1. Population Patterns of Latin America

2. A Diverse Mix of People
Due to the influence of many countries, Latin America is incredibly diverse
Trinidad
African and East Indian each make up 80% of the population (~40% each)
The rest is made up of Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Syrian
Among others…

3. Why use Trinidad as an example?
Represents in miniature all of the population of Latin America

4. Human Characteristics
539 Million People
9% of World’s Population
33 countries
Spans half of the Western Hemisphere
Population includes:
Native Americans
Europeans
Africans
Asians
Mixtures of these groups

5. *We will discuss them later*
Historical Overview
Native American are the indigenous in Latin America
Three major empires
Aztec
Incan
Mayan
*We will discuss them later*

6. Native Latin American’s Today
Most live in Mexico, Central America and the Andes regions of Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia
In all they areas work to preserve their traditional culture

7. Arrival of the Europeans
First came in the late 1400s
Most were originally Spanish or Portuguese
But over time many other groups (Italians, British, French, Germans) came as well
Argentina and Uruguay have so many European settlers that they became known as Immigrant Nations

8. Economies were practically built on slavery
African Immigrants
Came in the 1500s as slaves
Used to work on sugar cane and other cash crop plantations
Helped build the Latin American economies
Slavery ended in Latin America by the late 1800s
Economies were practically built on slavery

9. Asian Immigrants Came during the 1800s
Were general laborers
Today, 50% of Guyana is of South Asian and Southeast Asian descent

10. Callaloo
All of these different immigrants have created a region that is like Callaloo (a soup with many ingredients)
Latin America is a region of great diversity

11. Language Spanish is the primary language
But other languages are spoken
Portuguese (Brazil)
French (Haiti)
English (Jamaica)
All these languages are spoken with their own dialects

12. More Language
Millions of Latin Americans speak one of the many different Native American languages
K’iche’, Tupi-Guarani, Aymara, Quechua
Also Patois is very common
Dialects that blend elements of indigenous, European, African and Asian languages
1st Period

13. Where Latin Americans Live
Latin America has a high rate of population growth
Why?
Higher birth rate then death rate (a problem in third and fourth world countries)
Estimated that the regions population will exceed 800 million by 2050 – a 55% increase

14. So What? Leads to very high population density
350 million along South American coast
138 million in Central America and Mexico
37 million in the Caribbean

15. Why live along the “Populated Rim?”
Poor soil in the interior
Dense jungles
Dangerous wildlife
Temperature extremes
Towering mountains
Arid deserts
Not a lot of places to live

16. Population Density São Paulo, Brazil
The high population and small area leads to very dense areas of population
1,524 people per square mile (Barbados)
30,150 people per square mile (Mexico City)
Compare to New York City
27,532 people per square mile
`2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Periods

17. Migration
A major force shaping the population patterns of Latin America
In the past it was Europeans, Africans and East Asian people migrating to Latin America
Now it’s people more
from Lebanon, Syria,
Armenia and Korea

18. Movement North Many people leave Latin America
Head north for “opportunity”
Looking for improved living conditions, political freedom, escape from unrest
United States is a frequent destination
Some illegally, many more legally
Current estimates place illegal immigrant population of the US at only at 11 million people

19. Internal Migration
People in Latin America tend to move from rural to urban areas
Leads to urbanization
More people moving to cities

21. Growth of Cities
Four Latin America cities rank in the top 20 in population world wide
Mexico City, Mexico
São Paulo, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Buenos Aires, Argentina

22. Megacities
In some countries, cities have grown and absorbed surrounding cities creating Megacities
Cities of 10 million or more people
Mexico city currently has 18 million people
Estimated to reach 19.2 million in 3 years
Leads to problems…

23. Mexico City Problems
The massive population putting an enormous amount of stress on basic services
Lack of safe drinking water
Sewer breakdowns
Utilities
Housing

24. What Causes Mexico City's Problems?
And this becomes the dump
Originally a garbage dump
And this becomes the dump
Original City
Then the city expands to fill this space
Then the city expands again to fill this space
And on
and on
and on…
Mexico City Expansion

25. Mexico City Mexico City is also a Primate City
An urban area that dominates it’s countries economy, culture and political affairs
Usually along waterways
Strong magnet towards rural immigrants
Why?
Better “opportunity”

26. Urban Challenges People come to cities looking for a “better life”
But they don’t always find it…
Population rises, available jobs and housing falls
Also, many rural people don’t have the skills needed to work
Schools and health care overwhelmed

27. Urban Challenges (con’t)
But the rural immigrants can’t leave
Don’t have resources to leave
Have nowhere to go
Forced to live in poverty with:
Substandard housing
Poor sanitation
Little opportunity for improvement
Stress that breaks up families
Leads to mainly homeless children

28. Other Challenges There are countless other challenges Crime
Economic depression
Lack of food
And people like this!

29. Homework (10 Points) Page 217 #1 – write words + definition
#5 – at least 2 complete sentences #7
Use the maps on pages 195 and 200 to help with #7
Think about climate, elevation and vegetation
4 to 6 sentences
Make your choice, explain your choice, defend your choice