Chapter 3Population Geography

Demographers study population and its impact on the earth.

Are we overpopulated or just unevenly distributed?

Families in developed countries have fewer members than before.

In less developed countries, the number of children per family is still very high.

Less developed areas of the world tend to be poor and unable to provide adequate food, clothing and shelter for all its citizens.

As of 2010, there were 6.9 billion people on this earth.

Can the earth support that many people or more?

We need to look at resources and lifestyle Westerners, including us, use more

resources and non-renewable resources than others in this world: fossil fuels, farmland, clean water.

If every one of the 6.9 billion people lived as we do, those resources would be gone, leaving air & water pollution, little potable water, soil depletion, and erosion in its wake.

Demography looks at population characteristics:◦ How people are distributed spatially◦ They look at distribution by age, gender,

occupation, fertility, health, birth rates, and death rates.

Look at map pp. 66-67. You see that ¾ of the world’s population live on 5% of the earth’s surface

We have 6.9 billion people on earth. If they were evenly distributed, there would be about 112+ people per square mile.

We are not evenly distributed.

Densities vary from place to place:

◦ Greenland – 0.1 per sq. mile◦ Bangladesh – 2300 per sq. mile◦ India – 812 per sq. mile◦ Canada – 8 per sq. mile◦ Australia – 6 per sq. mile◦ Egypt – 181 per sq. mile, but 9,000 per sq. mile in

the Nile River Valley

By Continent:◦ Eurasia -- 72.7% of world’s people◦ North America -- 7.9%◦ Africa -- 13.2%◦ South America -- 5.7%◦ Australia & the Pacific -- 0.5%

21% of humans live in China17% live in India4.6% live in the United States

When you consider these numbers, you are looking at a region examining one trait, population

This is then a Formal Region you are considering.

Population geographers also look at standards of living.◦ Thickly populated areas can have the highest

standards of living. Ex: New York City◦ Sparsely populated areas may put too much

pressure on the land if there aren’t enough resources

You must look at the carrying capacity of the land -- the population beyond which a given environment cannot provide support without becoming significantly damaged.

Many avert damage by bringing in resources from another area. Ex: water piped in or shipping in oil.◦ Americans use 26% of the world’s oil◦ Our lives would change if we couldn’t use

resources from other areas.

Demography of various places can and do change over time.

If we look at population numbers, there are 3 things that affect the numbers:◦ Birth Rates◦ Death Rates◦ Migration

The number of live births per year, per one thousand of the population

CBR – crude birth rate; crude means you are looking at society as a whole

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) -- is the average number of children born per woman during her childbearing years (15-49 years).

TFR attempts to predict the future and can vary from place to place

TFR for the world as a whole today is 3, and can vary from region to region.

Europe -- less than 2◦ Any country with a TFR of less than 2 will

experience population decline

◦ Southern and Eastern Europe -- 1.3

◦ Bulgaria -- 1.2 and is expected to lose 38% of its population by 2050

Sub-Saharan Africa -- TFR of 7 or higher

Niger -- TFR of 7.38 Mali -- TFR of 7.37

TFRs have fallen in Sub-Saharan Africa in the last 20 years. Why?

Also referred to as CDR or Crude Death Rate; using the term “crude” means looking at the society as a whole

Death Rate is the number of deaths per year per 1000 people

In developed world, people die from age-related degenerative conditions, HIV, heart disease, stroke, and the effects of pollution

In the developing world, people die from civil strife, poor health care, and diseases like malaria, HIV, and dengue fever.

Death Rates are often broken down into male/female and age-specific groups.

The highest death rates are in Sub-Saharan Africa◦ 25 to 30 people die per 1000 people

◦ Other areas: Ecuador - 4 deaths per 1000 people

European Union – 10 deaths per 1000

Canada - 8 deaths per 1000

Infant Mortality Rates or IMR is the number of deaths before age 1 per 1000 live births per year.

The highest rates are in Sub-Saharan Africa at 100+ deaths per 1000 live births per year.

The lowest rates are in Western Europe with fewer than 10 deaths per 1000 live births per year.

The IMR reflects a country’s health care system.

In the U.S. there is a higher IMR among the poor who can’t afford health care. Perhaps that will change with the new health care law.

In other countries, like England, health care is provided.

U.S. is #37 in health care as ranked by the World Health Organization. France is # 1

Why is population increasing at different rates in different countries?◦ Countries have gone through different

demographic changes over time.◦ Countries don’t go through the same changes at

the same time.◦ The process of change in a society’s population is

called the Demographic Transition.◦ p. 72 Chart◦ The demographic transition happens in several

stages – 5 stages.

Stage 1 -- Low Growth◦ both birth rate and death rate are high◦ this can vary from year to year◦ but the rate of natural increase is low◦ people are concerned with survival: war, poor

harvests, climate, hunting and gathering, and diseases

Every country has moved on to at least Stage 2.See p. 72, chart

Stage 2 -- High Growth◦ a lowered death rate◦ birth rate remains high as in Stage 1◦ rate of natural increase is high because of

lowered death rate◦ the first part of Stage 2 is when population grows◦ the second part of Stage 2 is when the population

growth rate begins to slow down, but there is still a big gap between birth and death rates

◦ See p. 72, chart

There are new products, more food, better medical care and better sanitation coming in to Stage 2.

Europe and the United States entered Stage 2 in the late 18th or early 19th centuries.

Asia, Africa, Latin America entered Stage 2 in the 20th century.

Latin America entered in 1950.

Stage 3 -- Moderate Growth◦ crude birth rates drop dramatically◦ crude death rates continue to fall but at a slower

rate than in Stage 2◦ Population still continues to grow because crude

birth rate (CBR) is still higher than the crude death rate (CDR)

Europe and North America entered Stage 3 during the first half of the 20th century.

Some in Asia, Africa, and Latin America entered only recently while others still remain in Stage 2.

Birth rates decline in Stage 3 because of social custom. It is seen as beneficial to have fewer children.

Stage 4 -- Low Growth & ZPG (zero population growth)◦ crude birth rates (CBR) decline enough to equal

the crude death rates (CDR)◦ the rate of natural increase approaches -0-

Sweden, Germany, and the United Kingdom are in Stage 4

The U.S. hasn’t completely entered because birth rates among recent immigrants is still high.

Social customs again account for movement into Stage 4◦ Women are working outside the home and are

having fewer children.◦ Birth control is available and used.◦ There are economic conditions and lifestyles that

have changed, so that fewer children or no children are desired.

Stage 5 is a new stage◦ for post-industrial society◦ ZPG truly takes hold◦ there is a population decline

Are there any problems with population decline?

Some countries have a very young population.◦ in Africa◦ in Latin America◦ in some parts of Asia◦ In these areas, half the population is younger

than15.◦ In Uganda, 51% of the population is younger than

15.◦ In Sub-Saharan Africa, 44% of the population is

younger than 15.◦ Why?

Other more developed nations have large numbers between the ages of 15 and 65.

Countries like Sweden have aging populations: 17% are older than 65.

In less developed nations, many don’t live to be 65.

In Italy where the TFR is 1.3, 18% are older than 65

Some elderly there can apply for adoption by families in need of grandparents.

A useful way to show age and sex distribution is with a population pyramid, p.80.

This graphically shows: age distribution, sex ratios, and dependency rates (the young and the old).

pp. 78 & 79 and pp. 82 &83 It can help predict what will be needed in

the future. This information is gathered in a census.

Migration◦ affects the size of population◦ definition: a permanent move to a new location

(a change of residence)◦ definition of mobility: the ability to move from

one location to another, to work, to school, to the store, without a permanent change of residence

◦ The United States is the result of migration. We can all trace our ancestry to another area of the world

◦ From the G-nome Project, it is thought we all evolved in Africa.

Humans have migrated to and adapted to different kinds of environments

We tend to stay away from areas that are too cold, too hot, too wet, or too dry

Most migrate in search of economic opportunity, political freedom, or environmental comfort.

There are 2 forms of migration:◦ Emigration – migration from a location◦ Immigration – migration to a location

19th Century – 50 million Europeans left Europe to find a better life.

Today – about 160 million people live outside the country of their birth.

Reasons for leaving one place and going to another are called push/pull factors◦ Push Factors: induce people to move away

from a location◦ Pull Factors: attract people to a particular new

location

3 Major Kinds of push/pull factors:◦ Political◦ Economic◦ Environmental

Political Push Factors: 1. People who have fled their homes and

country and cannot return for fear of persecution because of race, religion, nationality, membership in a social group, or their political opinion.

2. People who are forced to migrate for this reason are called refugees. There are about 16 million today

◦ Political Push Factors: the lure of freedom usually found in democracies, like Hitler and World War II.

◦ Economic Push Factors: 1840s millions of Irish were forced to leave Ireland

because of the potato blight, mass starvation, and little to no help from their English landlords.

1980s ¼ of Irish labor force left because they couldn’t find jobs. Most were young and well-educated.

◦ Economic Pull Factors:

Many came to U.S. for economic opportunity

19th century – U.S. businessmen advertised in Europe for workers

People migrate to areas where they think they can find jobs

Ex: Houston, 1970s – boom, 2002 – Enron – bust.

Environmental Push Factors:◦ People leave a place because of adverse

conditions in the environment◦ Water is the most common reason for the move:

too little or too much◦ 40% of world’s natural disasters are flood◦ 20% of world’s natural disasters are storm related◦ People move to find water.

Environmental Pull Factors:◦ 1. small towns – made easier with technology◦ 2. temperate climates – no harsh weather◦ 3. dry climates – for those with allergies

◦ Disease can be a push factor (get away from it) or a pull factor ( no disease in new area).

How many people can the earth support? Should people have fewer children? Is there a population explosion?

There has been a dramatic increase in population since 1900.

There have been large numbers of births and a decline in the death rate.

People are living longer.

Our population has been doubling in shorter periods of time.

From the beginning until 1800: 1 billion people

From 1800 to 1930: 2 billion people From 1930 to 1975: 4 billion people June 2010: 6,852,472,823 people

Doubling Time, p. 90.

Thomas Malthus◦ was the first to examine the problem of

population size◦ said population will outrun our ability to produce

food◦ said population grows at a much faster rate than

the earth’s food supply

◦ He was writing about this in 1798 before the industrial and agricultural revolutions and before many modern birth control methods had been discovered.

Malthus named Positive and Preventive checks on population◦ Positive Checks: malnutrition, famine, disease, and

war.◦ Preventive Checks: late marriage and abstinence

Critics of Malthus are called cornicopians, and they believe if we curb our numbers, we may be preventing geniuses from being born.

Neo-Malthusians say that the earth cannot support more and more people, especially if they all want the Western lifestyle.

As of 2001, our population growth has slowed somewhat.

Some demographers believe that we will only have 11 billion people by 2100.

Lifestyles may have to change when looking at available resources.

Rule of 72 is used for calculating doubling time◦ take a country’s rate of annual increase as a %◦ divide % into the number 72◦ the result is the # of years a population, growing

at a given rate, will take to double Guatemala is growing now at 2.7% per year. Its

population is doubling every 25.7 years. India is growing 1.7% per year which means that its

1 billion people will be 2 billion in 42 years. China’s will double in 120 years. They now have 1.3

billion people. Are there enough resources, jobs, health care

for all?

Population Control:◦ Overpopulation results when an area’s population

exceeds its physical, social, and economic resources.

◦ Population geographers say there are 2 main ways to solve overpopulation:

1. Reduce the size of population OR

2. Increase resources

Increase Resources:◦ emphasize economic development

◦ increase scientific inventions (new manufacturing and agricultural processes)

◦ share resources more equally; don’t let one nation use most of them.

Reduce Population:◦ Increase the death rate◦ How? Ideas?

◦ Reduce the birth rate◦ How? Hurdles?

Government policies Abortion Support parents in old age

Problems with a population that is too small:◦ Defense : Are there enough people to guard the

borders?

◦ Support: Are there enough people to provide benefits to older generation? In U.S. – Social Security In Germany – pensions, health care

Climate influences where people live. Very dry, very high, very wet, very cold/hot

areas are usually not heavily populated. These regions also cannot support large

populations. Most humans prefer the lower elevations

where it is not too cold or too warm. Those who live in the tropics seem to like

the higher elevations where it might be a lot cooler and not so humid.

Humans like to live near the sea. Populations seem clustered near the coasts;

Ex: Australia – half the total population lives in only 5 port cities.

Disease also influences where people live. Illness can affect livestock and therefore, people’s food supply. Then people migrate.

Diseases that affect humans can influence where people choose to live◦ away from mosquitoes or contaminated water◦ Love Canal – contaminated land and high number

of cancer victims◦ Jefferson County, Colorado – near nuclear test site

– resulting in high numbers of leukemia victims.

Perception also plays a part in where people choose to live.

Germans immigrating to U.S. Wished to find land similar to what they left behind.

People’s perception of a place may change over time:◦ Florida - swamp land, buggy◦ Florida – a haven for those escaping cold weather;

air conditioning and screening alleviate problems.

Many move for a better climate, jobs, beautiful scenery, or to be near water.

Different age groups have different preferences.

People alter their environments◦ Large populations can devastate an area by using

up all the resources.

Overpopulation isn’t the only reason for an ecological crisis.

A small percentage of the earth’s people control much of the technology and consume a very high percentage of the earth’s resources each year.

Americans make up less than 5% of the world’s population and account for 25% of the natural resources consumed globally each year.

Houses are bigger and hold fewer people; Ex: 2002 compared to 1975.

If everyone on earth lived as Americans do, the earth could only support around 500 million people.

As living standards in other countries improve, what will happen?

Demographic factors are displayed on the landscape: shapes of human settlement.◦ Rural Settlement Patterns had farm villages with

fields outside of the village OR dispersed farmsteads, pp. 96, 97. Farm Villages - clustered settlements with fields,

pastures, meadows outside of the village. Farmers left village to work the land. Common in Europe, Latin America, parts of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East

Street Villages – E. Europe & Russia Green Villages – N. & NW Europe Checkerboard Villages – use grid pattern like

Mormons

Why settle in villages?◦ Security◦ Water communal ties◦ Less isolation

There are also Unit Farmsteads and Courtyard Farmsteads, p. 97.

Isolated Farmstead◦ found in Anglo-America, Australia, New Zealand,

and S. Africa◦ areas colonized by Europeans◦ also called dispersed settlement◦ found in areas with peace, security, water, and

individual families◦ most began since colonization

Historical Factors Shape Culture/ Landscape◦ Mayans of the Yucatan lived in “wet point

villages”, villages around a water source, before the Spanish arrived.

◦ After the Spanish took over, Mayans had to live in “checkerboard villages” set up by the Spanish.

◦ The village pattern may have been a Spanish victory, but Mayan culture prevailed. There were few wheeled vehicles used, and traditional housing was kept.

◦ There are remnants of both Spanish and Catholic influence.

Political and Economic Factors Shape Cultural /Demographic Landscape.◦ Politics affects population geography with its

government policies: Birth Rates Forced Migration Ethnic Cleansing – removal of an unwanted minority

in nation-states: Balkans, Darfur, Jews during World War II

Governments restrict voluntary migration and immigration to other countries.

Economics is often intertwined with politics and affects the landscape◦ Industrialization caused great voluntary migration

as people looked for jobs.◦ World War II women took over factory jobs as men

left for the war

Gender and Cultural/Demographic Landscape: - women seen as desirable for certain jobs causing

them to move: Irish domestics in 19th century Sex industry in 20th and 21st

centuries