Word

Definition

Population Distribution

The pattern of human settlement.

Population Density

Measure of the average population per square mile or kilometer(how crowded).

Midlatitudes

Area where most people live, between 30 and 60 degrees latitude north and south of the equator.

Social Stratification

Hierarchical division of people based on ethnicity, race, gender, financial status, etc.

Arithmetic Population Density

Population Density which is calculated by dividing a region’s population by its total area.

Physiological Population Density

Population density which is calculated by dividing the population by the amount of arable land in the region(farmable land).

Arable

Land suitable for growing crops

Agricultural Population Density

Population density calculated by dividing amount of farmers by the amount of arable land.

Redistricting

Making adjustments to political boundaries every ten years based off the U.S. census in order to maintain the sizes of electoral districts(same amount of voters)

Infrastructure

Systems, facilities, and structures which allow people living in that area to be able to live and sustain themselves.

Overpopulation

When a region has more people that it can sustain.

Carrying Capacity

Number of people a region can sustain without damaging the environment.

Population Pyramid

A graph that can provide info on death rate, birth rates, numbers if different age groups, and economic development. Population Pyramids can help a government decide what the region needs economically.

Cohort

The vertical axis on a Population Pyramid, which shows age groups.

Birth Deficit

Slowdown of births during war or other significant events.

Baby Boom

The spike of births that often occurs after a Birth Deficit.

Baby Bust

Slight slowdown of births that comes after the Baby Boom.

Echo

Another outburst of births which reflects the Baby Boom, as the boomers are now of childbearing age and are having children.

Potential Workforce

Group expected to be the society’s workforce(usually 15-64 yrs old).

Dependent Population

People under 15 and over 64(people that cannot provide for themselves.

Dependency Ratio

The comparison between the Potential Workforce and the Dependent Population.

Demographic Balancing Equation

The equation used by demographers to describe the future population of a region of any scale:

Future population = Current population + (number of births - number of deaths) + (number of immigrants - number of emigrants)

Immigrants

People who moved into the country

Emigrants

People who moved out of the country

Crude Birth Rates(CBR)

Number of live births per year for each 1,000 people.

Total Fertility Rates(TFR)

Number of children born per woman in that group in a country, assuming every woman lived through her child-bearing years(15-49).

Life Expectancy

Average number of years people are expected to live.

Infant Mortality Rate

Number of children who die before their first birthday.

Crude Death Rates(CDR)

Number of deaths per year for each 1,000 people.

Rate of Natural Increase(RNI)

The percentage at which a country’s population is growing and declining, without the impact of migration.

Population Doubling Time

The time it takes for a population to double in size.

Demographic Transition Model(DTM)

Shows 5 typical stages of population change that countries experience when they modernize.

Demographic Momentum

Concept that because people are living longer, population continues to grow for some more time although fertility rates have declined.

Epidemiological Transition Model

Shows stages of disease and life expectancy that countries experience as they develop(extension of DTM).

Malthusian Theory

States that food production will grow arithmetically, while population will grow exponentially, causing world famine.

Boserup Theory

suggests that the more people there are, the more hands there are to work, rather than more mouths to feed, meaning that more people will not cause starvation.

Neo-Malthusians

People who accept and support the Malthusian Theory.

Pronatalist Policies

Programs designed to increase the fertility rate.

Anti-natalist Policies

Programs designed to decrease fertility rates.