Population growth and distribution
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Lesson notes
What is Population?
- A population is the set of people living in a particular geographic area, such as a settlement, country, region, city, or the whole world.
- In human biology, a population can be defined more precisely as a group of individuals who are more likely to mate among themselves than with others.
- A larger geographic population can be made up of smaller breeding populations that coexist together.
- Demography is the statistical study of human populations, including their size, structure, and distribution.
- Demographers count individuals by certain criteria at a given time in a specific region, unlike biologists who study numbers over time under varying conditions.
World Population Growth Over Time
- The human population has increased or decreased in size over time, but in recent centuries it has grown rapidly.
- Population growth is influenced by birth rate (the number of live births per 1,000 people per year) and death rate (the number of deaths per 1,000 people per year).
- Natural increase occurs when the birth rate is higher than the death rate, leading to population growth.
- Natural decrease occurs when the death rate is higher than the birth rate, leading to population decline.
- Technological factors, especially medicine, have improved overall health and lowered mortality rates, contributing to population growth.
The Demographic Transition Model
- The Demographic Transition Model (DTM) shows how population changes over time as a country develops.
- It has five stages: high fluctuating, early expanding, late expanding, low fluctuating, and decline.
- In Stage 1, both birth and death rates are high, so population remains low and stable.
- In Stage 2, death rates fall while birth rates remain high, causing rapid population growth.
- In Stage 3, birth rates begin to fall, slowing population growth.
- In Stage 4, both birth and death rates are low, so population is stable and high.
- In Stage 5, birth rates fall below death rates, leading to population decline and an ageing population.
Population Pyramids
- A population pyramid is a graph that shows the age and sex distribution of a population.
- The shape of a population pyramid indicates whether a population is youthful, ageing, or stable.
- A wide base and narrow top indicate a youthful population with high birth rates and lower life expectancy.
- A narrow base and wider top indicate an ageing population with low birth rates and higher life expectancy.
- Population pyramids help governments plan for services like schools, healthcare, and pensions.
Population Density and Distribution
- Population density is the number of people living per square kilometre.
- Population distribution describes how people are spread across an area.
- Physical factors affecting distribution include relief (shape of the land), climate, soil, and water supply.
- Human factors affecting distribution include economic opportunities, transport, government policies, and social factors.
- Most people live in areas with fertile land, mild climate, and good access to resources and jobs.
Overpopulation and Underpopulation
- Overpopulation occurs when the number of people exceeds the carrying capacity of the environment, leading to resource shortages.
- Underpopulation occurs when there are too few people to fully use the available resources, leading to inefficiency.
- Both over- and underpopulation can cause economic and social problems.
- Governments may try to manage population size through policies that encourage or discourage having children.
Ageing and Youthful Populations
- An ageing population has a high proportion of older people, often due to low birth rates and high life expectancy.
- Ageing populations can lead to labour shortages and increased pressure on healthcare and pensions.
- A youthful population has a high proportion of young people, often due to high birth rates.
- Youthful populations require more schools and childcare, but can provide a large future workforce.
- Governments may introduce policies to address the challenges of ageing or youthful populations.
Government Population Policies
- Governments may use policies to influence population growth, such as China's one-child policy (1979–2015).
- The one-child policy aimed to reduce population growth by limiting most families to one child.
- It led to a decrease in birth rates but also caused issues like an ageing population and gender imbalance.
- Other policies may encourage larger families, such as providing financial incentives or childcare support.
- Population policies can have long-term social and economic impacts.
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Practice questions
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1.The word 'population' comes from the Latin word 'populus'. What does 'populus' mean?
Easy- APeople
- BPlace
- CGrowth
- DNumber
2.In which century is the first known usage of the term 'population' dated?
Easy- AThe 1200s
- BThe 1500s
- CThe 1800s
- DThe 1900s
3.Which person is credited with being the first to use the word 'population' in its modern sense?
Easy- AFrancis Bacon
- BCharles Darwin
- CThomas Malthus
- DIsaac Newton
4.Which subject is defined as the statistical study of human populations?
Easy- ADemography
- BGenetics
- CEcology
- DAnthropology
5.Which statement best describes how demographers and biologists use the term 'population' differently?
Medium- ABiologists count individuals by set criteria at a given time in a region, while demographers study interbreeding groups.
- BDemographers count individuals by certain criteria at a given time in a specific region, while biologists study the number of individuals in an area and how it changes over time under varying conditions.
- CDemographers study only the whole world, while biologists study only single settlements.
- DBiologists use the term only for humans, while demographers use it only for animals.
6.In biology, which definition best describes a population?
Medium- AAll the people living in one country at a given time.
- BMembers of a species that can interbreed with each other and are geographically isolated from other populations of the same species.
- CA group of people who share the same eye colour.
- DEvery organism living in one habitat, including different species.
7.Which three main factors limit the size of a population in humans and other animals?
Medium- AAvailable food sources, diseases and the environment
- BMigration, education and religion
- CMedicine, technology and culture
- DBirth rate, death rate and natural increase
8.Which statement about the human genome across all human populations is correct?
Medium- A99.9% of the human genome remains the same across all human populations.
- BAbout half of the human genome is the same across all human populations.
- CNo part of the human genome is shared across all human populations.
- DAll human populations have identical gene pools.
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