GEOLOGY 103 LAB ONE
YOUR NAME _______________________________
World Human Population - Geology 103 Lab One
Part 1: Are There Too Many People?
At this time in human history, there are more people living on Earth than ever before
and that number is increasing at an alarming rate. Our population has exploded over
the past 100 years. As you can see in Figure 1, the world’s population is predicted to
exceed nine billion by the year 2050. This will occur in your lifetime.
Figure 1. World’s population for the past 1000 years
Perhaps the single most important factor for environmental issues centers about the
growing human Population (P). Simply put, the more humans on the planet means
increased demands for resources and energy and, subsequently, increased pollution
and environmental degradation. Additionally, this puts more stress on natural
ecosystems that provide critical environmental services (e.g. clean air/water/resources)
that help make our existence possible. The effect of growing populations is further
exacerbated by the increased per capita Consumption (C) and hence the Impact (I) as
developing nations improve their living standards and lifestyles. Your lecture book
explains this phenomenon by the equation:
Impact = Population x Consumption
I=PxC
Thus, the environmental impact of humans is directly related to both Population and
Consumption.
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GEOLOGY 103 LAB ONE
YOUR NAME _______________________________
Current World Population
For our first exercise we will determine the current human population on Earth.
1. Go to the website: http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/
2. What is the world population today? __________________________________
3. How many people were born today? _________________________________
4. How many people died today? ______________________________________
5. Population growth today? __________________________________________
Population Age Structures
A Population Age Structure is a graph that displays the distribution of ages of
individuals of a population. For example, Figure 2 below is the Population Age
Structure for the entire human population on Earth for the year 2002.
Figure 2. Earth’s population in 2002
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GEOLOGY 103 LAB ONE
YOUR NAME _______________________________
Let’s look at Figure 2 in more detail. The graph is divided into a right side for females
and a left side for males. The horizontal-axis (x-coordinate) is the number of people in
millions. For females, the number increases from zero as you proceed to the right. For
males, the number increases from zero as you proceed to the left. The vertical-axis (ycoordinate) is the ages of the individuals in the population. It starts from zero and
increases in increments, called brackets, of 5 years as you go up. (0-4, 5-9, 10-14,
etc.). Inside each increment is the total number of people. Consider females in the age
bracket “5-9.” There are 290.3 million females in this age bracket. Next consider males
in the age bracket “70-74.” There 56.0 million males.
Population Demographics and Population Age Structures
Another way to view societal populations is examine demographics. Demographics
describe such topics as such as birth rates, death rates, average fertility and
immigration. All of these factors can significantly affect the Population Age Structure of
a population. For example, the Age Structure is very useful tool for predicting the
environmental impacts as well as other important social or economic considerations.
Also, you can create Population Age Structures that predicted future population.
Figure 3. Earth’s Predicted Population in the year 2050.
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GEOLOGY 103 LAB ONE
YOUR NAME _______________________________
Figure 3 shows an Age Population Structure that predicts the population for the Earth in
the year 2050. For our second exercise we will compare Figures 2 and 3.
6. There were 6.3 billion people in 2002 and there will be a predicted 9.4 billion in 2050.
What could be some reasons to explain the differences in the shapes of the Population
Age Structures for 2002 (Figure 2) versus for 2050 (Figure 3)?
7. How can we insure that the Earth’s finite, limited resources can serve our growing
population? For example, consider energy, food and mineral resources.
Add up the number of females of child bearing age (15-44) for both 2002 and 2050.
8. 2002 child bearing females: ___________________
9. 2050 child bearing females: ___________________
10. There will be 3 billion more people in 2050 than in 2002. Did the number of
females of bearing age increase proportionally? Please offer possible explanations.
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GEOLOGY 103 LAB ONE
YOUR NAME _______________________________
Part 2: Demographics for a Developed Nation
Here are the Population Age Structures for the country of Switzerland for the years
2000, 2016 and 2050. Switzerland, which is located in Europe, is a developed nation.
It is a democracy with a stable economy, a modern industrial base and is famous for its
banking enterprises.
Here are some demographics for the year 2016.
Current population:
Population growth rate:
Birth Rate:
Death Rate:
Life Expectancy at Birth:
Infant Mortality Rate:
Under 5 mortality rate:
Total Fertility Rate:
Net Number of Migrants:
8,122,000
0.7% per year
86,000 per year
67,000 per year
83
4 per 1,000 births
4 per 1,000 births
1.4 births per 1,000 women
38,000
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GEOLOGY 103 LAB ONE
YOUR NAME _______________________________
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GEOLOGY 103 LAB ONE
YOUR NAME _______________________________
Analysis of the Population Age Structures for a Developed Nation
1. What can you tell about Switzerland’s growth rate by looking at the three population
pyramids?
2. If the birth and death rates remain the same as they are today, what will your
pyramid look like in 25 years?
3. What are some factors that could change the shape of your pyramid?
4. Determine the percentage of the population that has not yet reached childbearing
age (under 15). What does this number suggest about the prospects for future growth?
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GEOLOGY 103 LAB ONE
YOUR NAME _______________________________
5. If Switzerland’s population growth rate were to stop increasing, what are some
socio-economic problems that might occur?
6. Does Switzerland have a baby boom (bulge somewhere in the middle of it)? What
could account for the baby boom in this nation?
7. If you were a business owner and you wanted to capitalize on your information
about the population age distribution, what would you sell and why?
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GEOLOGY 103 LAB ONE
YOUR NAME _______________________________
Part 3: Demographics for a Developing Nation
Here are the Population Age Structures for the country of Botswana for the years 2000,
2016 and 2050. Botswana, which is located in Africa, is a developing Nation. It is a
former British colony and is now a democracy. Botswana has transformed itself from
one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country. By one estimate,
it has the fourth highest gross national income at purchasing power parity in Africa.
Here are some demographics for the year 2016.
Current population:
Population growth rate:
Birth Rate:
Death Rate:
Life Expectancy at Birth:
Infant Mortality Rate:
Under 5 mortality rate:
Total Fertility Rate:
Net Number of Migrants:
2,209,000
1.2% per year
46,000 per year
29,000 per year
55
9 per 1,000 births
12 per 1,000 births
2.3 births per 1,000 women
10,000
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GEOLOGY 103 LAB ONE
YOUR NAME _______________________________
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GEOLOGY 103 LAB ONE
YOUR NAME _______________________________
Analysis of the Population Age Structures for a Developing Nation
1. The broad base, narrow-top, and pyramid-shaped Population Age Structure for
Botswana is very typical for developing nations. Describe the differences in the
populations of Switzerland and Botswana.
2. What can you tell about Botswana‘s growth rate by looking at the three Population
Age Structures?
3. If the birth and death rates remain the same as they are today, what will your
Population Age Structure look like in 25 years?
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GEOLOGY 103 LAB ONE
YOUR NAME _______________________________
4. What are some factors that could change the shape of your Population Age
Structure?
5. Determine the percentage of the population that has not yet reached childbearing
age (under 15). What does this number suggest about the prospects for future growth?
6. If Botswana’s population growth rate were to stop increasing, what are some socioeconomic problems that might occur?
7. Does Botswana have a baby boom (bulge somewhere in the middle of it)?
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GEOLOGY 103 LAB ONE
YOUR NAME _______________________________
8. If you were a business owner and you wanted to capitalize on your information
about the population age distribution, what would you sell and why?
If you worked with a partner or as part of a group, please list their names:
Source material:
http://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/informationGateway.php
Created January 2016
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