Global Population

A2 Geography

What are the Challenges?

Reducing Disparity

• In 1900 approx. Two thirds of the 1.5 billion people on earth lived in LEDC’s today the figure is more like three quarters. 90% of babies born are born in LEDC’s. Of the 4.8 billion living there:

• 60% lack basic sanitation• 30% without clean water• 25% have little or no adequate housing• 20% No access to health services

Cutting Consumption

• More food needs to be produced – made worse by these people being born in LEDC’s

• LEDC’s struggle to produce the quantity of food

• Demand is increasing due to rise in number of households

• People living longer• Family break up – Biggest in MEDC’s• MEDC’s require more resources than

LEDC’s

Saving the Planet

• Effects on environment from growing need for resources

• Movement into marginal and wilderness areas

• Use of Non-renewable resources in MEDC’s

Figure 1. Species Threatened with Extinctionas a Percent of Total Number of Known Species

Easing the Flow

• Migration and its reasons have been around for millions of years often triggered by:

• Hazards• Wars/ Conflict• Overuse and abuse of environment• Famine• Oppression

• One in every 200 people is now a refugee• Whilst migration could bring about more equality it is a

hot political issue

Shrinking The Family

• Though less to do with Geography than sociology it is important for the future of the planet

• BR fell by a third during the 20th century• DR fell by half• Therefore NI remains high• World needs lower fertility rates• Population needs to be stabilised• BR higher in LEDC’s• Need for education, birth control and

gender inequality

Activity 1

1. Discuss in groups which is the most important in your eyes? And then rank them in the order of importance. Justify your conclusions

2. What links are there between wealth and resource consumption

3. How do MEDC’s adversely affect LEDC’s

4. Suggest a recent event that has increased migration

POPULATIONComponents of Population Change

Inputs and Outputs

Activity 2

• What happens when Inputs exceed Outputs

• When Outputs exceed inputs• Which is the most important element of

population – Justify your view• Give examples of places that are

experiencing the following:• Natural Population decrease• Net outward Migration• Stationary population• High rates of population growth

Activity 3

• Find the definitions for the following terms

TERM MEANING

Crude Birth Rate

Standardised Birth Rate

Crude Death Rate

Standardised Death Rate

Fertility Rate

General Fertility Rate

Infant Mortality Rate

Life Expectancy

Natural Increase

Homework

• Give justified reasons for the population changes on the map provided.