Introduction

 Population: All the organisms of one species living in a defined area at the
same time.
 Population has increased over the last 200 years. It reached the total of 7
billion in 2011 and estimated to reach 9.5 billion by 2050.
 Population growth puts huge pressure on resources. More food is to be
produced to feed increasing number of people. This leads to over
cultivation and overgrazing which increases the rates of deforestation, soil
erosion and desertification. Seas and oceans have been overfished.
 The increase in population increases the demand for fuel and mineral
resources for industrial growth, heating and transport. Large number of
population lives in cities (urbanization). This led to habitat loss and created
major problems such as land and water pollution from waste disposal.
History of human population
About 10,000 years ago, there were about 5 million people living as
hunter/gatherers.
Significant points in the growth of the human population since then are:
 About 6000 years ago, humans started growing crops and rearing animals,
which provided more food and allowed the population to begin to grow.
 By the time the modern system of counting years started, the population
was about 250 million.
 It then took another 1800 years to reach 1 billion.
 After this, the growth become very rapid.
 By 1930, it was 2 billion; by 1975, it was 4 billion; by 2016, it was over 7
billion, a rise of 3 billion in just 37 years.
Changes in population size
Lag phase: the period of time in population growth when an organism is adapting
to its new environment and the growth is slow.
Log/exponential phase: when the growth rate of a population increases overtime
as all requirements are in superabundance. Stationary phase: when the growth
rate of a population has slowed down to zero as the carrying capacity is reached.
Carrying capacity: the maximum size of a population that an environment can
support in terms of food, water and other resources.
Problems caused by population growth
• Deforestation to provide land for agriculture or housing (urbanization)
• This leads to soil deterioration (overcultivation and overgrazing), soil
erosion, desertification and salinization
• Pressure on natural resources (water, soil and minerals)
• Overcrowding results in loss of woodlands habitats.
• Pollution: Air from traffic congestion and factories, Water from sewage,
fertilizers and litter)
• Unemployment, crime and lack of security

Distribution and density

Population density refers to how many people live in a certain area and is
calculated by total population divided by area, usually expressed as people per
square Km.
Population distribution describes how people are spread over an area.
Example: very few or no people live in deserts and mountains, whereas
populations are very high in coastal areas due to availability of fresh water.
Population density of an area is an average. Botswana has a population density of
3.75per square km but most people are distributed in the wetter east in clusters
with densities over 10 per square km. Most of the rest of the country is part of the
Kalahari Desert with a population density of less than one per square km.
Factors influencing population density and distribution.
Physical (natural) factors.
Climate: Tolerable temperatures of temperate zone make it the most favorable for
settlement. Example: Europe
Low population density occurs where it is:
 Too wet like the Amazon Basin, where rainfall exceeds1500mm and
temperature range between 26 to 27⁰C. Muddy grounds, flooding rivers,
extremely high humidity where insects pests and disease flourish
preventing people from settling and working. Trees are huge and difficult to
fell and remove. Attempts to make roads are hampered because vegetation
regrows quickly. Remote forests interiors are inhabited by small tribes,
unless there is an economic opportunity to attract investors.
Exceptions: Java, Indonesia is densely populated, despite having the equatorial
climate because it has fertile volcanic soils and slopping relief that allows rain to
run off and fertile coastal low land.
 Too dry like hot deserts where annual rainfall is less than [Link]
agriculture is impossible without irrigation and vegetation is sparse and
lacking nutrition to support pastoral farming. Population clusters occur in
oases where water sustain irrigated farming.
Exceptions: The Sahara Desert is densely populated along the Nile valley where
the river supplies ample irrigation water, and before being dammed, used to
deposit fertile alluvial soil on its flood plain during annual floods. The gentle relief
is suitable for intensive cropping, transport and settlements.
 Too cold like polar zone which lacks population. The tundra in northern
North America and Eurasia has very little population because winters are
long, dark and bitterly cold with snow and frozen ground. Summers are
short, with few warm months to allow crops to grow. The average
temperature of the warmest month is below 10⁰ C. The summer makes the
ground muddy as the permafrost beneath the thawed surface is
impermeable. Transport is difficult in these areas, as freezing and thawing
cause the ground to move by expanding and contracting.
Exceptions: Yellowknife Canadian tundra where gold is extracted, clusters of
population exist. Physical difficulties are overcome for economic benefits.
Relief:
Mountains have low population. Very steep slopes make transport difficult. There
is insufficient gently sloping land for large-scale economic activity and settlement
to be developed. Pastoral farming support a limited number of people and thinner
air provide less oxygen so breathing is difficult.
Areas of moderate height in the tropics provide refuge from heat and humidity;
their flatter areas are more populated than adjacent lowlands. Lowland without
climatic extremes are densely populated because accessibility is good and there
are no obstacles to settlement or economic activity, so many people can make
living.
Soils: The most fertile soils have been under a cover of rich grassland for long
period; derived from alluvium deposited when rivers flood; or weathered from
basic lava in volcanic areas. Acidic rocks weather to produce soils with few
nutrients, which need high amounts of expensive fertilizers to be productive.
Mineral wealth: Dense population develop where minerals occur in abundance.

Human factors.
Cultural factors can determine whether rural population is scattered or clustered,
because many groups and tribes traditionally live together. Population migration
caused density to increase in one area and decrease in the source area. The coasts
of east Australia and northeast USA are often the most densely populated areas
partly because they were where the colonizers first settled.
Economic factors are the most determinants of population density. Most densely
populated areas are cities where the development of transport, industry and
services led to employment opportunities. Port cities are particularly favorable for
economic activity. (Singapore and Hong Kong).
Big industrial zones which support populations developed in areas having both
coal and iron ore fields. The resulting iron and steel industry provided raw
materials for other industries, such as engineering. Good transport network
developed, along with a pool of skilled labor which attracted more industry and
population growth.
Rural population density depends on how many people the type of farming can
sustain by employment and output. They are low in areas of:
• Pastoral subsistence farming where it takes large land to support an animal
and many animals to support a person.
• Commercial ranching where little labor is required.
• Commercial arable farming where machines replace labor.
Intensive farming requires abundant labor. (Rice farming in valleys of SE Asia have
high crop yields to support dense population.)
Natural resources do not always lead to prosperity which can sustain dense
populations. This can only happen if the country has enough wealth to provide the
infrastructure to exploit the resources.

Example: Despite having many minerals like oil, coal and iron, Mongolia is the
country with the third lowest population density. (1.7 per square km)
• It is a land-locked country far away from ports, with unpaved roads and only
one railway.
• Grassy plains in the north have low carrying capacity, semi-desert in the
south, mountains in the west and no arable land.
• Lack of water and desertification.
• Extremely cold winters and very low precipitation in summer.

Overpopulation/underpopulation
An overpopulated area does not necessarily have a high population and an
underpopulated area does not have a low population.
Overpopulation means there are few resources to sustain the number of people in
an area.
Underpopulation means that there are not enough people to fully exploit
resources in the area to maximize their economic potential.
Reasons for high birth rates
Reasons for high birth rates:
Cultural and social reasons.
 In some cultures, men have higher prestige the more children they have.
 Women lack education in some societies and do not have careers.
 Traditional early marriages cause children-bearing to start early.
 Parents expect that children will look after them when they are old.
 In polygamous societies a man may have more than one wife.
Religion.
 Some religions do not allow or approve birth control. (Roman catholic,
Muslims and Hindu)
Demographic reasons.
 Higher birth rates result when there are more females of child-bearing age.
Economic reasons
 Children are needed to work on family farms in LEDCs.
 Poor countries have high infant mortality rates, so people have more
children to ensure that some survive.
 In poor economies where literacy rates are low and there is no education,
people lack the knowledge about family planning and are unaware of the
benefits of having fewer children.
 In more inaccessible rural areas, lack of knowledge and education are
widespread as is poverty. People are unable to afford contraceptives or visit
clinics.
Reasons for low birth rates
 Family planning available.
 Women are educated and pursue careers.
 Socially, it is accepted to have1 or 2 children.
 Economically children cost their parents money and do not contribute to
family income.
 Governments set an age where under it a person is a minor and not allowed
to marry.
 Infant mortality rates are lower due to better medical care.
 Population have smaller percentages of child bearing age.
 Pensions and social care for elderly make people less reliant on children in
their old age.
Reasons for high death rates
 Lack of medical care and good nutrition due to poverty
 Lack of access sanitation and clean water supply.
 Outbreak of diseases like AIDS and Ebola had a great impact in many African
countries.
 Natural disasters like droughts and famines.
 Political conflicts and wars which lead to inadequate food supply and
malnutrition.
Death rates in some MEDCs are higher than expected. In USA obesity leads to
health problems, while smoking and alcohol consumption in Russia has caused
the death rate to increase.
Reasons for lower death rates
With the exception of some war-torn countries, death rates have been falling as a
result of:
 The development of new medicines, better trained doctors, better access to
clinics, and eradication of diseases by vaccination.
 Schemes to improve access to safe clean water and sanitation in developing
countries to improve health.
 Increased food supplies.
Migration
Migration is having an increasing impact on populations and economies. It is
growing because of improved transport, the spread of information by the internet
and media, globalization, population increase and conflicts.
Types of migration
Urban to rural: Occurs in developed countries where cities are too large, crowded,
noisy, increased crime, increased house prices and polluted air push wealthier
inhabitants move to quieter countryside near the city.
Voluntary migration
The main reason for voluntary movement is to leave a country with population
pressure and few jobs for one where work is available. These economic migrants
mainly take jobs in services, particularly those locals do not want to do. Some
MEDCs only take immigrants with skills the country needs. Globalization and
transitional corporations have also been influential, as business people move to
work within the company in another country.
Forced migration: Migration resulting from natural disasters, such as flooding or
earthquakes, or instability like war and persecution.
Migration can be international, from one country to another, or internal within
the same country. Types of internal migration are rural to rural, rural to urban,
urban to urban or urban to rural. Factors which cause people to move out of their
source areas are termed push factors, while those that attract migrants to
destination area are known as pull factors.
Rural to urban:
 Impacts of international migration
Impact On country of origin(LEDC) On destination
country(MEDC)
Negative Reduced labor force, More pressure on schools,
economic especially young adults. hospitals so more taxes. High
impact Agricultural output fails, birth rates of migrants’ impact
shortage of skilled workers, on population structure. Takes
teachers ,doctors. jobs from locals people as
migrants are willing to work
for lower wages.
Positive Reduced pressure on Reduced labor costs. Skill
economic services, houses. Earnings shortages reduced. Migrants
impact sent homes boost economy. earn enough money to pay
Reduced unemployment. taxes.
Negative Migrant separated from Religious and cultural
social older family members who conflicts. House prices in an
impact lose support. Less potential area are reduced.
husbands for young women
left behind.
Positive Most migrants are of child Understanding other cultures
social bearing age, so the birth and adds interest and variety.
impact rates reduces ,as do
pressure on schools and
hospitals
Population structure.
Population structure is the age and gender composition of a population.
It is illustrated by a population pyramid, a diagram which show a
number of male and female in five-year age ranges. The structure of a
population can be analyzed by examining similarities or differences in:
 Young dependents aged 0-14
 Economically active population of working age, 15-64, whose
taxes help support the non-working groups
 All dependents aged 65 and above
 The total number or proportion of each gender
 The gender balance in each age group
Population structure in LEDCs
The combination of high birth rate and a high but declining death rate
causes the population to grow rapidly.
 A high birth rate shown by a wide base.
 A thin top shows the high death rate
 Low life expectancy is shown by few reaching 80
 As age groups decrease in age they increase in size giving concave
sides which indicates an expanding population
Population structure in more developed LEDCs
 It has a perfectly triangular population pyramid with straight
sloping sides rising from a fairly wide base.
 Middle and old aged groups are wider as a result of reducing
death rate.
 Life expectancy has increased as there are more in the 85 to 89
age group.
Population structure in MEDCs

 The population pyramid is more domed-shaped.

 A narrow base showing a lower birth rate
 Wide top shows a reduced death rate
 A higher pyramids indicating higher life expectancy
 Bulges in the sides may indicate immigration
Population structure in MEDCs
Some MEDCs like Japan or Italy have a pyramid shape that indicates:
 An aging population; there are more old dependents than young
dependents
 A high life expectancy because more are living to over 100 than
before
 Below the age of 40 it narrows towards the base showing the
declined birth rate
Problems caused by the expanding population (0-19) of LEDCs

 Dependency ratio is high with high percentage of young and few

old.
 Population will grow rapidly as many young people will soon be
off child-bearing age.
 The government will need to spend on family planning, child
clinics and new schools.
 Economy and food production need to expand to keep pace with
population growth.

Problems caused by the ageing population of MEDCs

 More old people need health and social care; more retirement or
nursing homes and hospitals.
 Governments spend more on pensions.
 High taxes because the working population is comparatively low
and dependency ratio is high.
 With fewer young adults, there will be fewer children born in the
future, so population will decline.
 It is more difficult to find suitable candidates for some jobs.
Managing population growth
 Family planning services& information (using the media)
 Free contraceptives
 Education for women
 Better employment and standard of living to decrease need for
large families
 Late marriages. (Governments set an age where under it a person is
a minor and not allowed to marry)
 Improve sanitation and healthcare to reduce infant mortality rates.
 Incentives for small families, including cash and priority to schools
and fines or withdrawing tax allowances form bigger ones.
 Limiting family size by law, such as China's on child policy.

Family planning services& information.

Some countries encourage contraception through advertising and
media. They build birth control clinics and train doctors and nurses.
They distribute free contraceptives.
Success has been limited in LEDCs because:
 People in rural areas are unaware that they can access free
contraception.
 There is a limit on how much expenditure the government
of a poor country can make when there are so many other
problems to solve.
 In some countries, the available help with contraception is
not taken up for religious and cultural reasons. Muslim and
Roman Catholic countries are reluctant to spend on family
planning.
Pronatalist policies
 Encourage couples to have more children to increase the population.
 Incentives or grants are given for having children.
 Favored treatment in housing.
 Paid maternity or paternity leaves.
 Subsided nurseries and schools.
 Subsided or free health care.
 Free or fare reduction on public transport.
 Educating people about the importance of children to the economy
and problems of ageing population.
 Pension schemes for mothers or housewives.
Why family planning fails?
 Poverty –too poor to provide health services that support the
policy(E)
 Political instability, wars conflicts and corruption of local officials(P)
 Islam: Dominant faith in N. Africa and Middle East opposes the use
of contraception. (S)
 Subsistence farming everywhere view children as assets(S)
China (one-child policy)
The Chinese government decided in 1997 to enforce a one-child policy
and to set a minimum age for marriage. Couples had to apply to be
married, and again before having a child. Those who failed to conform
were deprived of benefits, had to pay a fine and were liable to forced
abortions and, in extreme cases, sterilization.
The policy has been successful in reducing birth rate and population
growth. At present China is more concerned with ageing population
than with its declining proportion of young children. China’s ageing
population resulted in an increase in life expectancy. It increased from
40 in 1950 to 73 in 2010.
Predictions suggest that the percentage of Chinese people aged60 and
over will increase from 10 per cent in 1980 to 30 percent by 2050. China
is now developing a 4-2-1 family structure. This is when a one child
starts to work, he or she will have to care for two parents and four
grand parents who are retirement.
 Benefits of one child: Free education, priority in housing and
incentives
 Those who have more than one child: No free education or
incentives, heavy fines.
 Measures taken by government: forced abortions, compulsory
sterilization
 Problems: too few young people, workers, women and too many
old people. Ageing population costs money & increase demand for
pension, medical services and care provision. China’s great
economic growth is based on masses of cheap labor.
Thailand
Successful and effective family planning programs that uses media,
economic incentives and community involvement. The message sent,
links family planning and low family size to high standard of living.
Organizing events and register farmers for family planning in exchange
for financial benefits such as above market prices for their crops or
reduced transport costs to market).
Demographic transitional model
It demonstrates how the population changed over time. It shows the
shifts from high birth rates to low birth rates; population rapid increase;
decreased birth rates and slow population growth.
Improved health and education
Improving health care reduces infant mortality rate. As more children
stay alive, the need to have as many as before reduces, so birth rate
decline. More doctors and nurses are trained to work in family planning
clinics and provide help and support especially in rural areas. Education
help women pursue their careers and a main factor in late marriages.
Education can lead to a more inclusive society in which women have
more control over their lives and can make decisions about matters that
affect their health. Education helps in providing people with high paying
jobs which increase income and improve standard of living reducing the
need for more children