Introduction to Population Geography

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September 22, 2014

• Introduction to Population Geography

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What is population geography?

• Population Geography focuses on the number,
  composition, and distribution of human beings on
  the earths surface
• Population geographers are interested in
  population changes-both growth and
  movement-especially as they relate to the earths
  environment and natural resources

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Why study population geography?

• The study of population geography is critically
  important for three reasons
• More people are alive at this time-more than 7
  billion-than at any point in Earths history
• The worlds population increased at a faster rate
  during the second half of the twentieth century
  than ever before in history
• Virtually all global population growth is
  concentrated in less developed countries

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Overpopulation

• Geographers argue that the worlds so-called
  overpopulation problem is not simply a matter of
  the total number of people on Earth, but the
  relationship between the number of people and the
  availability of resources.
• Problems result when an areas population exceeds
  the capacity of the environment to support them
  at an acceptable standard of living.

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Population Statistics

• All population theories rest on an understanding
  of these basic concepts
• Crude Birth Rate the number of live births in a
  given year for every thousand people in a
  population
• Crude Death Rate (also called the mortality
  rate) the number of deaths in a given year for
  every thousand people in a population
• Life expectancy the number of years that a child
  can expect to live, given current mortality rates

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Population Statistics

• Total fertility rate the average number of
  children a woman will have throughout her
  childbearing years
• Infant mortality rate the number of deaths among
  infants under one year of age for each 1,000 live
  births
• Natural increase the difference between the
  number of births and the number of deaths during
  a specific period

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The Demographic Transition Model
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Demography

• All countries have experienced changes in natural
  increase, fertility, and mortality rates, but
  their pattern vary considerably
• According to the Demographic Transition Theory,
  these changes occur in stages according to levels
  of technological advancements
• Demography is the study of population

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The Demographic Transition Model

• The "Demographic Transition" is a model that
  describes population change over time. It  is
  based on an interpretation begun in 1929 by the
  American demographer Warren Thompson, of the
  observed changes, or transitions, in birth and
  death rates in industrialized societies over the
  past two hundred years or so.

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What does it look like?
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Stage 1 (low growth)

• This stage is preindustrial, and characterized by
  high birthrates and high death rates and low
  population growth
• Children are seen as economic assets as they
  provide a steady supply of labor
• Death rates are high because of low standards of
  living and little medical technology
• The natural increase rate is close to 0
• The Earths population was in this stage until
  the mid-1700s

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Stage 2 (high growth)

• This stage is industrial, and characterized by
  high birth rates, low death rates, and high
  population growth
• Children are still seen as economic assets
• Death rates are low due to access to medical
  technology, and a steady food supply
• Many Less Developed Countries are still in this
  stage and see high population growth
• The Earths population was in this stage until
  the I800s

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Stage 3 (moderate growth)

• This stage is a mature industrial economy when
  the birth rate drops, curbing population once
  again. This stage is characterized by low birth
  rates, low death rates, and low population
  growth.
• The birth rate is low because more women are
  educated and work outside the home
• Children are seen as economic liabilities
• Women delay marriage and having children
• Death rates remain low

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Stage 4 (low growth)

• This stage is post-industrial, and characterized
  by extremely low or even negative birthrates, low
  death rates, and low or negative population
  growth
• Birthrates are low or negative as women seek
  higher education
• Women delay marriage and having children even
  longer than in Stage 3
• Medical technology is at the most advanced stage,
  increasing life expectancy
• Countries might experience negative population
  growth

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Baby-O-Matic Quiz

• How many children will you have?

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Want to know how many children you will have?
Take the Baby-O-Matic Quiz!

• Family Life
• I never to marry
• When I marry, both I and my spouse will share the
  important decisions
• When I marry, only the man in the couple will
  make important decisions

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• Education
• I dont know how to read, and I dont expect Ill
  ever learn
• I know how to read, but I do not expect to
  graduate from high school
• I will definitely finish high school, and may
  continue my formal education

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• Social Security
• When I grow old, or am unable to work, I expect
  my family to provide for me
• I hope to rely on my personal savings, when I
  grow old, or am unable to work
• When I grow old, or am unable to work, the
  government will take care of me

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• Status Symbols
• I believe that the position I hold in the
  workforce, and the money I accumulate in life are
  the most important gauges of how successful I
  have been
• A large family is more important to me that a
  successful career
• My status in the workforce is important to me,
  but family is equally important

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• Time and Money Management
• Raising children takes a lot of time and money,
  and I would rather be doing other things with
  those resources
• Raising children may be expensive, but it is
  something I want to do with my life
• My children will be very useful to me as workers,
  and will help support the family

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• Health
• If I have children, Id expect them to have long,
  full lives
• If I have children, there is a good chance that
  they wouldnt live very long

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• Personal beliefs
• I have been taught that my responsibility in life
  is to have as many children as I can, and I
  intend to do just that
• I believe that no one should tell me how many
  children I should have. That decision is for me
  and my spouse to make
• I believe that the world just has too many
  people, and wed all be better off if there were
  fewer

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• Timing
• Id like to be a parent by the time I turn 20
• If Im not a parent by the time Im 40, no
  problem
• Id like to be a parent by the time I turn 35

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Results

• Give yourself points as follows
• A 1, B 2, C 3
• A 3, B 3, C 2
• A 3, B 2, C 2
• A 1, B 3, C 2
• A 1, B 2, C 3
• A 2, B 3
• A 3, B 2, C 1
• A 3, B 1, C 2

• Your score
• 11 0 Children
• 12-14 1 child
• 15-17 2 children
• 18 3 children
• 19-24 4 or more children