OLCreate: ContextEnvt_1.0 Study Session 2 Population Growth: 2.1 T... https://www.open.edu/openlearncreate/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=79...

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► Courses► Collections► OpenWASH► ContextEnvt_1.0► WASH: Context and Environment

► Study Session 2 Population Growth► 2.1 Trends and causes of population ...

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and
Environment

Introduction to
WASH: Context
and Environment
Study Session
1 Human
Interactions with
the Environment
2.1 Trends and causes of population growth
Throughout human history the world’s population has been gradually growing.
Figure 2.1 shows the trend from the year 1700. Growth is slow until the middle
of the 20th century, when the gradient (slope) of the graph increases,
indicating a change to more rapid population growth. The graph continues into
the future to a predicted global population in 2050 in excess of 9 billion.

Study Session
2 Population
Growth

Introduction

Learning
Outcomes for
Study Session 2

2.1 Trends and

causes of
population Figure 2.1 Population growth globally.
growth
There are many factors that influence this trend. High rates of infant and
childhood deaths and short lifespans put a limit on population growth in the
past. However, improvements in nutrition, water, medical care and other

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Population change is governed by the balance between birth rates and death
2.3 Population rates.
composition and
characteristics If the birth rate stays the same and the death rate decreases, then
population numbers will grow.
2.3.1 Age If the birth rate increases and the death rate stays the same, then
population will also grow.
2.3.2 Sex ratio
Look at Figure 2.1. How would you describe the predicted trend in world
population for the middle of the 21st century?
2.3.3 Population
pyramid
Reveal answer

2.4 Impacts of The main causes of death are disease, famines, accidents and war.
population growth Underlying these direct causes are interrelated contributory factors such as
poverty, availability of health care, education and other social and economic
factors. Since the start of the 20th century, there has been a sharp decline in
2.4.1 Population death rates and an increase in length of life due to changes in these factors,
growth and food which has resulted in an ageing global population. In 1950, about 8% of the
security world’s population was above 60 years of age. In 2013, this proportion had
increased to 12% and it is expected to reach 21% in 2050 (UNDESA, 2013).
2.4.2 Population
growth and health The rates of change in population vary in different regions of the world and can
be categorised into groups based on the socio-economic development status
2.5 Poverty, of different countries, as shown in Figure 2.2.
population and
the environment

Summary of
Study Session 2

Self-Assessment
Questions
(SAQs) for Study
Session 2

Study Session
3 Development
and Sustainability

Study Session
4 The Water
Cycle and View larger image
Sources of Water
Figure 2.2 Average annual rate of population change for the world and
Study Session development groups, 1950–2100. (Note that more developed regions
5 Urbanisation: comprise Europe, Northern America, Australasia and Japan; less
Trends, Causes developed regions include Africa, Asia (except Japan), and Latin
and Effects America; 49 countries, including Ethiopia, are defined by the United
Nations as ‘least developed’.) (UNDESA, 2013)
Study Session
6 Land Use and
Does the trend in population change shown in Figure 2.2 correspond to the
Urban Planning
answer to the previous question about Figure 2.1 and the predicted trend
for the middle of the 21st century?
Study Session
7 Pollution: Reveal answer
Types, Sources
and a. From Figure 2.2, which group is expected to have zero population
Characteristics
growth by 2050?

Study Session b. Which development group has the highest annual rate of population
8 Pollution: change?

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increase for several reasons. Significant among these is the fact that the
benefits from advances in health and agriculture are not spread evenly across
Study Session the world. Medical technologies, for example vaccines and antibiotics, reduce
9 Introduction to the death rate by protecting people against diseases like influenza, measles,
Climate Change polio and rubella. However, vaccines are still not available for many diseases
like malaria that are common in less developed countries, particularly in sub-
Study Session Saharan Africa. Other public health measures, like water and sanitation, waste
10 Extreme management and nutritional education are very important in preventing
Weather Events disease and in reducing the death rate. These measures are well developed in
industrialised countries but less so in developing countries. Similarly, in
agricultural science and technology, advances such as new kinds of seed,
Study Session
fertilisers, pesticides and mechanisation in farming have transformed food
11 Impacts of
production. These have increased the quantity of food produced, which has
Climate Change
helped to improve nutrition and decrease death rates. However, advanced
in Ethiopia
food production and distribution are still developing in many countries.

Study Session
12 Resilience
and Coping
Strategies Previous Next

Study Session Learning Outcomes for Study Session 2 2.2 Demographic transition
13 Human
Values and
Behaviour

Study Session
14 Global
Environmental
Policies and Print
International
Agreements
For further information, take a look at our
Study Session frequently asked questions which may give you Have a question?
15 National the support you need.
Policy Context in
Ethiopia Report a concern
References

Acknowledgements

Glossary

Download the full

module here:

WASH: Context
and Environment
PDF (16.65 MB)

WASH Context
and environment
Word Document
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About this course

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