows it down but does not stop it completely.

Permanent migration‌

where people intend to settle in a new location long-term or permanently

Political migration

Migration influenced by political factors such as conflict, persecution, or lack of freedom.

Population density

The number of people per unit area, usually expressed as people per square kilometre

Population distribution

The spatial pattern of where people live within a given area.

Population growth

The increase in the number of people living in a population over time.

Population growth rate

The percentage change in population per year.

Population policy

Government strategies designed to influence population size, structure or growth

Population pyramid

A diagram showing the age and gender structure of a population.

Pro-natalist policy

Government measures designed to encourage higher birth rates.

Pull factor

A positive condition that attracts people to a destination.

Push factor

A negative condition that drives people to leave their place of origin.

Refugee

A person who has been forced to leave their country that is recognised under international law

Remittances

Money sent back by migrants to family or communities in their country of origin.

Replacement fertility rate

The average number of children per woman needed to maintain a stable population

Source area

The place from which migrants originate.

Sparsely populated area

A region with a low number of people per square kilometre.

Stage 1 (DTM)

A stage characterised by high birth rates, high death rates and low population growth

Stage 2 (DTM)

A stage where death rates fall rapidly while birth rates remain high, causing rapid population growth.

Stage 3 (DTM)

A stage where birth rates begin to decline and population growth slows.

Stage 4 (DTM)

A stage with low birth rates and low death rates, leading to stable or slow population growth.

Stage 5 (DTM)

A stage where birth rates fall below death rates, resulting in population decline.

Temporary migration

Migration for a limited period of time, after which migrants may return home

Total fertility rate (TFR)

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

Voluntary migration

Migration where people choose to move, often for work, education, or lifestyle reasons.

Youthful population

A population with a high proportion of children and young dependents due to high birth rates.

Access

The ability of people to obtain water for use, influenced by infrastructure, cost, and location.

Agriculture (water use)

The use of water for irrigation and livestock production, forming the largest share of global water consumption.

Aquifer

A permeable layer of rock that stores and transmits groundwater.

Availability

The amount of water present in an area, determined by physical supply.

Capture (water cycle)

The stage where water is taken from natural sources such as rivers, lakes, or groundwater.

Desalination

The process of removing salt from seawater to produce freshwater.

Disposal (water cycle)

The stage where used water is removed and discharged as waste.

Drainage density

The number of rivers and streams in an area, affecting surface water availability.

Economic water scarcity

A situation where water is available but cannot be accessed due to lack of infrastructure, investment, or management.

Grey water

Wastewater from domestic activities that can be reused for non-drinking purposes.

Human water cycle

The movement and management of water by humans, including capture,management, use, disposal, and reuse.

Management (water cycle)

The stage where water is stored, treated, and prepared for use.

Over-abstraction

The removal of water from a source at a rate faster than it can be naturally replenished.

Physical water scarcity

A situation where there is insufficient water available in the environment to meet demand.

Water Pollution

Contamination of water sources, reducing quality and usability.

Rationing

The controlled distribution of water through limits or restrictions to reduce demand.

Recycled water

Water that has been treated and reused for different purposes.

Reuse (water cycle)

The stage where treated wastewater is used again to increase supply.

Saltwater intrusion

The movement of seawater into freshwater aquifers, reducing water quality.

Sustainability

The ability of a water management strategy to meet current needs without compromising future supply.

Use (water cycle)

The stage where water is consumed by humans for domestic, agricultural, or industrial purposes.

Abstraction

The removal of water from natural sources

Water conflict

Disputes between users or countries over access to and control of water resources

Water insecurity

The lack of reliable access to sufficient, safe water.

Water pollution

The contamination of water sources, reducing their quality and usability.

Water quality

The condition of water in terms of safety and suitability for use.

Water recycling

The treatment and reuse of wastewater to increase supply.

Water scarcity

A situation where water supply is insufficient to meet demand.

Water security

The capacity to ensure sustainable access to adequate, safe, and reliable water.

Water stress

A situation where demand approaches or exceeds available supply.

Water transfer

The movement of water from areas of surplus to areas of deficit.

Braindrain

Skilled workers move to urban areas workers behind in turn reducing economic growth

Urban growth

the proportion of the population living in urban areas instead of rural areas

Gentrification

The process where increased investment and an influx of higher income residents into historically low income neighbourhoods drives up property values. This transformation often replaces the existing community and cultural identity, forcing long-term residents to leave the area.

Conurbation

Villages, towns and cities merging and sprawling out to make a larger settlement

Urbanisation

Increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas (towns and cities)

Suburbanisation

Movement of people and services from the centre to the edge of towns and cities (the suburbs)

Urban sprawl

Low-density outward expansion

Counterurbanisation

Movement of people away from towns and cities to the countryside

Re-urbanisation

Movement back to cities or towns, where the populations had previously declined

Urban regeneration

Re-development of a city or town that was preciously in social and economic decline