5.6 - Patterns of Population Change
Enroll to start learning
You’ve not yet enrolled in this course. Please enroll for free to listen to audio lessons, classroom podcasts and take practice test.
Interactive Audio Lesson
Listen to a student-teacher conversation explaining the topic in a relatable way.
Population Distribution
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Today, we're learning about population distribution. Who can tell me what that means?
Is it how people are spread out across different areas?
Exactly! More than 90% of the world’s population lives on about 30% of the land. Why do you think that happens? Can anyone name a crowded area?
Asia and Europe are quite crowded!
Great observation! These geographic factors, like fertile land and mild climate, attract more people. Think of the acronym 'CLIMATE' which stands for 'Climate, Landforms, Infrastructure, Minerals, Agriculture, Technology, and Employment'—these are important factors that affect distribution.
What about sparsely populated areas?
Sparsely populated areas like deserts or high mountains often lack the resources that attract people. Can anyone think of a specific example?
Like the Sahara Desert?
Exactly! Let's summarize: population distribution is influenced by not just geography but also climate and available resources.
Population Density
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Next, let’s talk about population density. Can someone explain what that is?
It's the number of people living in a certain area, right?
Correct! The average global density is 51 per square kilometer. But certain regions, like South Central Asia, are much denser. Why do you think that is?
Because they have more people living there?
Yes, and it typically relates to factors like job opportunities and resources. Here’s a tip: think of 'DENSE' as 'Diverse Employment Needs and Social Exposure' to remember why some areas are more densely populated than others!
Does population density change over time?
Definitely! Population densities can shift based on development and migration trends.
Population Change Factors
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Now, let's dive into the factors of population change. What are they?
Births and deaths, right?
That's right! Birth rates minus death rates equal the natural growth rate. Why has our world population increased so dramatically?
Because medicine and farming have improved, so fewer people die young.
Excellent point! We also have migration to consider. What’s the difference between immigration and emigration?
Immigration is when people come in, and emigration is when people leave.
Exactly! Let’s remember: 'BRM' for Births, Rates, and Migration—it’s essential for understanding population dynamics.
Population Composition
🔒 Unlock Audio Lesson
Sign up and enroll to listen to this audio lesson
Let's shift gears to population composition. What do we mean by that?
How the population is made up of different ages and genders?
Exactly! The population pyramid can help us visualize this. What does it indicate?
It shows how many people are in certain age groups.
Correct! We can learn about potential workforce and dependent populations this way. Use the acronym 'AGE'—Aging, Growth, and Economics—to remember the importance of understanding population composition.
What do pyramids look like in heavily populated versus less populated areas?
Great question! More populated areas will have broader bases indicating higher birth rates, while less populated might be narrower with higher death rates. This concept helps us strategize resources effectively.
Introduction & Overview
Read summaries of the section's main ideas at different levels of detail.
Quick Overview
Standard
Population change is influenced by factors like geographical location, climate, and social conditions. The section focuses on the uneven distribution of populations, population density, and rates of growth across countries, alongside the concepts of birth rate, death rate, and migration.
Detailed
Detailed Summary
This section on Patterns of Population Change explores how populations are distributed across the globe and the dynamics responsible for changes in population size. It begins by explaining that human resources are unevenly distributed globally due to various factors, primarily geographical, social, and economic. Population distribution is heavily concentrated in certain regions, such as South and Southeast Asia, while areas such as deserts and high mountains are sparsely populated.
The density of population varies significantly, with the world average being 51 individuals per square kilometer; however, regions like South Central Asia exhibit much higher densities. Factors affecting population distribution include:
- Topography: Favorable flat plains attract settlements more than mountains.
- Climate: Extreme climates deter habitation.
- Soil and Water: Fertile land and availability of fresh water promote higher populations.
- Mineral Resources: Areas rich in minerals attract larger populations due to job availability.
Moreover, the section discusses population change, which is primarily influenced by birth and death rates, leading to what is often termed 'population explosion,' particularly evident in the last centuries. Birth rates and death rates are critical to understanding population trends, and the balance between these rates results in natural growth. Additional population changes occur due to migration, where people move for better opportunities.
Finally, the composition of the population is highlighted using population pyramids, which visually represent demographic structures across age and gender, providing insights into social needs such as education and healthcare.
Youtube Videos
Audio Book
Dive deep into the subject with an immersive audiobook experience.
Global Population Trends
Chapter 1 of 3
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
Rates of population growth vary across the world. Although the world’s total population is rising rapidly, not all countries are experiencing this growth.
Detailed Explanation
Population growth isn't uniform across the globe. Some nations are seeing significant increases in their population sizes, while others are not experiencing the same levels of growth. This difference can be attributed to various social, economic, and health factors.
Examples & Analogies
Think of a garden where some plants grow quickly while others struggle to thrive. Just like those plants, some countries have favorable circumstances (like good healthcare) that help their populations grow faster.
High Growth Rates and Improving Healthcare
Chapter 2 of 3
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
Some countries like Kenya have high population growth rates. They had both high birth rates and death rates. Now, with improving health care, death rates have fallen, but birth rates still remain high leading to high growth rates.
Detailed Explanation
In Kenya, a combination of high birth rates and previously high death rates led to rapid population growth when health care improved. Fewer people are dying from diseases, but many babies are still being born, resulting in a large population overall.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine a big bucket filled with water; if you keep adding water (births) but also have holes at the bottom (deaths), the bucket fills up quickly. If you fix the holes (improving healthcare), the water level rises even faster.
Population Growth in Developed Countries
Chapter 3 of 3
🔒 Unlock Audio Chapter
Sign up and enroll to access the full audio experience
Chapter Content
In other countries like the United Kingdom, population growth is slowing because of both low death and low birth rates.
Detailed Explanation
In countries such as the United Kingdom, the population growth is not as rapid because both the birth rates and death rates are low. This balance means that new births are not enough to significantly increase the total population.
Examples & Analogies
Think of a balanced scale. If both sides are equally weighted (like low birth and death rates), the scale remains stable rather than tipping one way or the other, indicating no rapid change in population.
Key Concepts
-
Population Distribution: The manner in which people are spread across different regions.
-
Population Density: Measurement of how many people live in a given area.
-
Birth and Death Rates: Key indicators of population change.
-
Migration: The movement of people that affects population size.
-
Population Composition: The structure of a population regarding demographics.
Examples & Applications
The population of India is a good example of a diverse composition due to its vast number of different cultures and religions.
Population pyramids of aging countries like Japan show narrower bases, indicating lower birth rates and longer life expectancies.
Memory Aids
Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts
Rhymes
In a desert's sway, people stray, where water's found, they stay around.
Stories
Once, a village near fertile plains flourished, but high mountains nearby remained empty as the farmers thrived where resources were rich.
Memory Tools
Remember 'D-T-C-W' (Densities Topographic Conditions Water) for the factors affecting distribution.
Acronyms
Use 'BRD' to remember Birth Rate, Death Rate as key elements of population change.
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Population Distribution
The way in which people are spread across the earth's surface.
- Population Density
The number of people living per unit area, typically measured in persons per square kilometer.
- Birth Rate
The number of live births per 1,000 people in a year.
- Death Rate
The number of deaths per 1,000 people in a year.
- Immigration
The act of moving into a new country or area.
- Emigration
The act of leaving one's country or area to live in another.
- Population Composition
The structure of a population in terms of age, gender, and other characteristics.
- Population Pyramid
A graphical representation of the age and sex composition of a population.
Reference links
Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.