Population Dynamics

Population Dynamics

1. Causes of population growth

   • Care of elderly: Older Children can support the family by looking after the elderly
   • Life expectancy: People are now living longer so the population would increase.
   • Economic: Children can have an income and help their families budget
   • Infant mortality rate: Parents want to make sure that their children live long enough to become adults
   • Industrial Revolution had taken place

2. Population Growth Rates

   • Africa has the fastest population growth because they have no birth control, a life expectancy of approx. 55 years, and their infant mortality rate is very high
   • Europe has the slowest population growth because they do have birth control, people choose to have small families or no children, and the life expectancy is approx. 80 years

3. Reasons for a variable birth rate

   • Children can work on the farm or be sent out begging to earn money
   • Little use of birth control due to access or religious reasons, e.g.; Catholicism doesn't believe in contraception of abortion
   • Children cost their parents a lot of money (NIC and LEDC)
   • Many methods of birth control are used (MEDC)
   • It's important for some cultures some cultures to carry on the family name, so will continue having children until a son is born
   • Better knowledge of healthcare and diseases

4. Reasons for a variable death rate

   • Governments in some Catholic or Muslim countries will not always provide family planning
   • Pensions for the old
   • Poor medical facilities
   • Diseases
   • High infant mortality due to poor access to healthcare

5. Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

   • Stage 1
     • Total population is low but balanced due to high birth rates and high death rates. An example is the Amazon Basin tribes in Brazil. The birth rate changes in this stage because before the industrial revolution, societies were relying on agriculture and there were larger families. The death rate changes in this stage because the health rate decreases and the life expectancy
   • Stage 2
     • Total population rises as death rate falls due to health care improvements. The birth rate is the same. An example is Ethiopia. The birth rate changes in this stage because societies are relying on agriculture or labor. The death rate changes because there has been a improvement in health care and sanitation.
   • Stage 3
     • Total population is rising rapidly. The birth rate and death rate narrows due to contraception available. An country in this stage in India. The birth rate will change in this stage because there is contraception available and there is improved economic decisions. The death rate will change because contraception is available and there is an increase in health care access.
   • Stage 4
     • Total population is high but balanced by low death rate and low birth rate. Birth control is widely available. A country in this stage is the UK. The birth rate changes I this stage because people want smaller families, the economies are stronger, they have high levels of education and they have better health care. The death rate changes in this stage because they have reliable health care and they have educated citizens (employment)
   • Stage 5
     • Total population is high but will fall due to ageing population. An example is Russia. The birth rate changes because of contraception and it is expensive to have a child. The death rate changes because they have ageing citizens and less children are being born.

6. Natural Change = Birth rate - Death rate

   • In MEDCs the birth rate would be smaller than the death rate as they would experience diseases, such as cholera and famine. The scenarios such as war would change the birth rate. The Epidemic disease would destroy the country. LEDCs would suffer from diseases as well.

7. Causes of Over Population

   • Lack of food to feed the population
   • Better health care
   • High birth rate
   • Baby booms
   • LEDCs don't have access to contraception
   • People want larger families
   • Good medical care
   • Cheap labour
   • Population is growing faster than how they can produce food

8. Causes of Under Population

   • Low fertility rate
   • Some women choose to not have children
   • Conflicts
   • Poor health care
   • Diseases
   • Women are using contraception and birth control

9. Effects of Over Population

   • Traffic congestion which can lead to higher levels of atmospheric pollution.
   • Lack of work - high unemployment rates
   • Inadequate food/water supplies - leads to starvation
   • Demand for land, may lead to deforestation and many habitats and vegetation could be lost
   • People do not have enough resources
   • Poor access to education or over-crowded schools
   • Poor access to health care or a large percentage of people per doctor

10. Effects of Under Population

    • Insufficient work force as there are not enough people to work. This leads to less tax being paid to the government, so tax rates may have to increase
    • Resources can't be fully exploited
    • Shortage workers to produce foods and goods. Many items have to be imported which increases their cost.
    • It becomes difficult to defend the country
    • High immigrant population
    • Low GNP which leads to a weak economy
    • Closure of important services, such as schools and hospitals, due to the lack of funding and investment

11. Over population in Tanzania

    • Population - 48.3 million
    • Population growth - 2.8% per year
    • Net migration: -0.6 per 1000 inhabitants
    • Social Impacts
      • Inadequate food/water supply which leads to starvation and the GDP is low
      • Poor access to education which leads to overcrowded schools
    • Economic Impacts
      • High unemployment rates - lack of work
      • GDP decreases - government pays for resources
    • Environmental impacts
      • People demand for land, which leads to deforestation and vegetation and habitats may be lost
      • More waste products lead to pollution

12. Under population in Canada

    • Population - 34.4 million
    • Population growth - 0.8% per year
    • Net migration - 5.7% per 1000 inhabitants
    • Social impacts
      • Small work force - lots of migrants come in (xenophobia)
      • Lack of innovation - not enough people to take part
      • Good health care - high access to contraception
    • Economic Impacts
      • Resources cannot be fully exploited
      • Not a skilled workforce creating new ideas
      • Government won't have enough money to support everyones needs (GDP decreases)
    • Environmental Impacts
      • Tourism can drop, lowering the GDP
      • Resources cannot be fully exploited