POPULATION

GCSE Guide

Aspects of Population Studies

• Population Distribution– Global– Country case studies (EU, MEDC, LEDC)

• Population Change, Growth, measurement– Global– Country case studies (MEDC, LEDC

comparisons)

• Population Structure– Country case studies

Population Distribution

Factors affecting population distribution

climateRelief (topography)

access

resources

work

vegetation

Geography Population

Places where people live

Forest

River Valley

Mountain

Desert

Forest

River Valley

Mountain

Desert

Densely

populated

Sparsely

populated

2.Gentle slopes

3.Good soil

5.Many natural

resources

4.Poor water

supply8. Steep slopes

9. Few natural

resources10. Dense

forest

Dense population around edges of continents

Sparse population in northern high latitudes

Dense population in Western Europe

Sparse population in central & west Australia & Northern Africa

Dense population in India & SE Asia

Can you explain the global pattern of global population

distribution?

1. Densely populated areas are found ….

This is because..

2. Sparsely populated areas are found…

This is because..

World Population Growth

What is happening to the world’s population?

Look at the slides showing world population Look at the slides showing world population growth.growth.

1. What is the global trend?2. How many people are there in the world

today?3. How has the rate of growth altered since

1950?4. What are the differences between the growth

in MEDCs & LEDCs?5. Can you see any similarities in the pattern

between MEDCs & LEDCs?6. When & at what number is the world’s

population predicted to stop growing?

Dependency ratio

Number of Dependents

Number of working population

•High figures show more people depend on the workforce

•Low figures show less people depend on the workforce

•A ratio of 1 means every working person supports one other non-working person.

•What are the problems associated with a high, young dependent population? (LEDC)

•What are the problems associated with a high elderly dependent population? (MEDC)

Case Study Countries

EU: UK & FranceMEDC outside the EU: JapanLEDC: Brazil, China, India (Kerala)

You need to know:• Population distribution• Population structure• Stage on the Demographic transition model & Trends• Migration• Policies

What should you do next?

For each case study…• Annotate a simple outline map showing high, medium &

low density population; explain why this is like it is.• Draw a quick population pyramid & say what this shows• What stage of the Demographic Transition Model is it?• Annotate a map or describe migration within or into/out of

the country• Describe the concerns & the policies in place to deal with

these• Predict the future position – concerns & solutions – for

that country

Population Distribution in Japan

Key:

1:

2:

3:

Population Distribution in Japan

• Highest in Pacific Belt (Kansai Region); flat coastal plain, sheltered harbours, ports, access, industrial core.

• Lowest in land on high mountain ranges & in furthest islands, eg Hokkaido.

Population Distribution in Brazil:

Key:

1:

2:

3:

Population Distribution in Brazil

• High Density in South East, & North East (coastal access, ports, flat plain, industry, climate)

• Lowest Density in tropical rainforest (climate, density of vegetation, poor access)

• Medium density in South-east hinterland (relief, resources, road access)

Population Distribution in France:

Key:

1:

2:

3:

Population Distribution in France

• Concentrated in traditional industrial regions (access, resouces, industrial growth pole/core)

eg Nord, pas de Calais, Isle de ParisRhone Valley

• Lowest in steep mountainous regions (alpine climate, remote, poor access)

Eg Massif CentralAlps

Changing Population of Settlements

• Growth:– In MEDCs:

• Edge of city – suburbanisation (Bradley Stoke), along transport routes (M32, Ring road) & in commuter towns (Nailsea, Long Ashton);

• regenerated city centres (Bristol City Docks)

– In LEDCs:• Crowded city centres (Rocinca in Rio), edge of city

slums (Mexico City), New growth areas (Barra in Rio)

MigrationThe movement of people

Reasons:Push Factors Pull

Factors•Poor quality environment•Lack of jobs•Lack of opportunity•Few facilities•War / political unrest•Lack of health care•Loss of community•personal

•Better quality environment (housing, water..)•Job opportunities•Many facilities ( eg education, leisure)•Safety•Good health care•New community•Desire for new start

Migration:Types of movement• Internal:

– Rural to rural – farm to village

– Rural to urban – out of countryside, eg looking for work

– Urban to urban – one city to another for job change or moving house & commuting

– Urban to rural – people can travel to work, retire to the countryside, work from home

• International:– Emigrate – move away from

– Immigrate – move into

– Migrate - move

Population Policies

China’s One Child Policy• Each family can have one child• Tax incentives, help with education,

creche support• ‘granny police’ watch over women at

work• Permits are given to have a child• People have to pay back & get fined if

they have more than one child