Population Dynamics Flashcards

Population Dynamics

Introduction

• Population: Total number of people in a specific area at a particular time.
• Population dynamic: Study of how and why population changes in size and structure over time.

Distribution of Population in the World

• In 2021, approximately 59.33% of the global population lived in Asia.
• The world's population has nearly tripled since 1950 and is continuously rising.
• Population is projected to reach 11.2 billion by 2100.

Factors Affecting the Size of Population

• Fertility rate (birth rate): Measured by the number of children per woman of child-bearing age.
  • Birth rate: Number of live births per 1000 persons in a given area per year.
• Mortality rate (death rate): Influenced by healthcare quality and lifestyle.
  • Death rate: Number of deaths per 1000 people in a given area per year.
• Immigration: People moving into a country.
• Emigration: People moving out of a country.
• Natural growth rate: Difference between birth rate and death rate.

Density of Population in the World

• Population density: \frac{\text{Total population of a country}}{\text{Total land area of the country}}
• Densely populated regions: Favorable climate, economic opportunities (e.g., China, Japan, Western and Central Europe).
• Sparsely populated regions: Harsh climate, rugged topography (e.g., Sahara Desert, Arctic regions).

Overpopulation

• Overpopulation: Population too great for a region to support, causing environmental deterioration and impaired quality of life.
• Overpopulation index: Considers total population, land area, food production, water resources, and area under cultivation.
• Causes:
  • Decline in death rate due to medical advances and technology.
  • Technological advancements in fertility treatment.
• Problems:
  • Rapid population growth leading to a large dependent population.
  • Unemployment due to lack of industry and training.
  • Poor housing and health conditions.
• Impact:
  • Depletion of natural resources.
  • Environmental hazards (deforestation, global warming).
  • Unemployment and poverty.
  • Health and sanitation issues.
  • Imbalance in trade (more imports, less exports).

Underpopulation

• Underpopulation: Population too small to fully utilize available resources without compromising living standards.
• Areas: Regions of low technical development (e.g., Equatorial Congo, Amazon river basin).
• Causes:
  • Decreased fertility rate due to literacy, economic development, and urbanization.
  • Emigration due to push (lack of employment) and pull (better opportunities) factors.
  • Disease (e.g., HIV/AIDS, COVID).
  • Famine (scarcity of food).
• Problems:
  • Uneven distribution of population.
  • Remoteness and unwillingness to forego amenities.
  • Under-utilization of resources.
  • Slow growth of industry.
  • Climatic problems.
• Impact:
  • Unstable economy (decreased demand, deflation).
  • Labor shortage.
  • Decrease in pollution.

Factors Affecting Population

• Climate: Temperate regions are more favorable; extreme climates have small populations.
• Topography/Landforms: Plains are densely populated; mountainous areas have low populations.
• Soil: Fertile soil supports dense populations.
• Water: Essential for human activities; influences population distribution.
• Availability of Resources: Minerals and power resources attract industrial development and population.
• Size of the Country: Influences population density.
• Socio-Economic Factors: Economic activities, cultural, social, and political factors.
• Geographical Location: Accessible trade centers attract population.

Composition of Population

• Includes factors such as sex, age, health, literacy, occupation, and income level.
• Age structure: Influences socio-economic issues; young vs. old populations require different investments.
• Population pyramid: Illustrates age and sex structure.
• Sex-composition (sex ratio): Number of females per 1000 males.
• Rural-urban composition: Division based on lifestyles and economic activities.