Human Population Growth

Demography• The study of populations • (size, growth, make-up)

Global Population Growth• Humans have experienced exponential growth

over time

Growth Factors• Increased food production• Increased hygiene (medicine) • Better shelter (engineering)

Developed Countries• Higher incomes• Slow population growth• Diverse industrial economics

Developing Countries• Low incomes• High population growth• Simple Agricultural Economics

Predicting Growth• Growth increases needs. We must predict growth to

meet needs.• (schools, hospitals, roads, etc)

Age Structure Diagram• distribution of ages in a population at a certain time• Pyramid shape indicates faster growth

Survivorship curve• the percentage of members of a population that are likely

to survive to any given age.

Fertility Rates• Average number of children a woman gives birth to

in her lifetime.

Migration• Moving of individuals between areas.

Life Expectancy• The average number of years individuals in a

population are likely to live

Demographic transition• Describes how changes in industry have affected

growth

Infrastructure• Basic facilities and services that support a

community (water, power, sewer, roads, etc)• Usually lacking in rapidly growing underdeveloped

nations.

Water• water for drinking, washing, and sewage may not be

separated.• (no water treatment to clean it)

Fuel• Fuel is needed for warmth, boiling drinking water,

and cooking (wood in underdeveloped places)• Leads to deforestation

Arable Land• Arable land or natural habitats start being used for

housing.

Urbanization• More developed nations begin moving into

concentrated cities for work• Leads to traffic pollution, overcrowding, strain on

infrastructure

Managing Growth• Negative effects of rapid growth has led some

nations to limit birth rates (China, India, etc)• Ads, Family planning, Economic incentives, or legal

punishments.

Slowing Growth• Lower birth rates are slowing growth. • Some nations are actually getting smaller