Unit 6Unit 6

6.2. - Population Growth6.2. - Population Growth

Absolute Population Growth

Absolute Growth refers to the actual change in population from one time period to that of another time period.

Example:– Sweden Population 1981 = 8,300,000– Sweden Population 1971 = 7,978,000

Absolute Population Change is:8,300,000 - 7,978,000 = +322,000

• Population GREW by 322,000 people!

Absolute Population Growth – NL ExampleAbsolute Population Growth – NL Example

Example:– NL Population 2001= 512,930– NL Population 1991 = 568,474

Absolute Population Growth is: 512,930 - 568,474 = -55,544

• Population went DOWN by -55,544 people• Actually it didn’t grow – it shrunk!

Public Exam ExamplePublic Exam Example

Growth Rate

• Rate of change (%) in the population• Measured as a ratio of the population change

to the original population.

Population changex 100 = % Growth Rate

Original Population

GR =Pop. Change

X 100% = __ %Original Pop.

Mexico’s population changed from 49 million to 72 million between the years 1971 & 1981. Calculate the GROWTH RATE for Mexico.

GR =72 - 49 million

X 100% =

49 million

Growth Rate = 46.9%

“Annual” Growth Rate (AGR)

• Measures how quickly the population is increasing (or decreasing) PER YEAR

• Expressed as a percentage (% AGR)

• FORMULA:

AGR =

Population Change

X 100 ÷ years for changeOriginal Population

AGR =Pop. Change

X 100% ÷ years for changeOriginal Pop.

Mexico’s population changed from 49 million to 72 million between the years 1971 & 1981. Calculate the Annual Growth Rate for Mexico

AGR =72 - 49 million

X 100% ÷ 10 years for change49 million

AGR = 4.7%

Public Exam ExamplePublic Exam Example

How Fast is Fast?

• 3 categories of growth rates.

• Slow, fast and moderately growing populations.

• Fast growing: – AGR > 2%

• Moderately growing:– AGR approx. = 2%

• Slow growing:– AGR < 2%

AGR =Pop. Change

X 100% ÷ years for changeOriginal Pop.

Sweden’s population changed from 7.9 million to 8.3 million between the years 1971 & 1981

AGR =8.3 – 7.9 million

X 100% ÷ 10 years for change7.9 million

AGR = 0.5%

•Is Sweden slow, moderate or fast growing?

•Mexico’s Annual Growth rate was at 4.7%...Is that slow, moderate or fast growing?

Trends in population growth rates

• Most countries’ population growth rates are declining... Especially developed nations.

• Generally speaking, the more developed the nation - the more stable the population.

• This trend towards lower growth rates should not be confused with decreasing populations.

• The world’s population is still growing at a phenomenal rate.

• Look at figure 18.6as an illustration

Factors Affecting Population Growth Rates Factors Affecting Population Growth Rates (7)

Education rate of the masses Education of females Employment for females Ability to access birth control Service sector jobs & the move from agriculture to

urbanization Health care Others…

Education rate of the masses Education rate of the masses (2)

• more aware of birth control

• increased education is correlated with decreased

number of children

Education of females Education of females (4)

• the education of women has resulted in them taking on a greater variety of societal roles in developed nations.

• Career-oriented, having children put on hold.

• Number of children reduced.

• Statistics show that more educated women tend to

have fewer children.

Employment for females Employment for females (4)

• Females working outside the home are more common in developed nations.

• This goes hand in hand with increased education.

• Women are having children later in life and are having fewer children

• Put family on hold to develop a career.

Ability to access birth control Ability to access birth control (3)

• Birth control is a simple task in a developed nation, in lesser developed nations the cost is prohibitive.

• Feeding the family takes precedent over birth control.

• Furthermore the availability of places to obtain birth

control is also a big problem.

Service sector jobs & the move from Service sector jobs & the move from agriculture to urbanization agriculture to urbanization (4)

• people do not need large families to help on the farm as in the past or in under-developed countries.

• Developing and developed countries - they work in the city where the jobs are predominantly in manufacturing and in the service sector.

• Jobs - Birth rates also fall off when unemployment is low.

• Affects an area's income and, thus, its access to many other factors listed. Higher income/more developed countries have lower birth and death rates.

Health care Health care (4)

• Prenatal and family planning services are expensive and are predominantly found in more developed nations.

• Our government collects millions of dollars in taxes that contribute to public health nurses, hospitals, family planning clinics, and family living courses in grade school.

• Can affect both death rate (by increasing average life expectancy) and birth rate (babies are more likely to survive past childhood).

• Ex. Access to immunizations, family planning and birth control are also important to the overall picture of population growth.

Other Factors Other Factors (3)

• Age structure of the population - the number of women of child bearing age affects the rate of population growth (Births!).

• Total fertility rate - Total fertility rate (TFR) is the average number of children that each woman will have in her lifetime and affects the birth rate.

• Climate - Natural disasters such as drought or flooding can affect food resources and the population will be affected accordingly.

Other Factors Other Factors (2)

• Standard of living - Birth rates are lower where standards of living and quality of life are high. Unfortunately, standards of living are difficult to raise in areas where population growth is high - this creates a negative feedback loop that is difficult for some countries to get out of.

• immigration/emigration - the number of people entering or leaving a country (area) actually changes the population in a more complex way than by altering birth rate or death rate.

Other Factors Other Factors (2)

• Disease - in a given year (or even decade) epidemics of infectious diseases can increase death rate dramatically, particularly for a specific area. For example, the bubonic plague, AIDS, etc..

• War/political upheaval - War and political upheaval can also increase death rates.

Population Control – Population Control – the short version!the short version!

• WANT More ($ needed) = • Need better education = • Leads to better jobs = • MORE financial restraints = How so?• WORK MORE = • Less children / Wait to have them• need for contraception = • Population control.

What are some of the characteristics of What are some of the characteristics of developed countries with a near - static developed countries with a near - static

population growth?population growth?

• Page 306 (textbook)• What stage of the demographics transition

model is this consistent with?