Population dynamics
Aims:
• to illustrate that global population is uneven,
• to show that population change depends upon birth rate, death rate and migration,
• to show that population change presents opportunities and problems.
•
Candidates should be able to:
Describe and suggest reasons for the rapid increase in the world’s population in recent times, ‘the population explosion’.
Define the main components influencing population growth – birth rate, death rate and migration.
Describe the relationship between population growth and resources and explain why problems may result in some areas such as over-population
and under-population.
Identify and suggest reasons for contrasting patterns of population growth in different world areas as influenced by differences in birth rate, death
rate and migration. Factors affecting these influences should be considered such as differences in social, economic and other factors, e.g.
government policies and their impact upon birth rates, differences in health care, social and other factors influencing death rates, especially the
impact of HIV/AIDS. These factors should be illustrated by reference to selected examples.
Describe the consequences (benefits and problems) of different patterns of population growth. Consideration should be given to variations in the
size and nature of dependent populations and standards of living.
Identify and suggest reasons for different types of population structure as shown by age/sex pyramids. Candidates should be able to describe
population pyramids and relate them to the different stages of the Demographic Transition Model.
Identify the major influences on population density and population distribution. Reference should be made to physical, economic and human
factors.
Describe and suggest reasons for population migrations. Reference should be made to internal movements such as rural-urban migration as well
as to international migrations both voluntary and involuntary.
Throughout their study of population, candidates should make use of statistics, graphs, diagrams and maps. Such exercises could bond the
preparation of candidates for Paper 1 and the other components of the IGCSE Geography examination.
Key Questions
Suggested activities
What has caused
the rapid increase
in the world’s
population in recent
times?
Complete the sheet to show pop growth.
Go through the factors which have
influenced pop growth, include birth rate,
death rate and migration
Acts P4
IT EX ON POPULATION CHANGE
Resources
Text
4.5
DVD
Clickview/human/10
billion Radio broadcast,
41 mins, so pick out
relevant points. Could
listen to for IST
Misc
Und Geog 8.3
GinP 15A, 15B
Worksheet, Natural change,
calculating natural change
AQA P172, Acts
Bowen P 135, 197
How does the DTM
help our
understanding of
the population
changes?
Discuss DTM, work through examples of
each stage, include Stage 5.
Make notes on different characteristics of
different stages
5
G&N 6
Key Geog 6.4
New WW Pop growth
GeoActive 276
Bowen P 137, Act 1,2
AQA P 177 Acts
Geog.GCSE P 153
6
Google Earth
IT EX ON DTM
Sample qu Mark Scheme
How does rapid
population growth
affect a country?
How can a
population decline
impact on a
country?
What are the
consequences of
different patterns of
population growth?
What is the
difference between
overpopulation and
underpopulation?
Case Study Niger
Go through geog. Background and
compare with UK
Go through tasks, highlight important
points
Task 5, P7
Case Study: Russia
Stage 5, why? Go through details
CONTRAST NIGER, UK, RUSSIA ON
A3 SHEET
Look at the benefits and problems of a
young population.
Do same for ageing population
Discuss differences using case studies of
Indonesia, Nigeria and Australia
Sample qu Mark Scheme
G&N 14
10 –
15
G&N 14
GeoAct 230
GeoAct 269
G&N 16
How can
population
structures be
illustrated?
Go through how to draw and interpret pop
pyramid
Show pyramids for Indonesia, Nigeria and
Australia.
16
G&N 10-13 Act P13
Bowen P 137 Act 3 4
AQA 178 Acts P180
GeoAct 287
GinP 15c
Skills paper Jun 09 qu 2
Pop pyramid worksheet
Annotating pop pyramid
G&N 9
GeoAct 328
GeoAct 429
IT EX ON POP STRUCTURE
How has HIV/Aids
affected population
growth?
What is China’s
One Child Policy
and has it worked?
How has Singapore
coped with an
increasing
population?
What are the
benefits and
problems of a large
young population?
What are the
benefits and
problems of an
ageing population?
End of unit test
Go through the distribution of HIV and
the impact on the population as a whole
Go through Tasks, P60
IT EX ON AIDS
Discus cause of introduction and how
implemented.
Success? Using what criteria?
Worksheet
IT EX ON CONTROLLING
POPULATION
Sample qu Mark scheme
Case Study Singapore
Discuss issues and relate to pyramid
60
17-19
20-21
Clickview/Human/China
Pop and Tec Baby
Boom
AQA 181-183, Acts
Bowen 141 Acts
GeoFact 55
G&N
GinP15e
Geoact 412
Singapore
G&N 14
Bowen 138
IT EX ON YOUTHFUL POPULATION
Discuss issues and relate to pyramid
Use any 2 past papers,
G&N 14
AQA 186, Acts
Bowen 142
GeoAct 269
What causes
countries to have
different population
densities?
What are the causes
of migration?
Discuss concept of pop density
Case study: low density, Namibia
High density, Japan
Sample qu Mark Scheme
Go through push and pull factors
How has ruralurban migration
affected a country?
Discuss causes and use examples
How have the
changes to the EU
affected migration
patterns?
Discuss changes before 2004 and after
Go through benefits and disadv for
countries
worksheet
sample question Mark scheme
23
28
29
G&N 19
Double spread NWW 4 and 5
plus qu 14
GinP 15d
G&N 22
AQA 190Acts
Bowen 144 Acts
GinP16b
Geoact 409
G&N 26
Skills Paper 2010 21 qu 6
Skills Paper 2010 23 qu 6
GinP16a
AQA191
Bowen 146
GeoAct 375