Population (Geography Project)

Prep I

Introduction:

The world population is the total number of living people on Earth. It is estimated to have exceeded 7

billion on March 12, 2012 (United States Census Bureau).

The world population is experiencing continuous growth. The growth rate keeps fluctuating; sometimes

declining, sometimes increasing. The growth rate peaked in 1963 at 2.2% but declined to 1.1% by 2011.

Total annual births were highest in the late 1980s at about 138 million, and are now expected to remain

constant at their 2011 level of 134 million, while deaths number 56 million per year, and are expected to

increase to 80 million per year by 2040.

Current projections show a continued increase in population in the near future (but a steady decline in

the population growth rate), with the global population expected to reach between 7.5 and 10.5 billion

by 2050.

Population Growth:

Population growth is the change in a population overtime which can be quantified as a change in the

number of people using ‘per unit time’ as measurement.

Population Growth Determinants:

Population growth of a country is determined by four factors:

1) births

2) deaths

3) immigration

4) emigration

Births and deaths are considered to be the natural increase whereas immigration and emigration are

categorised as mechanical changes. Population growth can be both negative and positive i.e. increasing

or decreasing.

What are LEDC and MEDC:

The LEDC (Less Economically Developed Country) includes countries with a lower GDP and a lower

standard of living than MEDC (More Economically Developed Country) countries. Indicators used to

classify countries as LEDC or MEDC include health, industrial development and education. MEDCs pursue

the expansion of manufacturing industries and provide a wider access to in-classroom public education

and wider health facilities than LEDCs, which generally rely on agriculture and have less educational

opportunities for their populations (Contrasts in Development, 2011).

Population Issues in LEDCs

The populations of most less economically developed countries (LEDCs) are growing very rapidly. Most are at stage 2 and 3 of the Demographic Transition Model which means they have declining death rates and high birth rates. Therefore, natural increase is high.

Death rates are declining because of improvements in sanitation and healthcare.

Birth rates are high for a number of reasons:

1. Lack of family planning education. 2. In rural areas children are needed as labour on farms. In urban

areas they are needed to work in the informal sector to earn money for their families. (The term informal sector is used for developing economies. It is that sector of the economy which is not taxed monitored by any form of government or included in any Gross National Product, unlike formal sector e.g. vendors and hawkers etc.)

3. Few people have access to pensions so rely on their children to keep them in old age or when sick

4. Women have a large number of children as there is a high level of infant mortality.

5. Girls are married at a young age. 6. Cultural and religious sensibilities mean it is unacceptable for

families to consider family planning.

Population Issues in MEDCs

In MEDC's the major problem is that of a longer-lived ageing population and the reduction of the birth rate. The main reasons are

1. Higher living standards and better healthcare mean that people are living longer than in LEDCs.

2. Infant mortality rate is very low in MEDCs and most children born survive until old age so fewer children are desired.

3. Women can make decisions about when to have a child; they are putting off having children till later in life.

4. Raising a child costs a great deal of money so people have smaller families.

5. People do not have to depend on their children in their old age, as they get good pensions and government benefits.

6. They have access to family planning methods.

Comparison of population structures of LEDCs and MEDCs:

The features of a population pyramid are similar for both LEDCs and MEDCs, i.e. the basic parameters to study a population pyramid are the same. However, they will look very different as the population

Demographic transition model describes population change over time. It is based on the interpretation begun by the American demographer Warren Thompson of the observed changes in birth and death rates in industrialized societies over the past two hundred years or so (Keith Montgomery, Department of Geography and Geology).

There are four stages in Demographic Transition Model. They are:

Stage 1: Birth rates and Death rates both are high.

Stage 2: Birth rates remain high whereas death rate declines.

Stage 3: Birth rates falls and death rate continue to decline. Population growth moves towards stability.

Stage 4: Birth rates and death rates keep declining.

balance and age-sex structures are different due to the reasons mentioned above. The main features are:

Population is divided into 5 year age groups. Population is divided into males and females (both are shown with different colours) The percentage of each age /gender group is given.

The following are examples of annotated population pyramids of LEDCs and MEDCs.

A population pyramid, also called an age picture diagram, is a graphical illustration that

shows the distribution of various age groups in a population which forms the shape of

a pyramid when the population is growing. It typically consists of two back-to-back bar

graphs, with the population plotted on the X-axis and age on the Y-axis, one showing the

number of males and one showing females in a particular population in five-year age

groups (also called cohorts). Males are conventionally shown on the left and females on

the right.

Population pyramids usually present a very clear image of population. They are often

viewed as the most effective way to graphically depict the age and gender distribution of a

population.

The following are population pyramids of a few LEDCs and MEDCs. Look at them carefully to observe the difference in shape.

Population Pyramid of UK

The three population pyramids shown above illustrate a transition of population growth of Japan from 1950 to 2007 and a projected population growth pyramid by the year 2050. This shows a steady increase in the elderly population of Japan.

Below is a direct comparison of the population pyramid of India (LEDC) and France (MEDC). The broad base of the population pyramid of India shows a higher birth rate as compared to lower birth rate in France.

Somalia is an impoverished country in Africa. It has a typical population pyramid.

Now look at the population pyramid of Belgium. What does the pyramid show? Is it an LEDC or MEDC?

MEDCs are countries which have a high standard of living and a large GDP. LEDCs are countries with a

low standard of living and a much lower GDP.

The map shows the locations of LEDCs and MEDCs. Most of the southern hemisphere is less developed,

while countries in the northern hemisphere are more developed.

Economies by Countries

GDP= Gross Domestic Product PPP= Purchasing Power Parity (Purchasing

power parity (PPP) is a technique used to determine the relative value of currencies in order to

estimate the adjustment needed on the exchange rate between countries according to each

country’s purchasing power.)

The Project

Introduction:

The material covers the basic definitions regarding the topic and population issues of LEDCs and

MEDCs. It also shows a number of population pyramids of both LEDC and MEDC. A careful

observation can make it easy to differentiate between the two.

The Process:

The teacher will make groups and distribute the reading material to the students. It is

important that all the students get the reading material individually.

The Task:

The teacher will provide an envelope to every group containing a blank outline map of the

world and population pyramids of 2 LEDCs and 2 MEDCs, different for each group and other

than the ones given in the reading material, without mentioning the names of the countries.

Ask the students to study them carefully. Separate them under the headings MEDC and LEDC.

They will give a description of pyramids stating why they think a particular pyramid illustrate an

LEDC or MEDC. The teacher will then give the name of the countries. Mark them on the blank

map of the world.

The next step will be to find out 10 LEDCs and 10 MEDCs from the world map. Choose one

country each from both the categories and draw a population pyramid for these two countries.

To make a population pyramid of the selected countries the children can refer to the country’s

economic profile or US Census Bureau, International Data Base. A complete description of

population growth in age and gender categories based on the development indicators have to

be given. Mark these countries on the map as well along with the rest of LEDCs and MEDCs

given in the list.

Number of Periods:

The project can be completed in four periods.

Success Criteria:

Separating the population pyramids of LEDCs and MEDCs from the given pyramids with

reasoning.

Mark the countries on the map. LEDCs with one colour and MEDCs with another colour.

Give description of population growth patterns along with possible reasons.

Identify 10 LEDCs and 10 MEDCs.

Choose one from each category.

Draw population pyramids for both.

Describe population growth for both age and gender based on development indicators.

Mark both the countries on the given map.

Mark the rest of LEDCs and MEDCs on the map.

Use two different colours to mark these countries.

Make a key for the map.

Suggestions:

Encourage the students to use internet and other resources.

Encourage students to use the most recent data available.

At this point it is recommended not to give further knowledge about debates of keeping

one country in either LEDC or MEDC, e.g. China as there is no specific definition of these

terms.

Use of internet for this particular project is highly recommended to have access to the

most recent facts and figures.

Care should be taken to ensure that the links show the official information about any

country.

Some Useful Links:

http://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/informationGateway.php

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Population_structure_and_ag

eing

http://www.nationmaster.com/index.php

http://populationpyramid.net/

http://www.census.gov/population/international/

http://www.marathon.uwc.edu/geography/demotrans/demtran.htm

http://www.gcrio.org/CONSEQUENCES/summer95/population.html

http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/

India

France

Somalia

Belgium