Geography Study Notes - Changing Populations

GEOGRAPHY SL UNIT 1: CHANGING POPULATIONS

SECTION 1: POPULATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS

KEY CONTENT

  • Physical and human factors affecting population distribution at the global scale.

  • Global patterns and classification of economic development in low-income countries (LICs), middle-income countries (MICs), and emerging economies.

  • Global patterns and classification of economic development in high-income countries (HICs).

  • Population distribution and economic development at the national scale, including voluntary internal migration, core–periphery patterns, and megacity growth.

FACTORS AFFECTING POPULATION DISTRIBUTION AT THE GLOBAL SCALE

  • Most Favoured Locations:

    • Fertile valleys

    • Places with a regular supply of water

    • Stable climates

    • Good communications

  • Disadvantaged Areas:

    • Deserts - too dry

    • Mountains - too steep

    • High latitudes - too cold

GLOBAL PATTERNS AND CLASSIFICATION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

  • According to the World Bank:

    • Per capita income of a HIC is $12,700 (2014).

    • LICs are those with less than $1,025.

    • MICs are those between $1,025 and $12,700.

  • Fewer countries are classified as LIC.

  • Percentage of people living in LIC fell by 80% between 1994-2014.

  • Gross National Income (GNI) per capita is calculated by dividing a country’s GNI by its mid-year population.

POPULATION DISTRIBUTION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AT THE NATIONAL SCALE
POPULATION DISTRIBUTION IN CHINA

  • China's population is concentrated in the eastern part of the country in coastal zones.

  • The rest of the country is characterized by deserts and dry grasslands.

  • This uneven distribution is a result of the country's physical geography.

  • The western provinces remain undeveloped as the dry or steep terrain makes them unsuitable for agriculture.

  • The western coastal areas are also prone to trade.

  • Growth of megacities and millionaire cities is in the east, reinforcing inequality.

INTERNAL MIGRATION IN CHINA

  • Since 1978, China has experienced the largest population movement as 160 million migrants left rural areas moving to the east to urban industrial cities seeking jobs, which were 40% higher.

  • Internal migration has been beneficial for the economy and for migrants but has personal and environmental costs.

  • Rising land and labor costs have led the government to redirect industrial developments and migrants to inner locations.

POPULATION DISTRIBUTION IN SOUTH AFRICA

  • Population distribution in South Africa is uneven.

  • High population densities are found in areas with good mineral resources and trading potential.

  • Population decreases from the southeast to the northwest.

INTERNAL MIGRATION IN SOUTH AFRICA

  • Three main periods of migration:

    • Economic migration linked with industrial development.

    • Forced migration due to apartheid policies.

    • Voluntary migration following the collapse of apartheid.

  • Industry developed between two world wars, resulting in many blacks moving from the countryside to work as migrant laborers in mines.

  • From the 1940s to the 1990s, the White National Party had political control of South Africa:

    • Over this policy, 4 million blacks were forcibly removed and relocated from white areas.

    • Restrictions were placed on blacks, known as influx control.

    • After apartheid, blacks migrated to big cities in search of jobs, often living in substandard homes as urban areas attracted migrants while small towns lost them.

CIRCULAR MIGRATION IN SOUTH AFRICA

  • Refers to the process where a worker moves repeatedly between home and host areas to supplement income.

  • Family members may seek work in urban areas while leaving children with grandparents.

  • Farms represent a cultural approach that provides a sense of identity and security.

  • Women migrating to cities for work often leave their children with grandparents.

  • Circular migrant workers typically take jobs in the informal economy and are often low-paid.

CONCEPTS IN CONTEXT

  • Population distribution is affected by both physical and human factors, with human factors such as development exerting a significant impact on migration and distribution.

SECTION 2: CHANGING POPULATION AND PLACES

KEY CONTENT

  • Population change and demographic transition over time, including natural increase, fertility rate, life expectancy, population structure, and dependency ratios; contrasts between countries.

  • Consequences of megacity growth for individuals and societies.

  • Environmental and political causes and consequences for people and places of forced migration and internal displacement.

POPULATION CHANGE AND DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION OVER TIME

  • Population change refers to variations in birth rates, death rates, and migration.

  • The demographic transition model illustrates birth and death rates over time, suggesting death rates fall before birth rates, leading to population expansion.

  • Stage 1: High and Variable

    • High and variable birth and death rates result in fluctuating population growth.

    • Example: Primitive tribes with high birth and death rates as children are needed for labor and to replace those lost.

    • High mortality due to lack of sanitation, food, overcrowding, and poverty.

  • Stage 2: Early Expanding

    • High birth rates with falling death rates lead to rapid growth.

    • Example: Countries like Libya (Middle East).

  • Stage 3: Late Expanding

    • Falling birth rates and continued low death rates contribute to ongoing population growth at a lower extent.

    • Example: Brazil and Argentina.

  • Stage 4: Low and Variable

    • Both birth and death rates are low and variable, with fluctuating population growth.

  • Stage 5: Low Declining

    • Birth rates fall below death rates, resulting in population decline.

    • Example: Japan, due to high costs of child-rearing and effective government pensions.

NATURAL INCREASE

  • Calculated by subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate, expressed as a percentage.

  • Natural decrease occurs when death rates exceed birth rates.

  • Natural change does not account for migration; it balances birth and death rates and migration.

DOUBLING TIME

  • Duration needed for a population to double in size, calculated by dividing 70 by the rate of natural increase.

POPULATION MOMENTUM

  • Continued population growth despite falling birth or fertility rates, driven by a concentration of individuals in pre-childbearing years.

FUTURE POPULATION PROJECTIONS

  • Predictions based on trends in fertility, mortality, and migration.

TOTAL FERTILITY RATE

  • Average number of births per woman during her childbearing years.

  • Influenced by socio-cultural and economic factors:

    • High fertility rates prevalent in poorer countries, while HICs demonstrate lower rates.

STATUS OF WOMEN

  • Assessed by the Gender Related Development Index (GDI), which measures inequality between sexes in life expectancy, education, and living standards.

FACTORS INFLUENCING FERTILITY

  • The status of women correlates with educational opportunities and access to resources.

  • Rural areas generally exhibit higher fertility rates due to:

    • More rigid social pressures.

    • Greater freedom and less state control over anti-natalist policies.

    • Limited opportunities for women.

  • Religious influences also impact birth control practices according to regional adherence.

  • Economic prosperity encourages increased birth rates, while rising costs may deter larger families.

LIFE EXPECTANCY

  • Average lifespan at birth influenced by poverty, conflict, and diseases like AIDS.

  • Generally longer for women than men due to various socio-economic factors.

AGE/SEX PYRAMIDS

  • Visual representation indicating demographic characteristics:

    • Wide base indicates high birth rates.

    • Narrowing base indicates declining birth rates.

DEPENDENCY RATIOS

  • Measures the economically active population against dependents (those under 15 and over 64).

  • Useful for comparing countries and tracking changes over time.

AGEING RATIOS

  • Currently, there are 4 economically active individuals for each person aged 65 or over; this ratio is expected to decline significantly by 2050.

REPLACEMENT LEVEL

  • The level of fertility necessary for a population to replace itself without migration.

MEGACITY GROWTH CONSEQUENCES

  • Megacities offer job opportunities, homes, and potential for improved living standards.

  • While migration to megacities can lead to improvement, it may also result in unemployment, underemployment, poor housing quality, and environmental hazards.

CASE STUDY: MUMBAI

  • India’s largest city, originating from fishing villages and evolving into a major economic hub:

    • Diverse industries include aerospace, engineering, technology, and finance.

    • Accounts for 6% of India's GDP.

    • Large disparities: of 12 million, 9 million live in slums.

  • Challenges include: poverty, unemployment, inadequate healthcare access, and limited access to clean water.

FORCED MIGRATION

  • Refers to the involuntary movement of individuals due to various factors:

    • Conflicts, natural disasters, and development projects.

  • Types of forced migration include:

    • Conflict-induced: displacement due to armed conflict.

    • Development-induced: forced relocation for infrastructure projects.

    • Disaster-induced: due to natural catastrophes.

CASE STUDY: FORCED MIGRATION IN SYRIA

  • Repression by the Assad regime and rise of ISIS led to the displacement of over 10 million people, creating a significant refugee crisis in neighboring countries.

CASE STUDY: FORCED MIGRATION IN NIGERIA

  • Terrorism led to mass displacement, with 3 million people internally displaced and a critical shortage of food due to reduced farming capacity.

POPULATION CHANGE CONTEXT

  • Population change is dynamic and multifaceted, involving birth/death rates and migration patterns impacting overall demographics.