Population

Population

1. Population growth and structure

   • world's population is increasing rapidly
   • Birth rate - number of babies born per thousand per year
   • Death rate - number of deaths per thousand per year
   • natural increase - death rate is lower than birth rate
   • population growth is linked to how developed a country is
   • LEDCs are in the earlier stages of the DTM - birth rates are high and death rates are starting to fall
   • MEDCs are in the later stages of the DTM - birth rates and death rates are low.
   • population depends on things such as healthcare and education

2. Problems of overpopulation

   • SOCIAL
     • services such as healthcare and education can't cope, so not everyone can access them
     • Children have to work to support their families, they miss out on education
     • not enough houses for everyone; people are forced to live in overcrowded settlements, this leads to health problems.
   • ECONOMIC
     • not enough jobs - unemployment increases
     • increased poverty
   • ENVIRONMENTAL
     • increased waste and pollution
     • more natural resources are used up; e.g. more trees are chopped down

3. Ageing populations

   • SOCIAL IMPACTS
     • health services are stretched
     • more people are need to care for elderly
     • fewer children
     • lower pensions
   • ECONOMIC IMPACTS
     • working population pay more taxes to pay for the elderly's services such as healthcare and pensions
     • less money being spent to grow the economy
   • CASE STUDY - UK
     • longer life expectancies because of advances in medicine
     • higher living standards
     • since 1970
     • baby boom - caused a pensioner boom
     • working population isn't large enough to support the dependent elderly poulation
     • health services are under pressure

4. Migration

   • push and pull factors

5. Managing population growth; CASE STUDY- China and the strict one child policy

   • introduced in 1979
   • couples with only one child were given benefits
     • longer maternity leave
     • better housing
     • free education
   • couples with more than one child were fined
   • pop. - 1.3billion
   • couples were allowed a second child if they applied to the rules
     • first child is girl
     • first child is disabled
     • if one parent is disabled
     • if both parents are only
   • helps towards sustainable development - fewer resources have been used
   • EFFECTIVENESS
     • prevented over 400 million births
     • fertility rate dropped from 5.7 to 1.8
     • families have become more wealthy

6. Managing under population; CASE STUDY - Singapore and the three or more method

   • couples with three or more children were given benefits
     • $1000 Singapore dollars
     • prioritised places at the best schools
     • no tax for the third child
     • housing
     • extended sick leave
     • up to 4 years maternity leave