Population & Urban Geography

Earths population hit the one billion mark in the early 1800’s Earths population hit the one billion mark in the early 1800’s By billion people By billion people In 2007 over 6 billion people In 2007 over 6 billion people In 2011 hit 7 billion In 2011 hit 7 billion

Population Growth To understand population growth, geographers study the following: To understand population growth, geographers study the following: Birthrate- number of live births per thousand Birthrate- number of live births per thousand Fertility Rate- average number of children a woman of childbearing years would have in her lifetime Fertility Rate- average number of children a woman of childbearing years would have in her lifetime *The world’s average fertility rate is about 3.0

Population Growth Cont. Mortality rate- number of deaths per thousand Mortality rate- number of deaths per thousand Infant mortality rate- number of deaths among infants under age one per thousand births Infant mortality rate- number of deaths among infants under age one per thousand births Rate of natural increase- the rate at which a population is growing Rate of natural increase- the rate at which a population is growing Birthrate – Mortality rate = rate of natural increase

Population Distribution The billions of people in the world are not distributed equally The billions of people in the world are not distributed equally Some lands are not suitable for human habitation Some lands are not suitable for human habitation Almost 90% of the worlds population lives in the Northern Hemisphere Almost 90% of the worlds population lives in the Northern Hemisphere

Habitable lands Almost two-thirds of the worlds population lives in the zones between 20°N and 60°N latitude Almost two-thirds of the worlds population lives in the zones between 20°N and 60°N latitude The highly populated areas are warm and wet enough to make agriculture possible The highly populated areas are warm and wet enough to make agriculture possible The lightly populated areas are in the polar regions, heavily mountainous regions, and desert regions The lightly populated areas are in the polar regions, heavily mountainous regions, and desert regions

Urbanization The dramatic rise in the number of cities and changes in lifestyle The dramatic rise in the number of cities and changes in lifestyle

Urbanization More people are moving into cities More people are moving into cities 26 giant cities, called megacities, are home to a total of more than 250 million people 26 giant cities, called megacities, are home to a total of more than 250 million people The largest city is Tokyo, with a population of over 28 million people The largest city is Tokyo, with a population of over 28 million people 1. Tokyo 2. Mexico City 3. New York

Population Density The average number of people who live in a measurable area, such as a square mile The average number of people who live in a measurable area, such as a square mile Number of people / the total amount of land they occupy = population density Singapore- 16, 714 people per square mile Monaco - 45, 333 people per square mile

Urban Geography The study of how people use space in cities The study of how people use space in cities Cities- center of business and culture and has a large population Cities- center of business and culture and has a large population An urban area develops around an area called the central business district An urban area develops around an area called the central business district

Suburbs-political units touching the borders of the central city or touching other suburbs that touch the city Within commuting distance Within commuting distance

Central Business District Also called CBD Also called CBD It is the core of a city, which is almost always based on commercial activity It is the core of a city, which is almost always based on commercial activity Very expensive housing can be found there; land value is very high in the CBD Very expensive housing can be found there; land value is very high in the CBD As you move away from the CBD, other functions become more important (housing begins to dominate land use) As you move away from the CBD, other functions become more important (housing begins to dominate land use)

Migration Reasons for migrating are referred to as push- pull factors Reasons for migrating are referred to as push- pull factors Push factors- those that cause people to leave their homeland Push factors- those that cause people to leave their homeland Pull factors- draw or attract others to a region Pull factors- draw or attract others to a region

Factors Influencing Where People Settle Both physical and human factors affect where people settle. Both physical and human factors affect where people settle. ¾ of the world’s population now live on less than 5% of Earth’s surface. ¾ of the world’s population now live on less than 5% of Earth’s surface. Most of the world’s population is concentrated in five areas, with more than half in the first two. Most of the world’s population is concentrated in five areas, with more than half in the first two. East Asia, including China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan East Asia, including China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan South Asia, with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka South Asia, with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka Southeast Asia Southeast Asia Europe Europe North America North America

Factors Influencing Where People Settle Physical Factors Physical Factors Population tends to cluster around seaports and fresh water sources Population tends to cluster around seaports and fresh water sources 2/3 of the world’s population today live within 500 miles of the ocean 2/3 of the world’s population today live within 500 miles of the ocean Population is typically sparse in extremely dry, wet, cold, or mountainous areas Population is typically sparse in extremely dry, wet, cold, or mountainous areas People tend to settle in low-lying areas with fertile soil and a temperate or mild climate. People tend to settle in low-lying areas with fertile soil and a temperate or mild climate.

Factors Influencing Where People Settle Human Factors Human Factors The need to establish a capital city at a central location The need to establish a capital city at a central location The need to establish new transportation routes The need to establish new transportation routes As technology improves, people are able to explore and settle in new areas despite physical barriers As technology improves, people are able to explore and settle in new areas despite physical barriers Economic activities: Economic activities: Discovery of valuable resources like gold, diamonds, or oil Discovery of valuable resources like gold, diamonds, or oil