Introduction to Geography
People, Places, and Environment, 4e
Edward F. Bergman
William H. Renwick
Chapter 5:
Population, Population
Increase and Migration
Victoria Alapo, Instructor
Geog 1010
Population

Population geography




Studies the distribution of humankind
Emigration
Immigration
Demography is the study of

Specific group characteristics e.g.
male/female, Black/White/Hispanic,
educated, rich/poor, etc.
Distribution and Density

World Population

6.5 billion (2006)

Major concentrations

(see Cartogram in textbook and back page of Textbook) –
a cartogram is a map-like image used to convey the
magnitude of a phenomenon rather than just spatial size.
 East Asia
 South Asia
 Europe from the Atlantic to Ural mountains
 Southeast Asia
 Eastern United States
Factors Influencing Population
Distribution

Climate



Low density (cold or dry areas, exceptions along
rivers e.g. the Nile)
High density
Topography and soils



Flat areas = easier cultivation
Accessibility to water
Fertile soils
Population Density

Arithmetic density


Number of people per unit of area e.g. sq
mile/km.
Physiological density

Density of population per unit cropland
World Population Growth

Crude birth rate – annual # of
live births per 1000 people.

Crude death rate – annual #
of deaths per 1000 people.

Natural increase
Natural decrease
Difference btw crude rates


Pop. projection is the
prediction of the future,
assuming that pop. trends
remain the same. It is an
uncertain task. Why?
Population Projections

Replacement rate – This is when you just
replace yourself. 2.1 is considered that rate. A
country’s pop. increases or declines based on
this rate.

Zero population growth – no growth

Doubling time - the # of yrs it would take the
country’s pop. to double at present rates of
increase.
Population Pyramids

This is a graphic device showing the age and
sex structure of a population.
Population Pyramids

Dependency ratio

Calculates the proportion of the population of
working age. See pyramid on previous slide.

The dep. ratio is the ratio of the combined pop. of
children less than 15 yrs and elderly over 64, to
the pop. of those btw 15 & 64 yrs (working age).

The larger the % of dependents, the greater the
dependency ratio and financial burden – rich
countries have too many old; poor countries have
too many young (see next slide).
Demographic Transition Model

This took place over centuries, and is dev. from
countries that are rich to describe their historical
experience.

Stage one


Crude birth/death rate high – zero growth
Fragile population – periodic epidemics, famines
Demographic Transition Model

Stage two




Lower death rates
Infant mortality rate falls – this is the # of infants per 1000
who die before reaching 1 yr of age (see next 2 slides)
Natural increase high – medical improvements, agric.
revolution.
Stage three



Indicative of richer developed countries
Higher standards of living/education – children now seen as
a burden instead of asset. Many European countries, e.g.
Germany.
Zero growth or negative (natural decrease)
New Influences on Birth Rates




Family planning programs
Contraceptive technology
Role of mass media
Obstacles




Manufacture/distribution
expense
Religion
Low female status
Preference of male children
Birth Control Programs

One family/one child policies







Female infanticide
Social compensation fees
Sterilization
Loss of status
Termination healthcare/food coupons e.g.
Iran
Free birth control
Increased literacy
Overpopulation?

Malthusian theory

Thomas Malthus (1766-1834)

Arithmetic progression of food (1, 2, 3, 4, 5…)
versus the geometric progression of people
(1, 2, 4, 8, 16…)

Was he right?
Food Supplies Over the Last 200
Years (Affected Malthus’ Prediction)

Malthus’ prediction

Technological advances:
Green revolution
New crops




New cropland


Transplants and genetic engineering
New lands opened by irrigation
Transportation and storage


Faster refrigerated modern methods
Improved storage protects against spoilage and pests
Overpopulation?

Cornucopians


Jean Antoine Condorcet (1743-1794)
Optimistic perspective (“horn of plenty”)

Argued that increases in productivity would keep
pace with the earth’s rising pop., so capita material
welfare would actually rise. Also, that with
education and prosperity, most people would limit
family sizes voluntarily.

His predictions were more accurate.
Migration

Push factor


Drive away people
Pull factor

Attract people
Migration of Peoples







Prehistoric
Europe to the Americas
African diaspora
Europe to Asia & Oceania
Europe to Africa
Indian
Overseas Chinese
European Migration
Largest migration flow worldwide (last 150 yrs)
Migration Today

2002 = 175 million worldwide living outside country of
birth

Characteristics




Many poor, uneducated, unskilled
Many also highly educated and skilled
Enterprising, working age looking for opportunity
All Americans are ultimately immigrants, except
those who are full-blooded Native Americans. See
caption (U.S. Senator), pg 209.
International Migration

Emigration


Brain Drain on “source countries”. Brain drain is
when the working age and usually educated people
leave their home country to go to another one.
Importance of remittances


Mexico = 3rd largest source of foreign exchange
Canada


18.4 percent population foreign born (more than U.S.)
94 percent of immigrants live in metro areas
Migration to the U.S.

U.S.




Largest migration flow worldwide (last 150 yrs) was
from Europe to the U.S. See Ellis Island, etc.
Also, see implications in pie chart (next slide).
10% U.S. population foreign born
Immigration quotas restrict immigration
Some implications:
 Hispanics as proportion of U.S. population has
increased, displacing blacks as minorities
(Census 2000).
Migration Today

Refugees

1951 Geneva convention – someone with a
well-founded fear of being persecuted in
his/her country of origin due to race, religion,
nationality, membership of a particular social
group or political opinion. See map, pg 201.

They have special rights

Asylum – signatories are obligated to grant
safety
New Controversies

Additional costs for public services?

Importing poverty?

Local costs of immigration


California, Arizona, etc
“Melting pot” or “cultural mosaic”?