Geography Revision: POPULATION 2

Geography Revision: POPULATION 2

1. Population Pyramids

   • The shape of a population pyramid can tell us a lot about an area's population.
   • It gives us information about birth and death rates as well as life expectancy.
   • A population pyramid tells us how many dependants there are. There are two groups of dependants; young dependants (aged 0-16) and elderly dependants (aged over 65).
   • Many LEDCs have a high number of young dependants, whilst many MEDCs have a growing number of elderly dependants.

2. Case Study: French Pro-Natalist Policy (Look Back in Book)

3. Case Study: China One Child Policy (Look Back in Book)

4. Dependency Ratio

5. Reasons for High Birth Rates

   • No Contraception
     • Poor families can't afford to buy contraception, which is very expensive in LEDCs
   • Families want boys
     • Families try to have lots of boys, because they are stronger and earn more money
   • Poor Healthcare
     • Families have lots of children to compensate for the poor healthcare
   • Family Support
     • Children can support elderly and very young relatives
   • Culture + Religion
     • People marry young so have lots of time to have children. Some religions forbid contraception

6. Long Term Effects of War

   • People, and particularly men, die in the conflict
     • Lower birth rates - less men
     • Social problems - no fathers
   • People move to refugee camps in neighbouring countries
     • Poor living conditions
     • Limited access to water
   • Houses are damaged or destroyed in the fighting / bombing
     • People are homeless
     • Expensive to rebuild
   • Road and Rail Networks are disrupted / destroyed during the conflict
     • Lack of transport
     • Lack of trading
   • Countries stop trading with them as they can not guarantee supply
     • Lack of food
     • Economic Decline

7. MEDCs

   • Red = Death Rate Black = Birth Rate

8. Dependants rely upon the economically active (17-64) for economic support

9. Young Dependants (0-16yrs)

   • Advantages
     • Creation of more teaching and nursing jobs
     • Population will have grown up with modern technology (computers, internet), so will have a good understanding
     • Potentially large, well-educated workforce in the future
   • Disadvantages
     • Child Care has to be provided so parents can go back to work
     • Government has to spend more money on healthcare and education: children need to learn, and are more susceptible to illlness

10. Elderly Dependants (+65yrs)

    • Advantages
      • Less money needs to be spent on education
      • Older people are less likely to commit crimes; so less money needs to be spent on Police
      • Older People don't tend to travel as much, e.g. driving to work, so pollution and congestion might reduce
      • Older People promote religion and enrich culture
    • Disadvantages
      • Shortage of workers (not enough economically active), less people to earn money to pay taxes to the govenment
        • People will have to retire when they are older
      • Retired people claim pensions off the government, which can be very expensive
        • That money could be spent elsewhere
      • Older people are more susceptible to illness, so more money need to be spent on health-care, E.g. hospitals and care homes
      • With less doctors and nurses, and more patients, hospitals will be under a lot of pressure
        • Quality of healthcare could drop, as a consequence

11. Definitions

    • Birth Rate
      • The average number of live births in a year for every 1000 people
    • Death Rate
      • The average number of deaths per year per thousand people
    • Fertility Rate
      • The average number of children women have in their lifetime
    • Growth Rate
      • The difference between the birth rate and the death rate
    • Infant Mortality Rate
      • The proportion of children dying before their first birthday
    • Life Expectancy
      • The average number of years people can expect to live

Images and files in the map