Section B Population questions (7 marks)

1⃣ Population Growth and its Impacts - Bangladesh

1⃣ Q: What are the impacts of population growth on urban services in Bangladesh?
A: Urban areas like Dhaka experience overcrowded hospitals, shortages of clean water, and overburdened schools due to a population density of 1,265 people per km².

2⃣ Q: How does population growth lead to resource depletion in Bangladesh?
A: Over 45% of Bangladeshis rely on agriculture, resulting in soil degradation and overuse of groundwater. Deforestation has accelerated, with a 2.6% loss of forest cover between 2000 and 2020.

3⃣ Q: What effect does population growth have on employment in Bangladesh?
A: Bangladesh faces high underemployment, with youth unemployment at 11.3%. Each year, 2 million people enter the workforce, straining job availability.

4⃣ Q: How does environmental degradation manifest in Bangladesh due to population pressures?
A: 40% of the population lives in areas prone to flooding, which is worsened by climate change. Regular cyclones and monsoons destroy infrastructure annually.

5⃣ Q: How does rapid population growth create political tension in Bangladesh?
A: Land disputes and urban overcrowding lead to conflicts, particularly over land rights and slum evictions in Dhaka.

2⃣ Dependency Ratios and Population Structure - Japan

6⃣ Q: What is the dependency ratio, and how is it calculated?
A: The Dependency Ratio is the ratio of the non-working (young + elderly) population to the working-age population (15–64). Calculated as:

Dependency Ratio=Number of dependents (young + old)Working-age population (15–64)×100\text{Dependency Ratio} = \frac{\text{Number of dependents (young + old)}}{\text{Working-age population (15–64)}} \times 100Dependency Ratio=Working-age population (15–64)Number of dependents (young + old)​×100

7⃣ Q: Why is Japan's dependency ratio increasing?
A: Japan's dependency ratio rose to 68.4% in 2023 due to an ageing population and low birth rates.

8⃣ Q: How has rural-to-urban migration affected Japan's population structure?
A: Rural regions like Akita Prefecture have over 40% elderly, while younger populations concentrate in urban areas like Tokyo.

9⃣ Q: What policies has Japan implemented to manage its ageing population?
A: Japan raised the retirement age to 65 and promoted female workforce participation to reduce the strain on its dependency ratio.

3⃣ Problems and Management of Underpopulation - Australia

🔟 Q: How does underpopulation affect resource utilization in Australia?
A: With a population of 25 million spread across 7.692 million km², many of Australia's mineral reserves in Western Australia remain underexploited.

1⃣1⃣ Q: What sectors are most affected by labor shortages in Australia?
A: Agriculture and mining face significant labor shortages, prompting reliance on 457 Visas for skilled migrants.

1⃣2⃣ Q: How does underpopulation impact service provision in Australia?
A: Remote areas like the Northern Territory struggle to maintain schools and hospitals due to low population density.

1⃣3⃣ Q: What strategy does Australia use to counter underpopulation?
A: Australia targets 190,000 migrants per year to fill workforce gaps, with most settling in Sydney and Melbourne.

4⃣ Youthful Population and its Impacts - Uganda

1⃣4⃣ Q: Why does Uganda have a youthful population?
A: Uganda has a Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 5.5 children per woman as of 2022, one of the highest in the world, driven by high birth rates and low use of contraception.

1⃣5⃣ Q: How does a youthful population impact education services in Uganda?
A: Over 50% of the population is under 15, creating overcrowded classrooms and teacher shortages. Schools struggle to maintain adequate facilities.

1⃣6⃣ Q: What are the economic impacts of a youthful population in Uganda?
A: Uganda's youth unemployment rate is 13.3%, with many young people working in informal sectors with low wages and job insecurity.

1⃣7⃣ Q: How does Uganda's youthful population affect healthcare services?
A: High birth rates and young dependents increase demand for maternal and child healthcare, straining local clinics and hospitals.

1⃣8⃣ Q: What strategies has Uganda implemented to manage its youthful population?
A: Introduction of Universal Primary Education (UPE), youth empowerment programs, and contraception awareness to slow population growth.

5⃣ Ageing Populations and their Impacts - Italy

1⃣9⃣ Q: How does an ageing population impact healthcare in Italy?
A: 23% of Italy's population is over 65 years old, leading to high healthcare spending (9.5% of GDP).

2⃣0⃣ Q: Why is pension funding a challenge for Italy's ageing population?
A: Italy spends 16% of its GDP on pensions, creating financial strain due to early retirement policies.

2⃣1⃣ Q: What labor market issues are caused by Italy's ageing population?
A: With youth unemployment at 23.1%, Italy increasingly relies on immigrants for jobs in agriculture and manufacturing.