How human factors influence populationdistribution and density

Government-Stable Gov. V. Unstable Gov.-Gov. Policy – e.g. BrasiliaSocio-Economic-Economic Growth -E.g. Dublin v West-ReligionHistoric-Colonisation-Plantation-Famine

Re-cap on last lesson

Population GrowthKey terms:

1. Birth Rates: The number of live births per thousand of a population

2. Death Rates/ Mortality Rates: The number of deaths per thousand of a population

3. Natural Increase: The difference between birth rates and death rates. Birth rates are higher than death rates

4. Natural Decrease: Death rates are higher than birth rates

Factors influencing birth rates and death rates

1. Education and status of women

2. Standard of living

3. Government policy

4. Religion, society and customs

1.Education and status of women (social

factor)

Education allows women to make informed decisions about their family size

By staying in the education system for longer a woman delays having children until she has completed her education

Factors influencing birth rates and death rates

Maeve Binchy -Irish Times

As I grew up, not one of my middle class friends’ mothers went out to work. A home where a mother was not presiding over the cooking, cleaning and general policing of the children was as unthinkable as a home on Mars. And we were constantly told at school, at home in the parish sermon and by all kinds of articles we read in women’s magazines that it was good to be quiet and docile and not to appear too bright or questioning. Men liked to be allowed a bit of swagger, a feeling of importance: it was only fair, because they would be the bread winners, the decision makers, the people who ran things.

Educated Woman

• Has knowledge of healthcare- healthier children- lower child mortality- no need for large family to support elderly parents

• Low birth rate

Educated Woman

• Better job opportunities- In employment- Less desire for large family

• Low birth rate

Educated Woman

• Older when leaves education sytem- Fewer fertile years available- fewer children born

• Low birth rate

2. Standard of living (economic factor)

Countries with a high standard of living tend to have low birth and death rates.

Low birth rates because....1. Raising a child is expensive and thispotential economic strain decreases the

desire to have large families

2. If a family can be sure their child will survive, they tend to have

fewer children.

Low death rates because...Developed economies have access

to clean water, sewerage schemes

and hospitals. These highstandards in healthcare reducemortality rates

In least developed countries (LDC’s) there are high and death rates

High birth rates because...1. If there is no government supports

large families are an economic advantage. Children help look after the elderly.

2. In some cases, having more male children can bring more wealth to a family and increase its social status

3. If parents can not be sure their children will survive, they tend to have more.

High death rates because...1. LDC’s have low levels of healthcare.

Access to medical care is difficult and expensive.

2. There is a lack of clean water and sewerage facilities

3. Government policy (social factor)

In some countries the government may have control over family size

Example of a policy to reduce birth

rates:China has had a one-child per-familypolicy since 1974

In China:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gYRzIfWxrc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Voylthoawrs

In India:

Example of a policy to increase birth

rates An extreme case of governmental influence

on birth rates was seen in Romania in the mid-twentieth century.

-In the 1960’s Romania had low birth rates and population growth was decreasing.

-In response, the government outlawed abortion and imposed an extra tax on men and women who remained childless after 25.

In Russia, in response to the extremely low birth rate, the government has offered to pay families nearly 7,000 euro for their second and third child.

Efforts to fight Russia's demographic crisis.

The population has sharply declined since the Soviet Union collapsed.This is the third year that Ulyanovsk, in central Russia, is offering prizes for babies born

on 12 June.This year, a couple won the grand prize of a sports utility vehicle (SUV).

The initiative seems to be paying off, as the region's birth rate has risen by 4.5% over the last year.

Demographers estimate that Russia could lose 40 million people - almost a third of itscurrent population - by the middle of the century.

A combination of falling birth rates, emigration and an ailing healthcare system has led to

the decline.President Vladimir Putin has introduced a scheme to encourage more children.

Women who have a second or third child are eligible to receive $9,000, which can be used

to pay for education or home purchases.

4. Religion, Society and customs (a cultural

factor)

In regions where the Catholic religion is strong (e.g. South America) birth rates tend to be high due to the Catholic Churches opposition to the use of contraception and abortion.

Society may place demands on women to have multiple children. In India it is an economic advantage to have a son as they will marry and bring the bride’s dowry or earning power to the family.

5. Fertility rate

TFR (Total Fertility Rate) : The average number of babies born to women during their reproductive years.

TFR is influenced by all of the above factors and is the single most important factor in determining future population growth rates

Birth Rates/Death Rates/ Mortality RatesNatural Increase/Natural Decrease

Factors influencing birth rates and death

rates:

Education and status of women Standard of living Government policy Religion, society and customs TFR’s

To recap...

Read up on next sectionPopulation cycle and Population pyramids and dependency ratio

Begin weekly homework assignment. Du in next Monday (24 Sept)

Homework