Population Revision Sheet: The Syllabus
Key Idea from syllabus
Over time the global population
increases and the population
structures of different countries
change.
Content
The exponential rate of world population growth.
Reading and interpreting graphs showing population change.
Countries pass through different stages of population growth as
shown in the five stages of the Demographic Transition Model (birth
rate, death rate and natural population changes).
Changing population structure (population pyramids)
The impact of increasing urbanisation (people moving from the
countryside to the city), agricultural change (mechanisation of
farming, increased food production), education and the
emancipation of women on the rate of population growth.
A range of strategies has been tried
by countries experiencing rapid
population growth.
The social (people and relationships), economic (money) and
political (government decisions) impacts of population change and
the need to achieve sustainable development (To control
population).
Revised
The effectiveness of population policies adopted in different countries
since the 1990s to include birth control programmes and other
strategies adopted. A case study of China’s policy since the 1990s
and one of a non-birth control population policy (Kerala, India).
An ageing population impacts on the
future development of a country.
The relationship between the population structure (the shape of the
pyramid) and population decline and the impact on the future
economic development. The problems associated with an ageing
dependent population.
Government strategies to cope with an ageing population and the
incentives suggested for encouraging an increase in a country’s birth
rate.
A case study of the problems and strategies in France.
Population movements impact on
both the source regions of migrants
and the receiving countries.
Migration is a result of decision-making push and pull factors which
can have positive and negative impacts.
Economic movements within the EU, refugee movements to the EU
and the impacts of such movements (Poland to UK case study).
KEY WORD TABLES FOR POPULATION
Key words
Zero growth
Natural decrease
Exponential growth
Birth rate (BR)
Death rate (DR)
Natural change
Natural Increase (NI)
Life expectancy
Key words
Newly industrialising countries
Asian Tiger
Demographic Transition Model (DTM)
Replacement rate
Urbanisation
Rural-Urban migration
Age structure
Gender structure
Infant mortality
Child mortality
Definitions
A population in balance. Birth rate is equal to death rate, so there is no growth or
decrease.
The death rate is greater than the birth rate.
A pattern where the growth rate constantly increases- often shown as a J curve.
The number of babies born per 1000 people per year.
The number of deaths per 1000 people per year.
The difference between birth rate and death rate.
The birth rate is greater than the death rate.
The number of years a person is expected to live, usually taken from birth.
Definitions
These include the Asian Tigers as well as other emerging industrial nations such as
Malaysia, the Philippines and China.
One of the four east Asian countries of Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan,
where manufacturing industry grew rapidly from the 1960s to the 1990s.
A theoretical model that shows changes in population information (birth and death
rates and population growth) over a period of time.
A birth rate high enough for a generation to be the same size as the one before it.
The growth in the proportion of people living in towns and cities.
Moving from a rural area to settle in a town or city.
The proportion of each age group in a population.
The balance between males and females in a population.
The number of babies that die under a year of age, per 1000 live births.
The number of children die under five years of age per 1000 live births.
Key words
Transmigration
Industrialisation
European Union
Dependency Ratio
Key words
Push-Pull factors
Migration
Host country
Country of origin
Immigrant
Emigrant
Asylum seekers
Economic migrant
Definitions
A population policy that aims to move people from densely populated areas to sparsely
populated areas and provide them with opportunities to improve their quality of life.
A process usually associated with the development of an economy where an increasing
proportion of people work in industry.
A group of countries across Europe that work towards a single market (they want to
trade as if they were one country without any barriers).
The balance between people who are independent (work and pay tax) and those who
depend on them.
Definitions
Push factors are the negative aspects of a place that encourage people to move
away. Pull factors are the attractions and opportunities of a place that encourage
people to move there.
The movement of people from one permanent home to another, with the intension of
staying at least 1 year. This may be within a country (national migration) or between
countries (immigration or international migration).
The country where a migrant settles.
The country from which a migration starts.
Someone entering a country with the intension of living there.
Someone leaving their country of residence to move to another country.
People who believe that their lives are at risk if they remain in their home country and
who seek to settle in a another safer country.
Someone trying to improve their standard of living, who moves voluntarily.
POPULATION CASE STUDIES
China
Context and link to syllabus
Content
The social (people and
relationships), economic
(money) and political
(government decisions)
impacts of population
change and the need to
achieve sustainable
development (To control
population).
-
The effectiveness of
population policies adopted
in different countries since the
1990s to include birth control
programmes and other
strategies adopted. A case
study of China’s policy since
the 1990s.
Government realised famine would happen if they didn’t act on stopping
population growth.
- Policy considered too strict and cruel breaching human rights.
- Couple must not marry until late 20’s, only have one successful
pregnancy, be sterilised afterwards or have abortions, 5-10% pay rise,
priority housing pension and benefits.
- If rules broken: 10% pay cut, massive fine, free education and heath care
taken away.
- Granny police: Older women keeping everyone in line.
- Minority groups were exempt from scheme or they could die out.
- Rural areas second pregnancy allowed if first a girl.
PROBLEMS
- Forced abortions
- Great pressure on women.
- Local officials had power over people private lives.
- Sons preferred over daughters lead to gender imbalance.
- Little emperors.
POSITIVES
- Policy worked
- Population growth slowed down meaning a better standard of living for
all.
CHANGES SINCE 1990
- Young couples who are both only children are allowed 2 children.
- Wealthier people are choosing to pay the fines and have more children
anyway.
- Couples no longer need permission to have first child.
-
Illegal to have abortions due sex selection.
Following the earthquake in Sichuan Province the policy here was
relaxed.
CONSEQUENCES
-Women can concentrate on having careers.
-The policy will not change again until 2015. Still much poverty in China.
- Serious gender imbalance many more men than girls.
Example exam questions:
Kerala
France.
A non-birth control population
policy (Kerala, India).
-involved social changes as well as contraception.
-improving education standards and treating girls equally with boys.
-Providing adult literacy classes in towns.
-Educating people to understand the benefits of smaller families.
-Reducing infant mortality so people do not need to have as many children.
Improving child health through vaccination.
-free contraception and advice.
Encouraging higher age of marriage.
Allowing maternity leave for first 2 babies only.
Extra retirement benefits for those with smaller families.
-Land reform, only allowed certain amount of land to feed family and so larger
families at a disadvantage.
Government strategies to cope
with an ageing population and
the incentives suggested for
encouraging an increase in a
country’s birth rate.
STRATEGIES: Pro-natal policy (encouraging women to have more children).
-Range of incentives to have children.
- 3 year paid parental leave, which can be used by mothers and fathers.
-Full time schooling starts at the age of 3, fully paid for.
- Day care for children younger than 3 is subsidised.
- The more children a women has, the earlier she will be able to retire on a full
pension.
PROBLEMS
A case study of the problems
and strategies.
-Unfavourable dependency ratio (not enough working tax payers to look after
elderly).
This ration could mean a decrease in the quality of life for everyone.
-Very low birth rates, population decline.
-Population unsustainable.
Poland to UK
Economic movements within
the EU, refugee movements
to the EU and the impacts of
such movements (Poland to
UK case study).
Ensure you understand both PUSH and PULL factors. Exam questions often ask
about the advantages and disadvantages of migration for EITHER the country of
origin or the destination country. Ensure you read the question carefully to
establish which.
-Searching for work and better lifestyle.
To use health services.
-Tend to do lower skilled jobs.
-Skilled labour also attracted.
Many people see immigrants as a problem rather than an opportunity. Ensure
you can explain both sides of the argument.
Indonesia
The effectiveness of population
policies adopted in different
countries since the 1990s to
include other strategies
adopted. Alternative to birth
control.
Page 184-185 NEW geography text book. Photocopies of these pages are
available. Answer question 2a-e for revision.
TRANSMIGRATION CASE STUDY.