1. The Human Population: Growth, Demography, and Carrying Capacity Chapter 12
“The problems to be faced are vast and complex, but come down to this: 6.2 billion people are breeding exponentially. The process of fulfilling their wants and needs is stripping earth of its biotic capacity to produce life; a climactic burst of consumption by a single species is overwhelming the skies, earth, waters, and fauna”
Paul Hawken

2. Key Concepts Factors affecting human population size
Human population problems
Managing population growth

3. Factors Affecting Human Population Size
Population change equation
Population Change = (Birth +Immigration) – (Death – Emigration)
Zero population growth (ZPG)
Crude birth rate (BR)
Crude death rate (DR)

4. Natural Rate of Increase
<1%
1-1.9%
2-2.9%
3+%
Data not
available
Annual world
population growth

5. Fertility Rates Replacement level fertility Total fertility rate (TFR)
Births per woman
< 2
2-2.9
3-3.9
4-4.9 5+ No
Data

6. Factors Affecting BR and TFR
See bulleted list in text pg. 259
US BR’s and TFR’s 32 30 28 26
Births per thousand population 24 22 20 18
End of World War II 16
Demographic
transition 14
Depression
Baby boom
Baby bust
Echo baby boom
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Year

7. Factors Affecting DR Life Expectancy Infant mortality rate (IMR)
Infant deaths
per 1,000 live births
<10
<10-35
<36-70
<71-100
<100+
Data not
available

8. Factors Affecting Natural Rate of Increase
Rate of natural increase = crude birth rate – crude death rate
Developing Countries
Developed Countries 50 50
Crude
birth rate 40 40
Rate of
natural increase
Rate of
natural
increase
Rate per 1,000 people
© 2004 Brooks/Cole – Thomson Learning 30 30
Crude
birth rate
Crude
death rate 20 20
Crude
death rate 10 10
1800
2000
1775
1800
1850
1900
1950
2000
2050
1775
1850
1900
1950
2050
Year
Fig p. 262

9. Population Age Structure
Rapid Growth
Guatemala
Nigeria
Saudi Arabia
Slow Growth
United States
Australia
Canada
Male
Female
Zero Growth
Spain
Austria
Greece
Negative Growth
Germany
Bulgaria
Sweden

10. Solutions: Influencing Population Size
Migration
Environmental Refugees
Reducing Births
Family Planning
Empowerment of women
Economic rewards and penalties

11. The Demographic Transition
Low
High
Relative population size
(number per 1,000 per year)
Birth rate and death rate 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10
Stage 1
Preindustrial
Stage 2
Transindustrial
Stage 3
Industrial
Stage 4
Postindustrial
growth rate
Increasing Growth
Very high
Decreasing
Zero
Negative
Birth rate
Total population
Death rate
Time

12. Case Study: Slowing Population Growth in India
Generally disappointing results:
Poor planning
Bureaucratic inefficiency
Low status of women
Extreme poverty
Lack of support

13. Case Study: Slowing Population Growth In China
Generally Positive Results:
Economic incentives
Free medical care
Preferential treatment
Intrusive and coercive
Locally administered

14. Cutting Global Population Growth
Family Planning
Reduce poverty
Elevate the status of women