Why Does Population Growth Vary Among Regions?

Chapter 2 Key Issue 3

Demographic Transition Model

Explaining Spatial Patternsof World Population GrowthMany graphics in this powerpoint are from Michael Kuby et al.,

Human Geography in Action (instructor package) or online materials posted by Keith Montgomery, Dept of Geology and Geography, Univ

of Wisconsin - Marathon County (http://www.uwmc.uwc.edu/geography/Demotrans/demtran.htm)

The Demographic Transition

• Process of Change in society’s population from high CBR, CDR, and low NIR to a condition of low CBR, CDR, and NIR

Demographic Transition Model

DTM only predicts changes in birth/death rates over time

Observed changes in NIR correlate to changes in economic development

Thus, DTM implies:The greater the wealth,the lower the NIR... but use caution describing this relationship

Stages in Classic 4-Stage Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

(Some books show a 3-stage model; others mention a new 5th stage)

Stage 1: “Pre-Industrial”

High birth rates and high death rates (both about 40)

Population growth very slow

Agrarian society

High rates of communicable diseases

Pop. increases in good growing years;declines in bad years (famine, diseases)

No country or world region still in Stage One

Stage 2: “Early Industrial”

High birth rates (over 30) but death rates decline (to about 20)

RNIs increase sharply (pop. explosion); growth rate increases thruout Stage Two

Growth not from increase in births, but from decline in deaths

MDCs = starts early 1800sLDCs = starts after 1950s

TRANSITION TO STAGE TWO IN CLASSIC DTMKnown as the Epidemiologic Transition

Agricultural technology

Improvements in food supply: higher yields as agricultural practices

improved in “Second Agricultural Revolution” (18th century)

In Europe, food quality improved as new foods introduced from Americas

Medical technology

Better medical understanding (causes of diseases; how they spread)

Public sanitation technologies

Improved water supply (safe drinking water)

Better sewage treatment, food handling, and general personal hygiene

Improvements in public health especially reduced childhood mortality

Declining Infant Mortality Rates

When IMR declines, fertility rates drop soon after

Stage 3: “Later Industrial”

Birth rates decline sharply (to about 15)

Death rates decline a bit more (to about 10 or less)

Note growth still occurs, but at a reduced and declining rate

MDCs = starts in late 1800sLDCs = starts after 1980s*

* Or hasn’t started yet

Measles Mortality, US, since 1900

TB Mortality, US, since 1900

Stage Three:

Further improvements in medicine lower death rates more; raise life expectancies

TRANSITION TO STAGE THREE IN CLASSIC DTMKnown as the Fertility Transition

Societies become more urban, less rural

Declining childhood death in rural areas (fewer kids needed)

Increasing urbanization changes traditional values about having children

City living raises cost of having dependents

Women more influential in childbearing decisions

Increasing female literacy changes value placed on motherhoodas sole measure of women’s status

Women enter work force: life extends beyond family, changes attitude

toward childbearing

Improved contraceptive technology, availability of birth control

But contraceptives not widely avail in 19th century; contributed little to

fertility decline in Europe … Fertility decline relates more to change in

values than to availability of any specific technology

Population Classified as Urban

Rapidly increasing urbanization in world LDCs today

Strong inverse relationship between female literacy and fertility rates, observed globally

Increasing availability and use of modern

contraception in most LDCs since

1970s

Stage 4: “Post-Industrial”

Birth rates and death rates both low (about 10)

Population growth very low or zero

MDCs = starts after 1970sLDCs = hasn’t started yet

Stage 5 (?): Hypothesized (not in Classic DTM)

Much of Europe now or soon in population declineas birth rates drop far below replacement level

Key Population Indicators for Selected Countries

Differences in DTM experience: MDCs & LDCs● Faster decline in death rates — Tech improvements diffused from MDCs & applied rapidly in LDCs post-WW2

● Longer lag between decline in deaths and decline in births — Stage 3 slower start in LDCs where econ growth is delayed

● Higher max rates of growth in LDCs — Over 3.5% peak RNI in Mauritius and Mexico; only 1.3% peak in Sweden

Percentage of Population Under Age 15

Age structures today in LDCs are much younger than MDCs experienced – leading to prolonged “Demographic Momentum” – expected growth of pop. long after fertility declines

The Demographic Transition

Fig. 2-13: The demographic transition consists of four stages, which move from high birth and death rates, to declines first in death rates then in birth rates, and finally to a stage of low birth and death rates. Population growth is most rapid in the second stage.

Population Pyramid of the U.S.

Population Pyramids in U.S. cities

Fig. Population pyramids can vary greatly with different fertility rates (Laredo vs. Honolulu), or among military bases (Unalaska), college towns (Lawrence), and retirement communities (Naples).

Rapid Growth

in Cape Verde

Cape Verde, which entered stage 2 of the demographic transition in about 1950, is experiencing rapid population growth. Its population history reflects the impacts of famines and out-migration.

Moderate Growth in

Chile

Chile entered stage 2 of the demographic transition in the 1930s, and it entered stage 3 in the 1960s.

Low Growth in Denmark

Denmark has been in stage 4 of the demographic transition since the 1970s, with little population growth since then. Its population pyramid shows increasing numbers of elderly and few children.

• Critics – Based on England– Billions and much faster then ever before– Graying Population – Medical Revolution- 1900’s

• Demographic Momentum (hidden momentum)

Summary of DTM for LDCs

Industrializing LDCs with some economic development follow DTM more closely; now in Stage Three. Most like MDCs in places where female literacy has increased the most.

Lowest-income countries have high birth rates and deaths are leveling off at higher rates than DTM predicts (Stage Two).

In some LDCs, death rates starting to increase (epidemics, worsening poverty)

Dependency Ratio

• # of people too old (65 years & up) or too young (0-14 years) to work compared to the # of productive workers

Fig. 2-12: The crude death rate (CDR) is the total number of deaths in a country per 1000 population per year. Because wealthy countries are in a late stage of the Demographic Transition, they often have a higher CDR than poorer countries.

Percent of Population Under

Age 15

Sex Ratio

• # of males per 100 females in the population

POPULATION STRUCTUREThe population pyramid displays the age and sex structure of a country or given area

Usually, but not always,in % to make for easiercomparisonsbetween countries

FEMALESTo the rightMALES

To the left

Population inFive YearAge bands

OLD DEPENDANTS

ECONOMICALLYACTIVE

YOUNG DEPENDANTS

What Population Pyramids Show Us

KEY

slope of pyramid indicate the death rate

width of the base is related to birth rate/fertility rate

proportions of men and women can suggest male or female migrations

height of graph can indicate life expectancy (ignore the very thin end of the wedge as occurs on graph B as these people are a definite minority)

"kinks" indicate dramatic reductions in birth rate or increases in death rate in the past

area of graph indicates total population - compare areas of differentpopulation age groups or different sex on one graph

The overall shape of the population pyramid can indicate whether it is an Economically More Developed Country or Economically Less Developed Country

Economically More Developed Country

Economically LessDeveloped Country

Population Pyramids related to the Demographic Transition Model

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4

Both birth rates andDeath rates areHigh, so populationgrowth rates are slow but populationIs usually restoredDue to high birth Rate. Short lifeExpectancy

EXAMPLES: none today - Afghanistan, Ivory Coast (30 years ago)There are no Stage 1 countries today

Population startsto grow at anexponential rate due to fall in Crude Death Rate. More living In middle age.Life expectancy risesInfant mortality rate falls.

EXAMPLES: DR Congo, Yemen, Afghanistan (today)

Population continuesto grow but at slowerrate. Low C Death Rate.Dramatically decliningCrude Birth Rate.

EXAMPLES: India, Brazil (late 3) – Most of world is in 3

IMPLICATIONS IMPLICATIONS IMPLICATIONS IMPLICATIONS

Low Crude Birth Rate and Crude Death RateHigher dependency ratioand longer life expectancyCrude Death Rate does Rise slightly because ofThe ageing population

EXAMPLES: China, United States, Canada, Australia

There is some merit in including or considering a Stage 5 today with a declining population- Europe - Japan

Practice with real pyramids-What Stage of DTM?

3

2

4

5

Practice with real pyramids-What Stage of DTM is US? Challenging – why?

2011 Data• TFR 2.1• BR 14• DR 8• Natural Increase: .6%• Growth Rate: .9%

• Why is Growth Rate higher?

• How does this impact pyramid?

• Pyramid looks like a late 3 country.

• But does US fit description profile of Stage 4 better?