Geography - population

Geography - population

1. Population pyramids

   • Show the percentage spread of people across different age groups and it helps us see whether a country is more or less developed.
   • Developing countries
     • A population pyramid of a developing country is normally concave (gets wider at the bottom showing there is a high birth rate).
       • Reasons
         • Higher income for the family as the children can work e.g. help families with working on the land and selling things etc
           • Also you wsill not get a state pension after you can no longer work so they need family to support the elderly.
         • High infant mortality rate - more chance of some children surviving.
         • Lack of education
           • There is no emancipation od women where women stay at work for longer and have children (generally fewer).
           • Lack of contraception so couples have more children
     • There is a high infant mortality rate due to diseases and poor healthcare and lack of education so the pyramid gets narrower.
     • People do not live as long because of a poor healthcare system and lots of disease and malnutrition because people don't have enough money to live especially after stopping work
   • Developed countries
     • They are generally wider in the middle because there is less infant mortality.
       • Better healthcare meaning diseases are not spread and can be treated more widely.
       • Better, healthier diet.
     • They are narrower at the bottom showing there is a lower birth rate.
       • Less infant mortality.
       • Education
         • Emancipation of women - less children later.
         • Contraception
     • They are wider at the top because people are living longer.
       • Better, healthier diet.
       • Better healthcare meaning diseases are not spread and can be treated more widely.
   • Ageing population
     • Narrow base, wider middle and wide top.

2. Demographic transition model

   • Stage 1
     • Wide base, narrow middle and top.
   • Stage 2
     • Wide base, wider middle and top.
   • Stage 3
     • Wide base, middle and much wider top.
   • Stage 4
     • Narrower base, wide middle and top.
   • Stage 5
     • Nearly straight.

3. China's one child policy

   • Benefits
     • Parents with one child are entitled to interest free loans, longer maternity leave and cash bonuses
     • There are more young educated women in China than ever (50% of all undergraduates and graduates are female)
       • stronger economy and increased technology
     • 400 million births were prevented that the government would not have been able to sustain
       • Reduced pressure on food and energy resources
   • Problems
     • The number of babies being born per women, on average is now 1.4 instead of the 2.1 needed for population stabilisation
     • Number of abortions of females and female infanticide has increased with the arrival of ultrasound technology
       • More male babies than female because they carry on the family name and are viewed as an investment
         • Lack of brides which has led to more human trafficking where brides are brought illegally from Vietnam and Cambodia
     • Children have a lot of pressure on them to succeed which has led to high suicide rates as they do not want to disappoint their family
     • Parents with extra children are fined and if they are unable to pay their homes are conviscated
       • Many families do not register the second child and therefore have no legal identities
     • Excessive attention and gifts are lavished on the only child resulting in rising obesity and a generation of 'spoiled brats'
     • There is an increasing pressure on a shrinking working population as well as on government pensions and healthcare
     • Extra children are being taken and placed for adoption