Population Geography

Population Distribution How population is spread out across the world World population distribution is uneven.World population distribution is uneven. Places which are sparsely populated contain few people. Places which are densely populated contain many people.Places which are sparsely populated contain few people. Places which are densely populated contain many people.

Population Distribution How population is spread out across the world Causes 1.Rivers and lakes (transportation, farming, drink) 2.Flat, fertile soil 3.Adequate rainfall 4.Mild climate 5.Ample natural resources Effects 1.People live in areas that have those characteristics 2.Some continents have greater populations than others

Population Distribution How population is spread out across the world Causes 1.Rivers and lakes (transportation, farming, drink) 2.Flat, fertile soil 3.Adequate rainfall 4.Mild climate 5.Ample natural resources

Population Distribution How population is spread out across the world Effects 1.People live in areas that have those characteristics 2.Some continents have greater populations than others

Population Distribution How population is spread out across the world Causes 1.Rivers and lakes (transportation, farming, drink) 2.Flat, fertile soil 3.Adequate rainfall 4.Mild climate 5.Ample natural resources Effects 1.People live in areas that have those characteristics 2.Some continents have greater populations than others

Facts 81% live in Asia, North America and Europe - Northern Hemisphere between 20N and 60N latitude This is because of suitable climate and vegetation for dense human population - Warm enough and wet enough to make agriculture happen Populations concentrated along coast and river valleys Lightly populated regions are in polar zones, heavily mountainous regions and desert regions

Population Density The average number of people in a measurable area. Population density is calculated by dividing the number of people by area. Because population is not evenly distributed across the land, the number may be misleading for an entire nation

United States In the 1990 census, the population density of the US was 70.3 people per square mile. However, Alaska has a density of 1 person per square mile while New Jersey has a density of 1098 per square mile

Physical Factors High DensityLow Density Relief (shape and height of land) Low land which is flat e.g. Ganges Valley in India High land that is mountainous e.g. Himalayas Resources Areas rich in resources (e.g. coal, oil, wood, fishing etc.) tend to densely populated e.g. Western Europe Areas with few resources tend to be sparsely populated e.g. The Sahel Climate Areas with temperate climates tend to be densely populated as there is enough rain and heat to grow crops e.g. UK Areas with extreme climates of hot and cold tend to be sparsely populated e.g. the Sahara Desert

Human Factors High DensityLow Density Political Countries with stable governments tend to have a high population density e.g. Singapore Unstable countries tend to have lower population densities as people migrate e.g. Afghanistan. Social Groups of people want to live close to each other for security e.g. USA Other groups of people prefer to be isolated e.g. Scandinavians Economic Good job opportunities encourage high population densities Limited job opportunities cause some areas to be sparsely populated e.g. Amazon Rainforest \

Population Growth The world's population is growing very rapidly. In 1820 the world's population reached 1 billion. In 1990 it reached 6 billion people.

Birth and Death Rates The major reason for population changes, whether in an individual country or for the whole world, is the change in birth and death rates. The birth rate is the number of live babies born in a year for every 1000 people in the total population. Death rates are number of people dying per 1000 people. When birth rates are higher than death rates the population of an area will increase.

Why has the population exploded in the last 150 years?

Health Improvements Over the past 150 years improvements in health care and sanitation around the world have led to a drop in the death rate. While birth rates have dropped in MEDCs, birth rates are still high in LEDCs. Therefore the number of people in the world has grown rapidly.

Life Expectancy Life expectancy is the average age a person can expect to live to in a particular area. Life expectancy can be used as an indicator of the overall 'health' of a country. From this figure you can determine many features of a country e.g. standard of living. As a general rule the higher the life expectancy the more healthy (or developed) a country is.

Population Pyramids The population structure for an area shows the number of males and females within different age groups in the population. This information is displayed as an age-sex or population pyramid.

Population pyramids of Less Economically Developed Countries typically have a wide base and a narrow top. This represents a high birth rate and high death rate. Population pyramids of More Economically Developed Countries typically have a roughly equal distribution of population throughout the age groups. The top obviously gets narrower as a result of deaths.

The horizontal bars show the percentage of male and female in each age group.

1. Which age group has the greatest proportion of people? 2.Which bar includes the students in this classroom? 3. Are there more people in your age group or in the age group below yours? 45-49

A pyramid shows the history of a country's population growth. In the United States from 1945 to 1965, people had larger families. These people are now between the ages of 30 and 50 and are called baby boomers. This pyramid is an example of slow population growth.

Short-term fluctuations often can be traced to such historical events as wars, epidemics, economic booms, or depressions Baby Boom-after WWII Great Depression-decline in birth rate 1930 and 1934 World Wars I and II-deficit of men in Germany The impact of these events emphasizes the interrelationships among population change and economic, social, political, and health factors.

1.How is Congo's pyramid different from that of the U.S.? 2.Which age group in Congo is the largest? 3.What proportion of the population is in this age group? There are more people in the younger age groups Almost 20% (9% female and 9% male)

1.Now look at Germany. How is it different? 2.How is it different from Congo? The age groups are closer to being equal There is a greater proportion of older people

Why do we need this information? Why would a country 's leaders want to know the proportion of the population in different age groups? What difference does the age of the people in a country make? What kinds of products do young people use? What kinds of services do they need? What about older people? Is it important for a government leader or planner to know the age of the population they are serving?

Young people –Schools, and later, jobs Older people- retirement systems and medical facilities As a population ages, needs change from childcare and schools to jobs, housing, and medical care.

Migration also affects pyramid shape Most migrants are in the working ages, and often more males than females Most migrants are in the working ages, and often more males than females In some Middle Eastern countries a large number of men migrated to work in the oil fields, which caused a bulge in one side of the pyramid, while it took a "bite" out of the pyramid of some of the countries from which they came.

Time to make your own Population Pyramids We will use a modified pyramid with only 4 age groups First we will practice with the U.S. After we are done, you will get in groups of 4 and graph pyramids of other countries

US Population by Age 2000 (percent) AGESMALESFEMALES %14% %14% % 60+7%9%

Now get in your groups and make your population pyramids

PolandHaitiThailandItaly Saudi Arabia BrazilAustraliaEthopiaJapanCanadaArgentinaKenyaGermany South Korea IndiaNigeriaCubaLithuaniaEgypt United Kingdom ChinaMexico Dem. Rep. of Congo FranceBangladeshIranIndonesiaIrelandCyprusPakistan Sri Lanka VietnamRomaniaHonduras Papua New Guinea Hungary