Human Populations

Two main issues dealing with Human Population: Population distribution- is the location and density of population Population growth rate- is how population changes

Where do most of the humans population live? 2/3 of the earth’s populations live within 300 miles of an ocean 75% of the earth’s populations live in only 5% of the earth’s land most of the human population live in the Northern Hemisphere

Characteristics of Human Population-( factors used to help define population or a place’s population): a. Birth and Death rates- how many people are being born and how many people are dying (usually per 1,000) within a certain period of time (often a year) impacted by standard of living- which is a population’s average level of necessities, comforts and benefits b. Age distribution- tells how many people are in a various age group c. male/female distribution- ratios or percentages of how many males and females live in a certain areas or countries

Characteristics of Human Population-( factors used to help define population or a place’s population): d. life expectancy- how long a person is expected to live e. infant mortality- number of children per 1,000 who die before reaching the age of 1 f. urban/rural- tells how many people live in the cities and how many do not

Characteristics of Human Population-( factors used to help define population or a place’s population): g. GDP- is the measure of a countries total value of products, goods and services produced by a country in any given year h. Ethnicity- a person’s race, people may have blended backgrounds i. Language- a person’s native language j. Religion- they may or may not practice a religion k. Education- a person’s level of education (high school, college, none)

Factors that influence population distribution: (where people live) a. Natural resources- like arable land, oil and water b. Climate- hot/cold, wet/dry c. Economic development- like job opportunities d. Government policy- like restrictions on where people can live or taxes

Factors that influence population distribution: (where people live) e. Rural (country) versus Urban (city) development f. conflict- refugees- people forced from their homes because of natural disasters droughts, floods, volcanic eruptions, wars ect. g. Capital Resources- transportation and technology, also money, buildings and equipment needed for developing industry and trade

Factors that influence growth rates Modern medicine and hygiene- can increase a person’s life span Education- Industrialization- manufacturing businesses that provide services Urbanization- the movement of rural people in to the cities, about ½ of the worlds people live in cities Overurbanization- when a city’s jobs are exhausted and neighborhoods over crowd with unemployed people

Factors that influence growth rates e. Economic development- how do people live? how do they make a living? what do they have money to buy? f. Government Policy- population control China’s one child policy- males are more valued so often female babies are killed or abandoned infanticide- killing of an infant or baby India has voluntary population restrictions Religions like Catholics, Hindus and Muslims do not believe in controlling birth rates g. Role of Women in society- male children are more highly valued, resulting in a shortage of females world wide

Human Migration Regions change over time due to migration or large scale movements of people from place to another. There are two basic reasons for migration To find better living conditions in a more ideal location They are driven out by factors that are seen as “bad”

Pull Factors Religion Economic opportunity Land availability Political freedom Ethnic and family ties Arable land

Push Factors overpopulation religious persecution lack of jobs agricultural decline conflict

Push Factors f. political persecution g. natural hazards droughts famines volcanic eruptions h. limits on personal freedom i. environmental degradation pollution nuclear disasters

Impact of Migrations on Regions- things people bring with them • Language-new languages brought into an area can change the way people talk or communicate • Religion and religious freedom- can bring tolerance or conflict • Customs/traditions- can cause misunderstandings or can enrich a countries own culture • Cultural landscape- things like China towns can change the culture of an area

Evidence of Cultural Interaction • Diffusion of U.S. culture to other regions diffusion is the inclusion of migrants languages, religions and customs into the new their new home US blends cultures from Native- American, African, European, Latin America and Asia into its culture

Evidence of Cultural Interaction • Popularization of other cultures’ traditions in the United States Globalization- the worldwide spread of ideas and practices in the US, things like MTV, Hollywood movies and McDonalds are known world wide

Major Migrations: 1. Urbanization- the movement of people into the cities in search of jobs, can find this in China, Tokyo, Jakarta, Rio, Lagos and Bombay 2. The migration of Hispanics into the US people from Mexico and Latin American countries moving across the border between Mexico and the US in search of jobs, usually to send money home to their families 3. Guest workers- people who migrate so that they can temporarily work in another country

Major Migrations: 4. Nature: a. In the US in the 1930’s there was very little rain and high winds, it resulted in a “dust bowl” and a massive migration of farmers in search of arable lands b. In the 1840’s and 1850’s you have migration from the east coast to the west in search of gold.

Major Migrations: 5. Wars have resulted in migration a. Vietnam war- millions left Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos b. Africa- Rwanda- mass genocide and war forced people out, as well as other parts of Africa going through civil wars c. Israel and Palestine- massive migrations due to war and religious conflicts between Christians, Muslims and Jews