Ch. 2: Population
Introduction & Case Study (p. 44-47)
- Why is the study of population so critical?
- What characteristics of population are important to demography?
- Describe what overpopulation looks like at a local or regional level.
- Case Study: Why is India’s rapid population growth both an asset AND a challenge?
Key Issue #1: Where Is the World’s Population Distributed? (p. 47-53)
- List the 4 major world population clusters in order of size, beginning with the largest.
- Study figure 2-1. How does the population cartogram alter the size and shape of countries?
- Give examples that illustrate the importance of water access, favorable climate, and latitude on the world’s population distribution.
- Complete the following chart:
REGION / PERCENT OF WORLD POP. / MAJOR COUNTRIES/CITIES/ISLANDS / URBANIZATION / ADVANTAGES
East Asia / 20% (1/5) / China, Japan, North & South Korea, Taiwan
Tokyo & Osaka (Japan)
Seoul (South Korea) / China – 2/3 rural
Japan & South Korea – 75% urban / Pacific Ocean
Huang & Yangtze Rivers
South Asia
Southeast Asia / ½ billion people (8%)
Europe
Northeast U.S. & Southeast Canada
West Africa
- What is ecumene, and why has it increased over time?
- Describe the location of deserts on the globe AND give examples of major deserts.
- Why are deserts generally avoided AND how have people made deserts more hospitable?
- Where are wet lands generally found AND why are they typically avoided?
- Why are cold lands typically avoided?
- Why are high lands typically avoided? Why are some high areas preferred AND give examples.
- Why is arithmetic density useful for geographers?
- What is the importance of physiological density? What can be learned by comparing arithmetic density to physiological for the same location or country?
- How is agricultural density different from physiological? What does comparing the two help geographers learn about an area?
Key Issue #2: Where Has the World’s Population Increased? (p. 53-57)
- How is the Natural Increase Rate (NIR) computed?
- What has happened to the NIR in the last half-century?
- Approximately how many people are currently added to world population each year?
- Where is most natural increase occurring worldwide?
- What is Total Fertility Rate (TFR) AND where is it the highest?
- What is Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) AND where is it the highest?
- What is Life Expectancy AND where is it the highest?
- Complete the chart by indicating each as either LOW or HIGH:
CBR / CDR / NIR / Doubling / TFR / Life Exp. / IMR
MDC
LDC
Key Issue #3: Why Is Population Increasing at Different Rates in Different Countries? (p. 57-67)
- What is the Demographic Transition?
- Complete the following chart of the Demographic Transition using HIGH, MODERATE, or LOW:
Stage / Pop. Growth / CBR / CDR / NIR
1
2
3
4
- Describe the conditions of a country in Stage 1 of the Demographic Transition.
- What can cause the CDR to drop, allowing a country to enter Stage 2?
- Describe how the Industrial Revolution contributed to the beginning of Stage 2 in Europe & North America.
- Describe how countries in Asia, Latin America, and Africa entered Stage 2.
- What societal changes must occur for a country to reach Stage 3?
- What is ZPG and how is it reached?
- What societal changes have occurred to push countries into Stage 4?
- Describe possible Stage 5 and Stage 6 of the Demographic Transition.
- How are Stages 1 & 4 similar and how are they different?
- How has England’s population changed since 1750?
- What is a population pyramid and what influences the shape of the pyramid?
- What is the dependency ratio? How is the ratio vastly different in African countries versus European countries?
- What is the sex ratio?
- Study Figure 2-16 on page 63. Why are the population pyramid shapes of Unalaska, AK; Lawrence, KS; and Naples, FL so different than the USA pyramid?
- Give examples of regions and/or countries in each stage of the Demographic Transition:
Stage 1:
Stage 2:
Stage 3:
Stage 4:
Stage 5:
- Read Contemporary Geographic Tools on p. 65. What is the census? Why is accurate & full participation in the census so important?
- Read Global Forces, Local Impacts on p. 67. Why is Japan’s projected population decline a serious issue for Japan? How is Japan addressing the issue?
Key Issue #4: Why Might the World Face an Overpopulation Problem? (p. 67-76)
- Explain Thomas Malthus’s theory on population growth relative to food supply.
- How do Neo-Malthusians suggest that Malthus was correct and/or that reality may be worse than Malthus predicted?
- In what ways do critics disagree with Malthus?
- Explain which is occurring: world overpopulation or regional/local overpopulation.
- What has actually happened to population growth and food supply since Malthus’s predictions and why?
- What 2 major strategies are used for reducing CBR? What challenges exist for each of these options?
- What is the epidemiologic transition? How does it relate to the Demographic Transition?
- Complete the chart:
Stage / Description / Specific Diseases & Causes of Death
1
2
3
4
5
- What regions & countries have been hit hardest by HIV/AIDS?