Population change

• what is natural population change?

  the difference between the birth and death rate
• what is the birth rate?

  Number of live births per 1,000 people in a population per year
• what is the mortality rate?

  the number of deaths in a population divided by the total population, usually expressed as a percentage
• what is the infant mortality rate?

  Number of deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births
• what is the total fertility rate?

  The average number of children a woman would have in her lifetime in a given population
• what is the population growth rate?

  percentage change of population in a year
• what is the life expectancy?

  average number of years someone is expected to live
• what is the replacement rate?


  the extent to which a population is replacing itself
• what is the replacement level?

  the number of children needed per woman in order to maintain a population size
• what is the average replacement level?

  2.11
• what does the demographic transition model represent?

  the trends of natural population change over time, plots a country's progression through the stages as it develops
• what is the dependency ratio?

  the proportion of dependents to economically active
• what are dependents normally?

  under 18s and over 65s
• which country has the lowest dependency ratio?

  Qatar - 18.38
• what are limitations of the dependency ratio?

  only considers age, doesn't account for unemployed people in economically active age range, and some people over 65 continue working
• how does access to contraception and education lower birth rates?


  people can control when they have children
• how does the emancipation of women lower birth rates?

  women can choose to have children or not, women's right to work has lowered birth rates and fertility rates as having a career often means they delay having children
• what is the fertility rate compared to years in education for women in Niger?

  number of babies=8, years of education=1
• what is the fertility rate compared to years in education for women in Ghana?

  number of babies=4, years in education=4
• what is the fertility rate compared to years in education for women in Sweden?

  number of babies=2, years in education=13
• how do cultural norms and religion control population change?

  • some cultures prefer larger families, some prefer smaller families
  • many cultures have a preference for boys as seen as breadwinners and heirs, can lead to female infanticide in some cases
  • religions such as strict roman Catholics ban the use of contraceptives - belief that each sexual act should be open to the possibility of creating new life as a "gift from God"
• What is the demographic dividend?

  economic growth resulting from changes in a populations age structure - stems from a decline in fertility and mortality rates
• What is the second demographic dividend?

  older working population have powerful incentive to accumulate assets to support themselves e.g. pensions - add to national income
• Describe a country with a second demographic dividend?

  South Korea - bulge in its working population from 1955-1985 - increase in savings and investment
• What is an asylum seeker?


  someone who has left their country to seek asylum in another - waiting to be granted residency and to become refugees
• What are economic migrants?

  People who move from one country to another primarily for better economic opportunities
• What are refugees?


  People who have been forced to leave their home country due to persecution, war, or violence
• What are push factors?

  Factors that compel individuals to leave their current location or country, such as poverty, political instability, or lack of opportunities
• What are pull factors?

  Factors that attract or entice individuals to move to a particular location or country
• What are examples of migration policies?

  Australia's points system, freedom of movement in the EU
• Barriers to migration?


  Legal restrictions, economic factors, cultural differences, and political instability
• What are the social benefits in the country people are migrating to?

  societal multiculturalism, migrants may have better quality of life, migrants can contribute to society e.g. healthcare services
• What are the environmental benefits in the country people are migrating to?

  larger workforce for environmental protection
• What are the economic benefits in the country people are migrating to?

  migrants intertwined in work forces and often do unwanted work, pay taxes
• What are the political benefits in the country people are migrating to?

  countries that accept lots of migrants often have strong ties with the home country - decreases likelihood of conflict
• What are the social disadvantages in the country people are migrating to?

  overpopulation can cause pressure in services, conflicts between nationals and migrants
• What are the environmental disadvantages in the country people are migrating to?

  higher demand for environmentally unsustainable resources
• What are the political disadvantages in the country people are migrating to?

  possible disagreements due to overpopulation causing international disputes, laws/policies may be introduced to limit population
• What are the social benefits in the country people are emigrating from?

  relaxed pressure on services
• What are the environmental benefits in the country people are emigrating from?

  reduces waste/fuel/emissions as there are less people