Population Revision Notes

Factors that affect population growth

There has been a population explosion in the 20th century and here are some of the
factors that have influenced it:
(1) Health:
 In 2002 80 % of the world’s population had access to safe drinking water.
 Unsafe drinking water carries diseases such as typhoid and cholera.
 Access to clean drinking water has caused death rates to drop.

(2) Food Supply:

 Since the agricultural revolution (18th and 19th century) there has been an
increased in food supply due to improved farming techniques.
 The earth is now able to support more people e.g. Brazil 1900 17 million,
2000 170 million.

(3) Education:
 Education of women can lead to a reduction in family size and improved basic
health.
 Costa Rica is encouraging women’s education.
 This allows the birth rate to remain low.

(4) War:
 War causes a huge increase in the death rate of a country e.g. Rwanda.
 It can also lead to the death of family’s due to disrupted food supply and
healthcare.
 In the Third World since 1945, 150 wars have been fought killing 22 million
people.

(5) Improved Technology:

 The agricultural revolution lead to improved machinery e.g. combine
harvester, this has allowed for increased crop yields.
 With the introduction of fertilisers and irrigation schemes the farming of
infertile land.

(6) Status of Women:

 In First World countries women have a far higher status, this is mainly due to
female education and the feminist movement.
 Women often have careers and plan their own families (Ireland less than 2
children).
 In Third World countries women tend to perform traditional roles and often
have bigger families, as they do not have access to family planning (Brazil 2.2
children).

Demographic Transition Model/Population Cycle

This model allows us to see the population changes of a country over time:
Stage 1(High Fluctuating): Population growth is low as birth rates and death rates
are high due to famine and disease.
Stage 2 (Early Expanding): Death rate has dropped due to increased spending on
healthcare as the economy improves. The birth rate is still high.
Stage 3 (Late Expanding): Parents plan the size of their families therefore birth rate
drops. There is social and economic development in the country.
Stage 4 (Low Fluctuating): There is little population growth as the birth and death
rates are low.
Stage 5 (Senile): Death rate is higher than birth rate and the population begins to
decline (natural decrease)

Calculating Natural Increase/Decrease

If the birth rate (BR: births per 1,000) is higher than the death rate (DR: deaths per
1,000) natural increase occurs:
Growth = 30(BR) – 20(DR) = 10 per 1,000 10 X 100 = 1 % natural increase.
1000 1
If the death rate is higher than the birth rate natural decrease occurs:
Decline = 9(BR) – 11(DR) = 2 per 1,000 2 X 100 = 0.2 % natural decrease.
1000 1

Views on population change

Pessimistic View:
 They believe that the population explosion will continue.
 The world population will double in the next 50 years.
 The world will become so overcrowded that famine could take place.
Optimistic View:
 They believe that the world follows the population demographic transition
model.
 As countries get richer populations decline.
 They believe as the Third World’s economies develop their populations will
decline.

Population Pyramids
(Hint: Long and short questions on population pyramids come up a lot.)
(Marking scheme: 10 marks, two contrasts @ 5 marks each, 2 marks statement, 2
marks development and 1 mark further development.)
Population pyramids show the age and sex structure of a country and how they
differ to others.

Developing world countries e.g. Brazil = a wide base and a narrow top. This is
because women are having more children because they are seen as an insurance
policy when they get older. Less people are living to old age because of poorer living
standards.

Developed world countries e.g. Ireland = fairly pyramid even throughout. The base
will be narrower due to Irish mothers having fewer children and more people living
to old age because of better living standards.

Population pyramids are used for:

(Marking Scheme: 8 marks, two uses @ 4 marks each, 2 marks statement and 2
marks development.)
1. Government to plan for education, supply of teacher and school buildings.
2. Government to plan for care for the elderly, extra nursing homes and care
workers.
3. In developed countries, higher taxes have been placed on working people, a
small percentage over a few years, to cope with the higher number of older
people i.e. ‘greying’ of countries (Dependency ration).
4. It allows Departments of Social Welfare (e.g. unemployment benefits) and
Health (e.g. hospitals) plan for the future.

Population Distribution and Density

Population distribution means the spread of people across the world, it is
uneven.
Density is the amount of people per square km. Factors such as terrain, natural
resources, climate, communications, historical and manufacturing affect population
location.

Ireland’s population change over time

(Marking Scheme: 8 marks, 2 marks name a region, one reason @ 6 marks, 2 marks
statement, 2 marks development and 2 marks further development.)
(Hint: It is better to use an example of an area of low and high population density
from the one country, unless the question asks otherwise.)
West of Ireland Dublin Region
Low population density High population density
Before the Famine the population of the Contains 30 % of the population and
West was high due to subdivision of growing.
land, early marriages and availability of
potatoes.
After 1846 the population of the area It is the seat of government, chief port,
began to rapidly decrease due to a high transport hub and most important urban
death rate and also a huge increase in centre.
emigration.
Since 1961 the population density of It is a zone of attraction for migrants
the West has been constant. (Immigration).

Around the Celtic Tiger years there was Population is not evenly distributed across
a slight increase in population in the the region.
area but more remote areas are still
suffering from population decline.

Population Density: Brazil

Interior Brazil Coastal Brazil
Low population density High population density
Very sparsely populated with only 20 % Dense population, 80 % of total population.
of total population.
 1960’s attempts were made by the For historical reasons most people live
government to colonise here. A new here. Original inhabitants Amerindians lived
capital Brasilia was built there and were followed by Portuguese
colonists.
Settlers were offered free land. There The climate is Mediterranean, it is cooler
was huge mineral wealth (iron ore). and easier to tolerate.
Became known as a ‘green hell’ for Other European migrants settled the
people as it has a hostile equatorial southern coast of Brazil leading to high
climate and deep infertile soils. Settlers population densities there.
sold out to cattle ranchers.

Population Density: Sweden

Northern Sweden Southern Sweden
Low population density High population density
Climate is extremely cold and long It has a higher density of people, especially
winters of darkness. around urban centres e.g. Stockholm.
There are many resources e.g. Central lowlands there are an abundance of
hydroelectricity, iron ore, but they are mineral wealth (iron ore) it is used to make
very remote and a long distance from steel in the car industry e.g. Volvo.
EU markets.
People that live here are nomadic e.g. Scania has the best farmland, favourable
Sami. Northern Sweden receives many climate and good access to the EU through
grants from the government to help nearby ports e.g. Malmo
maintain the population.

Low population density: West of Ireland

1. (1) Low marriage rates:
Migration of young people to urban centres for employment leads to a future
population decline = less marriages = less children = less schools and social
services.

1. (2) Abandonment of agricultural land:

Rural farms are too small to provide a living this has lead to out-migration.
Most farmers are now part – time and a lot of land has been converted to
forestry.

1. (3) Political/ Economic isolation:

The West is a peripheral area and is far from Dublin the centre of power and
influence for the country.

Higher Level Only

Low Population Density: Mali
(Marking Scheme: 8 marks, 2 marks name a region, one reason @ 6 marks, 2
marks statement, 2 marks development and 2 marks further development.)
(1) Harsh landscape:
Mali suffers from drought due to lack of rain.
Desertification is a major problem as the Sahara Desert lies to the north and
because of lack of food people are overgrazing vulnerable land.
 (2) Scattered population:
Composed of two groups the Fulami that live in spread out rural villages by the
river Niger and the Tuareg, they are nomadic therefore it is hard to provide
social services, schools, roads and healthcare.
Low marriage rates as young adults leave rural areas for cities.

(3) Political/ Economic isolation:

Mali is so poor it is of little importance to surrounding countries and is one of the
poorest country’ in the world.

High Population Density: Calcutta

(1) Overcrowding:
 Population of 12.9 million people.
 Waves of refugees came to Calcutta from rural areas because of eviction,
famine and violence.
 Calcutta also has a high birth rate.

(2) Lack of open spaces:

 Calcutta has approx. 32,000 people per km².
 Overcrowding is severe.
 There are also a huge number of street dwellers that live in any available
space.

(3) Shortage of clean water:

 Clean water is only available to half the city’s population.
 In Shanty Towns (Bustees) most water supplies are unsafe and carry
diseases.

Higher Level Only

High Population Density: Hong Kong
(Marking Scheme: 8 marks, 2 marks name a region, one reason @ 6 marks, 2
marks statement, 2 marks development and 2 marks further development.)
(1) Overcrowding:
Population of 7 million but has little poverty.
Hong Kong also received a large number of refugees from rural areas.
Most people live in apartments in high-rise buildings often sleeping in two or
three tier bunks.

(2) Clean water:

There is no shortage of water and it is of Western standards.

(3) Pollution:
Hong Kong is heavily polluted by traffic and industry.
It also has very high humidity and the seas are heavily polluted with effluent
from factories.
 (4) Lack of open space:
There is a shortage of space in the city and a lack of sunlight due to high
buildings.

North/South Divide
North (Rich Countries) South (Poor Countries)
Child Mortality: Child Mortality:
 Ireland = 6 deaths per 1,000.  Mali = 100 deaths per 1,000.
 Preventative medicines available  Births are not in hospitals.
e.g. vaccinations.  Mothers uneducated in basic
 Most have access to clean water. healthcare.
 Mothers are well educated, have  Children often malnourished.
and access to hospitals.  Vaccinations are not available.
Life Expectancy: Life Expectancy:
 Ireland = 76 years.  Mali = 42 years.
 People have a balanced diet and  High numbers of women die
childhood infections are during childbirth.
controlled.  Numerous wars.

Individual Migration (Voluntary)

(Hint: You only need to study an individual migration and one organised migration.)
Irish emigrants to Britain and America:
Push Factors that make people leave a donor country:
1. Unemployment.
2. Poverty.
3. Low standards of living.
4. Lack of services.
Pull Factors that attract people to a host country:
1. Employment.
2. English speakers.
3. Better standard of living.
4. Education.
Barriers to migration (make migration difficult):
1. Language.
2. Money for fare.
3. Leaving family.
4. Fear of the unknown.

Organised Migration (Forced)

Plantation of Ulster (16th and 17th century):
 Irish were defeated in the Battle of Kinsale 1601. The Irish chieftains left
Ireland called the Flight of the Earls.
 1609 James I instructed English and Scottish colonists to plant Ulster. The
land was mapped and estates were given to the colonists.
 Many fortified towns were built to protect themselves from the Irish.
 The plantation allowed the spread of English culture in Ulster and was the
roots of the troubles in the north