Population Studies

Why study Population? How land is used The amount of pressure on natural resources PLANNING – how govt formulate policies How people interact with one another

In 1999, 600 million children in the world lived in poverty – 50 million more than in 1990 United Nations

World’s Population Trend

Regional Population Trend

Population Explosion Until about 200 years ago, population growth was slow. Since then, there had been an enormous increase (previous graph). Population Explosion : sudden and great increase in world’s population. Rate of increase has become exponential. Check out the world population clock at

World Population at billion 7.2 billion in 2014 Source: The Straits Times (11 Jul 2008)

Top 10 countries with largest population (millions) – China India U.S Indonesia Brazil Pakistan Bangladesh Nigeria Russia Japan Source: The Straits Times (11 Jul 2008)

Terminologies Birth rate (BR) –Number of live births per 1000 people in the population per year –X per thousand –What are the reasons for low and high BR? Death rate (DR) –Number of deaths per 1000 people in the population per year –Y per thousand –What are the reasons for high and low DR?

Terminologies Infant Mortality (IM) Number of infants who die before reaching one year of age per 1000 live births per year Natural increase (NI)/rate of natural increase NI = BR – DR (per thousand) NI is +ve means … NI is –ve means …

Terminologies Replacement level – It is the level of fertility at which a given population is replacing itself Life expectancy (LE) – No of years a person is expected to live from time to time Dependency Ratio o the ratio of the number of economically non- active to the number of economically active people in the country o 1 : 2 means …1 : 5 means …Implications …?

Birth Rate and Death Rate (per day) In one day all over the world, an estimated 369,755 people are born and 150,835 die. 218,920 people are added to the global population daily Source: The Straits Times (11 Jul 2008)

Causes High BR - Parents want children –for labour especially in agricultural societies –to look after them in old age –to continue the family name –for added status in the community –to replace children who have died (high infant mortality rate)

Causes Low DR –clean water is available –access to food supply –improve hygiene and sanitation –better vaccinations and healthcare –rising standards of living

How long are you expected to live?

Total Population Change TOTAL POPULATION CHANGE Birth Rate Death Rate Immigration Emigration Population Growth = natural increase + net migration

Factors that influence natural increase 1) Standard of living medical facilities, health care housing hygiene water supply sanitation and nutrition

Factors that influence natural increase 2. Cultural factors way of living, customs and beliefs role of children, religion region of the world (developed vs. under-developed) 3. Government policies increase/slow down BRs

Population Density Which photograph has a high population density?

Population Density = Total number of people per unit area of land

Calculation of Population Density Total resident in 1997 = Total land area = sq km Pop density = 5768 persons per sq km

Population Density Canada – 3 people per sq km Bangladesh – 1042 people per sq km Singapore – 6000 people per sq km

Top 10 most densely populated countries and territories (humans/sq km) 1.Monaco Macau Singapore Hong Kong Gibraltar Vatican City Malta Maldives Bermuda Bahrain 1080 Source: The Straits Times (11 Jul 2008)

Population Distribution The way people are spread out over an area of land

Factors Affecting Population Distribution Relief Climate Soils Mineral and energy deposits Accessibility Relief Climate Soils Mineral and energy deposits Accessibility

Population Pyramid Shows the proportion of males and females in different age groups Measured in % or no of total pop Shape determined by BR, DR and migration Analyse according –Proportion of male vs female –Economically non-active: 0-14 (young dependents), >65 (elderly) –Economically active: (Working pop) –BR, DR, Life expectancy

A Pyramidal-shaped Population Pyramid (Progressive)

Describing and interpreting Broad base indicates high BR or fertility rate and an expanding/youthful population Large dependent population account 35% or more of the total population Pyramid narrows towards the top, indicating high DR The narrow top from the 65 – 69 age group indicates low life expectancy Overall sex ratio is balanced which reflects little immigration or emigration Such a population diagram is typical of developing countries with increasing population

A bee-hived Pyramid (Regressive)

Describing and Interpreting Narrow base indicates low BR and fertility rate Young dependent makes up less than 30% of the total population Broader top indicates a long life expectancy and a relatively low DR Aged can account more than 15% of the population – greying pop There is a possibility of the population shrinking as birth and population growth rates continue to drop each year Such a pyramid typifies the population structure of developed countries

Reasons for high growth rate: Developing countries Low DRHigh BR Better medical and health care low infant mortality higher life expectancy Lack of family planning Better hygiene & sanitationEarly marriages Access to clean drinking water Preference for sons Need for farm labour

Overpopulation Definition: a situation when there are too many people relative to the resources and level of technology to provide a reasonable standard of living

Overpopulation Characteristics: High BR Low life expectancy Low level of literacy High rate of unemployment in urban areas Rural people caught in the vicious cycle of poverty due to poor farming techniques Many live in poor, congested, unhygienic conditions

Overpopulation

Solutions Control population through policies Raise level of education Improve standard of living

Reasons for low growth rate: Developed countries Low DRlow BR Better hygieneLater marriages Better nutritionFewer marriages Better medical and health care Preference for smaller families

Low growth rate: Developed countries Consequences: Underpopulation Ageing population

Underpopulation Definition: a situation when there are not enough people to fully develop the resources in an area or country Likely to occur in: large areas which are not fully exploited eg Canada Developed countries such as Japan and Sweden where BR and population growth rates are falling Low replacement rate Countries where the proportion of people over 60 are increasing

Ageing Population Definition: a trend in which there is an increasing proportion of elderly dependents in the population.

Ageing Population Causes: Low BR & low DR…High Life expectancy Low population growth rate Consequences: –Hinder economic development –Labour shortages / rising labour cost –Strain on working population – pay more taxes –More healthcare services needed

Ageing Population Solutions To overcome low BR: …incentives to encourage marriage and child birth To overcome labour shortages: –Raise retirement age –Attract women back to workforce –Employ foreign workers –Mechanisation Ensuring funds and care for elderly –Central Provident Fund (CPF) –Fund raising to build facilities Encourage participation in activities Provision of elderly-friendly features in home

Demographic Transition Model

Stage 1 – High Stationary Stage Features: High BR & DR esp among children Population growth is small Reasons for high DR: Famines, wars and infectious diseases Population Pyramid: Broad base and a small, narrow top NO country at Stage 1

Stage 2- Early Expanding Stage Features: BR high about 40 per thousand; DR drops rapidly to 20 per thousand Rapid population growth Reasons for high BR: No practice of family planning or birth control Child bearing years are long because women marry early Children required as farm hands in the fields High infant mortality rate – ensures survival Countries are developing and mainly agricultural Reasons for declining DR: Improvements in medical care, personal hygiene, water supplies and sewage facilities Pop Pyramid: A broad base with a slightly broader and higher top than Stage 1 Countries are developing and mainly agricultural Demographic Transition Model

Stage 3 – Late Expanding Stage Features: BR drops rapidly to below 20 per thousand; DR fall gradually to 15 per thousand Population continues to grow but at slower rate than Stage 2 Stage 3 – Late Expanding Stage Reasons for low BR: Family planning, birth control measure Govt incentives to keep BR low Infant mortality rate is low Easier to achieve a higher standard of living when family is small Women are more career minded Demographic Transition Model

Stage 4 – Low Stationary Stage Features: DR stabilised at a low rate of 15 per thousand and below BR is low – fluctuates below 20 per thousand Population growth is small/zero population growth Most developed countries are at this stage – considerable economic development, affluence and a high standard of living Stage 5 - Low and Declining the BR is lower than the DR the DR increases due to ageing of the population the population declines egs. Sweden and Japan Demographic Transition Model

References 1. Chong, M. (2000) Aspect of Human Geography, Singapore: Pekoe Books. Chapter 1 (p.1 – 47) 2. Waugh, D. (2000) Geography An Integrated Approach, UK: Nelson. Chapter 13 (p. 344 – 383) 3. Wikipedia