Geography: Population

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  • Created by: Chloe
  • Created on: 28-04-13 12:48

A Growing Population

  • The worlds population is growing at a very rapid rate and has been since around 1500, however, more so from around 1800.
  • The reason for population growth is due to natural increase.
    • This is where the birth rate is higher than the death rate. (more people are being born than are dying)
  • Migration also effects population of a country. This is the amount of people moving in or out of the country.

Demographic Transition Model.

The five stages of the demographic transition model demonstrate the general pattern of population change in a country.

    • Stage 1: Fluctuating high birth rate and high death rate cancel each other out, resulting in a low but stable population.
      • e.g. rain-forest tribes because there is a lack of birth control and life expectancy is low.
    • Stage 2: Death rate falls whilst the birth rate remains high causing the population to begin to grow.
      • e.g. Afghanistan because there is better health care, diet and standards of living so the life expectancy is higher and there is family planning.
    • Stage 3: Death rate is low and the birth rate begins to fall, but the population is still rising.
      • e.g. Brazil because life expectancy is still high and it is beneficial to have small families due to expense.
    • Stage 4: Fluctuating low birth rates and death rates cancel each other out creating a high and stable population.
      • e.g. USA because of high life expectancy and plenty of money means that people can have children but birth rates change according the economy.
    • Stage 5: Birth rate drops below the death rate, allowing the population to decline.
      • e.g. Germany because the life expectancy is still increasing but careers are being chosen over having a family.

Effects of a large population


  • Countries suffer from food shortages due to the many people needed to feed. They can not grow or import enough food.
  • Medical services struggle to keep up with the many people in need of care and medical help begins to lack.
  • Housing shortages mean an increase of homelessness and people living in poverty such as in slums.
  • The need to cater for large families means that children will have to work to earn money for their families.


  • More children will be born into poverty where people do not work or earn much money.
  • There are not enough jobs for everybody so the country's unemployment rate rises.
  • To allow for more jobs, shifts will be decreased



Wow, this is amazing and soooooooo detailed, thank you very much :):)


revising for a test found this so helpful!!!!

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