Population Geography I The Where and Why of Population Density Distribution Demographics (Characteristics) Dynamics

World Population

Density of World Population

Select Population Densities (people/mi 2 ) Lower 48 states 94.7 NJ 1134 Lincoln Co., NV 0.4 Manhattan 66,834 Wisconsin 98.8 Eau Claire Co. 146 Florence Co Milwaukee Co. 3885

High density in Bangladesh

Distribution: Why do we live where we live?

Population Distribution in North America

Trans-Siberian railroads in eastern Russia Omsk

Characteristics Ascribed –Gender –Race –Age Achieved –Education –Income –Occupation –Employment –Etc.

Census: Count of population and its characteristics

Dynamics Rate of Natural Increase (RNI) Births - Deaths = RNI

National population Births - Deaths + Immigration (in) -Emigration (out) = Population growth

Population increase and decrease

World Birth Rate (births per 1,000 population)

Doubling Time Number of years it will take for population to double, at current rate United States: 117 years Nicaragua: 21 years

World Death Rate (deaths per 1,000 population)

Epidemics (AIDS)

Infant mortality rate (deaths of infants <1 year old) Lack of maternal health care or child nutrition

Life Expectancy at Birth

Dependents are under 15 & over 65 How many are supported by group Problems? Dependency Ratio

AGE DYNAMICS

Low birth and death rates in Core Low population growth (except immigration) Steadily older population “Graying of the Core”

Population Pyramid tracks age-sex groups (cohorts)

U.S. (slow growth)

Tanzania, Africa (rapid growth)

Denmark (zero growth)

Germany (effect of wars)

Japan (effect of war)

China (One-child policy)

Sun City (Arizona) retirement community

Demographic Transition Move from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates Took centuries of development for Core (highly developed countries to make transition More difficult for Periphery (LDCs) to make transition without its own capital, skills, education

Demographic Transition

Stages of Demographic Transition 1. Pre-Industrial Equilibrium (high birth/death rates) 2. Early Industrialization (better sanitation) 3. Developed industrialization (better health care) 4. Post-Industrial Equilibrium (low birth/death rates) 1234

Demographic Transition in Denmark HDC (low birth/death rates)

Demographic Transition in Chile Developing

Demographic Transition in Cape Verde, Africa Lesser Developed (high birth/death rates)

POPULATION GROWTH

Population growth in Periphery: Cause or symptom of poverty and environmental degradation?

Fertility Rate (# children per woman of childbearing age)

Not confirmed in reality Malthus Theory of “Overpopulation”

Ehrlich Theory of “Population Bomb” Population growth would deplete resources –Can be true on local/national level Treats population as cause

HDC responsibility for LDC growth HDCs consumes far more resources Demands cheap, unskilled young labor Population growth is a symptom of poverty

Why parents in LDCs have kids Better chance for one kid to survive Bring in the crops and income Help parents in old age Women often lack power to not have kids

Women’s empowerment: Contraception Rates

Policies to lower birth rate Voluntary –Availability of birth control –Incentives for small families Forced –One-child policy (China) –Coercive “population control” Social –Empowerment of women –Better health care and education –End to child labor –Social security