POPULATION

It is the total number of people living in a certain area.

Population distribution
It is the way people are spread over a certain area/ place. It is shown using a dot map.
The more the dots the higher the distribution and the lower the number of dots, the
lower the distribution.

Population density
It is the total number of people living in an area per kilometer squared. It is shown using
a choropleth map. ( a map shaded with colours of different intensities). The darker the
colour the higher the density and the lighter the colour the lower the density. 

Population density = total population ÷total area in km squared.

The units for population density are people per km squared.

 
Factor affecting population density and distribution.
They include both positive and negative factors where positive factors cause high
density and distribution while negative factors cause low density and distribution.
This causes uneven population density and distribution. Uneven population density and
distribution means, some areas have high , other low and others have none.

They are grouped into; physical and human factors.

a)Physical factors

Also called natural or environmental factors. They include;

i) Climate
Areas with favourable climate like; enough rainfall, moderate temperatures tend to have
high population density and distribution while areas with poor climate like; excess
rainfall and extremely high temperatures and little, no rainfall like deserts have low 
density and distribution.

ii) Water supply

Areas with adequate and clean water supply have high population density and
distribution while areas with water shortage or dirty water supply have low population
density and distribution.

iii) Soils
The quality of soils affect farming a lot. Areas with fertile well drained soils have high
population density and distribution while areas with infertile poorly drained soils like
swamps have low population density and distribution. Mainly for farmers.

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iv) Natural resources
This includes, soils, water, minerals, rocks. Areas with more enough resources have
high population density and distribution while areas with less poorly distributed
resources have low population density and distribution.

v) Relief this is the physical appearance of the earth. It includes; slope, altitude and
aspect.
Slope it is the gradient of the land. Slopes are either gentle or steep. Steep slopes
experience a lot of flooding and are hard to develop like hill sides hence have low
population density and distribution. Gentle slopes are easy to develop and have less
flooding hence have high population density and distribution. 
Altitude
It is the height above the sea level. It includes lowlands and highlands. Highlands have
high population density and distribution because they have moderate temperatures and
rainfall while lowlands have low population density and distribution because they have a
lot of flooding. Some lowlands have high population density and distribution because
they are easy to develop

Aspect 
This is the sun facing sides of slopes. Areas which face the sun have high population
density and distribution because they have average temperatures while slopes facing
away from the sun have low population density and distribution because they tend to be
too cold.
 b) Human factors
They include political factors like;

i) stability of government
This includes peaceful countries with very few political conflicts and good leadership.
Areas with stable governments have high population density and distribution while
areas with unstable governments have low population density and distribution.
ii} employment opportunities

iii} transport

Demography
It is the statistical/ numerical study of population. It includes;

Population growth
It is the increase in the number of people living in an area.
Population change
It is the increase or decrease in the number of people living in an area.

Birth rates 
This is the average number of live births per 1000 people per year in a total population.
Death rates
It is the average number of people dying per 1000 people per year in a total population.
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Natural change
It is the difference between birth rates and death rates.
      Natural change=birth rates-death rates
Natural increase
It is when the birth rates are higher than the death rates in a certain area. It is positive.
Natural decrease
It is when the death rates are higher than the birth rates in a certain area. It is negative.
Infant mortality rate
It is the average number of babies who die before their first birthday( 1 year) per 1000
people in a year.
Infant mortality
It is the average number of babies who die before their first birthday (1 year). 
Child mortality
It is the average number of babies who die before the age of 5 years.
Census 
Its the counting of people in a certain country after every 10years.
Life expectancy
It is the average number of years a person is expected to live.

Demographic transition model

It is used to show the changes in birthrates and death rates in a country over time. It
also shows population growth over time. It has 4 main stages as shown below;

Stage 1 (high fluctuating)

It has high fluctuating death rates and birthrates. The population growth is low.
Stage 2 (early expanding)
The birthrates remain high and death rates fall rapidly. The total population inceraeses.

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Stage 3 ( late expanding)
The birthrates fall rapidly and the death rates fall slightly. The total population
increases. 
Stage 4 ( low fluctuating)
The birthrates and death rates are low and fluctuating. The total population increases
slightly. It is typical for MEDCs

Causes of high birthrates in LEDCs.

1. Lack of birth control or family planning methods. This includes contraceptives. Some
people cannot afford them hence end up giving birth to many children.
2. Children are used as a source of cheap labour. 
Some parents give birth to many children to help with work at home and farms because
they cannot afford to hire people for labour
3. Religious beliefs
Some religions do not allow people to use contraceptives like; roman Catholics and
Muslims hence end up having many children. Most religions also encourage large
families.
4. Children are regarded as a sign of virility
This means manhood power. In some communities, men with more children are
considered more powerful like; maasai than those with few children.
5. It is a sign of wealth and prestige
In some communities having many children shows how wealthy you are. Children are
seen a assets that can be exchanged for money at later ages (dowry) 
6. It enhances reputation of families
People with large families are highly respected in some communities.
7. High infant mortality rates
Due to high death of babies, people give birth to many kids hoping that some will
survive. 
8. Early marriages
When people marry at their early ages, they are usually very productive and may end
up having many children
9. Polygamy
People have many wives were every wife has many children hence high birthrates.
Causes of high death rates in LEDCs.

1. Lack of enough medical care

This includes poorly equipped hospitals, few untrained doctors and limited drugs in
hospitals.
2. Poor diet
Includes inability to afford a balanced diet and uncertain food supplies. People die from
conditions of starvation and malnutrition.
3. Increased disease outbreaks
There are newly upcoming diseases which don't have certain treatment yet like Ebola,
swine flu.. Some diseases have become very resistant hence end up killing a lot of
people.

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4. Poor hygiene
Includes sanitation and water supply. Inability to afford clean water supply and proper
sewerage systems have triggered some diseases like cholera which kill a lot of people.
5. Natural disasters
They include; floods, drought, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, hurricanes,
tropical storms. They occur everywhere but causes more deaths in LEDCs because
people are not warned and do not know what to do in case they occur.

NB.
Causes of high death rates are the same as causes of low life expectancy.. 

Causes of low birthrates

This mainly occurs in MEDCs. They include;

1. Women empowerment (emancipation)
Women have been highly educated and they are busy working instead of taking care of
children. They are also educated on use of contraceptives hence lower birthrates.
2. Improved family planning
Due to more development, use of contraceptives and pills has been affordable and
easily available for most people hence lower birthrates.
3. Late marriages
People are more focused on careers and end up marrying late hence have low
productive. They only end up getting few children.
4. Low infant mortality rates
Therefore people do not have to give birth to many children scared that some will die.
They only give birth to few children hence low birthrates.
5. Increased mechanization and industrialization (increased technology)
Children have been replaced by machines for labour like vacuum cleaners, dish
washers, tractors, combined harvesters therefore parents don't need to give birth to
many children to provide labour.
6. Increased medical discoveries.
In some countries, safe abortions are allowed and well provided in the hospitals with
well trained personnel.

Causes of low death rates.

They are also causes of high life expectancy.

1. Improved medical care

Better, well equipped hospitals with well-trained doctors and enough well advanced
drugs has helped cure killer diseases hence reducing the number of people dying.

2. Improved sanitation
Clean water supply and access and proper sewerage has decreased spread of
diseases like cholera which instead would have killed very many people.

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3. Improved hygiene
The environment is quite clean and less polluted which also decreases spread of
diseases like cholera hence less deaths. 
5. Improved diet
People are able to afford a balanced diet on daily basis because they have good
income hence people do not die from starvation and malnutrition.
6. Knowledge on natural disasters
People have been educated on how to handle most disasters through warning systems
and good evacuation procedures hence only very few people lose their lives during
natural disasters.

MEDCs and LEDCs.

a} LEDCs
It stands for; least / less economically developed countries.
They are the poor and poorest countries in the world. They include; kenya, nigeria,
india,Afghanistan, India, Tanzania (most African countries except south Africa) etc

 Features/ characteristics of LEDCs

 They have;
1. Low life expectancy; because of poor medical care, diets, hygiene and sanitation.
2. High birthrates; because of lack of family planning, early marriages and polygamy.
3. High death rates; because of poor medical care, diets and security systems.
4. Most people work in primary sectors; includes extraction of resources from the
environment like farming, mining which have poor incomes.
5. Low GDP and per capita income; because their jobs are poorly paid.
6. Low living standards; the quality of life is low and most people are not able to afford a
better life.
7. High illiteracy levels; because most people cannot afford education through primary,
secondary and tertiary levels of education. Only a few people can afford to go to school
so most of them are illiterate.

b} MEDCs
It stands for; more / most economically developed countries.
They are the rich and richest countries in the world. They include; Japan, United
Kingdom, USA, Canada etc
 
Features/ characteristics of MEDCs
 They have;
 1. High life expectancy; because of proper medical care, diets, hygiene and sanitation.
2. Low birthrates; because of knowledge on family planning, women empowerment and
high mechanization.

3. Low death rates; because of proper medical care, diets and security systems.
4. Most people work in tertiary and secondary sectors; includes services and
manufacturing which have better income.

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5. High GDP and per capita income; because their jobs are well paid
6. High living standards; the quality of life is high and most people are able to afford a
better life.
7. High literary levels; because most people can afford education through primary,
secondary and tertiary levels of education. 

Population structures.

Also called age gender pyramid or population pyramids. It's a structure that is used to
show the total population in terms of gender (males and females) and age. The males
are always on the right side while females on the left of the pyramid. The ages are
subdivided into several age groups. Bars are used to represent the number of people in
each age group.
Types of population pyramids
They are 2 and are named according to the shape they almost take. 
1. Triangular population pyramid
2. Rectangular population pyramid
 The shape of a population pyramid is determined by the following; 
a) Birthrates
b) Death rates 
c) Life expectancy
d) Migration

1. Triangular population pyramid

It is typical for LEDCs. They have the following features. Narrow top, wide bottom or
base, short and high rate of narrowing.

Describing the shape of triangular population pyramid

a) They have a wide bottom
This is because of high birthrates hence have very many young ones.
b) They have a narrow top.
This is because of high death rates and low life expectancy hence have only very few
old people.
c) They are short. This is shown by the number of age groups within a pyramid. The
pyramids are short because of low life expectancy and high death rates. Only a few
people are able to live long hence very few old people.
d) High narrowing rates. This is shown by the length of the bars representing each age
group. The bars length reduces very fast because of high death rates.

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2. Rectangular population pyramid
It is typical for MEDCs. They have the following features. Wide top, narrow bottom or
base, long and low rate of narrowing.
Describing the shape of rectangular population pyramid
a) They have a narrow bottom / base.
This is because of low birthrates hence have very few young ones.
b) They have a wide top.
This is because of low death rates and high life expectancy hence have very many old
people.
c) They are long. This is shown by the number of age groups within a pyramid. The
pyramids are long because of high life expectancy and low death rates. Many people
are able to live long hence very many old people at extreme ages.
d)  Low narrowing rates. This is shown by the length of the bars representing each age
group. The bars length remain almost the same length (slightly fluctuating lengths)
because of low death rates.

     

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Changes in the shape of population pyramids

As a country develops over time, the shape of the population pyramid changes in
different ways because of different reasons. 
  

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Ways in which the pyramids change
1. The bottom becomes narrower because of decreased birthrates
2. The top becomes wider because of decrease death rates and increased life
expectancy.
3. They change from concave to convex sides. If you join all the bars in the pyramid,
they will bring out this shapes.
4. The length of the pyramid increases because of increased life expectancy and
decreased death rates. 

Concave
sides
straight
sides

convex
sides

Reasons why the changes in the shape of population pyramid

They are the same as the causes of low birthrates, low death rates and high life
expectancy. 
They include; 

1. Women empowerment (emancipation)

Women have been highly educated and they are busy working instead of taking care of
children. They are also educated on use of contraceptives hence the pyramids have a
narrower bottom.
2. Improved family planning
Due to more development, use of contraceptives and pills has been affordable and
easily available for most people hence the pyramids have narrow bottoms.
3. Late marriages
People are more focused on careers and end up marrying late hence have low
productive. They only end up getting few children hence narrow pyramid bottoms.
4. Low infant mortality rates
Therefore people do not have to give birth to many children scared that some will die.
They only give birth to few children hence narrow pyramid bottom.
5. Increased mechanization and industrialization (increased technology)
Children have been replaced by machines for labour like vacuum cleaners, dish
washers, tractors, combined harvesters therefore parents don't need to give birth to
many children to provide labour hence narrow pyramid bottom.

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6. Increased medical discoveries.
In some countries, safe abortions are allowed and well provided in the hospitals with
well trained personnel.
7. Improved medical care
Better, well equipped hospitals with well-trained doctors and enough well advanced
drugs has helped cure killer diseases hence reducing the number of people dying. This
causes pyramids to have wide top and longer.
8. Improved sanitation
Clean water supply and access and proper sewerage has decreased spread of
diseases like cholera which instead would have killed very many people hence the
pyramids have wide tops and are longer.
9. Improved hygiene
The environment is quite clean and less polluted which also decreases spread of
diseases like cholera hence less deaths which makes the top of the pyramid wide.
10. Improved diet
People are able to afford a balanced diet on daily basis because they have good
income hence people do not die from starvation and malnutrition.
11. Knowledge on natural disasters
People have been educated on how to handle most disasters through warning systems
and good evacuation procedures hence only very few people lose their lives during
natural disasters.

Dependency ratio.
It is the ratio between the economically and non-economically active people in a
population.
Economically active population
It's the number of people working in a certain population.
It consists of;
   15-64 years.
Non- economically active population
It is the number of people who are not working in a certain population.
It consists of;
  The very young (0-14 years) and
   The old/ retired (65 years and above)
 Dependency ratio= non- economically active population ÷ economically active
population.

Population explosion
It’s extremely rapid increase in the number of people living in a certain area. It occurs at
certain age groups. The main cause of population explosion is migration. (Immigration).
When we have so many people moving into a country.
CASE STUDIES
Overpopulation and under population
Overpopulation

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This is when the number of people living in a certain area are more than the resources
available for them to use. 
The people are more than the available resources.
Examples of overpopulated countries are; India, China, most African countries like
Kenya.

Resources people  
Causes of overpopulation.

They include;
1. Reduced mortality rates
This is because of reduced number of people dying
2. Better medical facilities
Better treatment and doctors hence people are able to live long causing more people
than resources
3. Depletion of available resources
If the available resources get used up with time, it means that the people will be more
than the resources.
4. Increased immigration
Many people moving into a certain country makes the available resources less than the
people.
5. Lack of family planning
This increases the birthrates which causes more people than the available resources.
6. Polygamy
Men marry many wives hence many children which causes more people than available
resources. 

Effects of overpopulation
1. Depletion of natural resources like land, water, energy [oil, gas]
The remaining natural resources get used up because the supply is limited and the
demand is very high. Everyone wants to get a share of the remaining resources.

2. Increased unemployment
The people are too many but only a few job opportunities are available. This leaves
most people without jobs and most people do dirty or poorly paid jobs for survival.
3. Increased competition for the available resources

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4. High crime rates
So many people have no jobs hence the only source of income and means of survival is
robbery and theft. This increases insecurity.
5. Increased pollution
Levels of pollution get escalated because of more people, there is more noise, water
and air pollution because of more waste released to the atmosphere.
6. Increased congestion on roads and overcrowding in public facilities
There are too many vehicles on the road because of more people and so many people
in social amenities like; hospitals, schools or recreational centers because the social
amenities are few compared to the number of people hence overcrowding.
7. High standards of living
The limited available resources become very expensive for the people to be able to
afford them.
8. High poverty levels
Many people are not able to get jobs hence have no income to enable them afford their
basic needs. They remain in a circle of poverty for many generations.
9. Degradation of the environment
The limited resources get overused and are left very ugly and unproductive. Example;
land becomes very unproductive for bearing any crops. Water sources get dried up and
most of the ecosystems get cleared up like forests.

Country:  China
Policy: one child policy
It was used to help control population growth in China.
They were restricted to have one child per family.
The age for marriage for men was raised to 22 years and for females to 20 years. 
Couples had to apply to get married and to have babies. 

Consequences of not obeying the one child policy in China.

1. Heavy fines were induced. 
2. Couples were deprived benefits like free basic needs like food.
3. Forced abortions were introduced.
For women, if you got pregnant with the second baby you were forced to abort.
4. Men sterilization
This was done on persistent offenders who had their wives pregnant even after
undergoing several forced abortions.

 Note;
Those who obeyed and conformed to the one child policy were given free education,
family benefits like food and priority housing.
Effects / Impacts of the one child policy
The policy had advantages and disadvantages as explained below.
1. Reduced population growth

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The total population reduced rapidly due to the controlled birthrates.
2. Reduced the fertility rates
The number of children per 1000 women declined.
3. Increased resources for development
There were lesser people hence more resources which increased the living standards of
the people
4. Increased ageing population
Due to low birthrates, the old people tend to be more than the young.
5. Improved economic stability
There were enough resources to support the population hence stable economy.
6. Increased males than females (imbalance in gender)
People preferred having male kids than female. Some would give out their girl child or
kill them until they got a boy child.
7. Increased saving rates.
Smaller families spend less hence are able to save more. The government also spends
less and saves more.
8. Reduced unemployment.
More jobs were available due to decrease in population..
9. Improved living standards.
Most couples were able to afford to bring up the one child.

 Exceptions to the one child policy.

 Couples were allowed to have a second child if; 
1. The first child was mentally I'll, was handicapped or died.
2. They were farmers and the first child was a girl. Girls were considered weak and not
able to work in farms like boys.
3. Local officers in rural areas allowed second child on payment of bribe.You would
bribe the officers to allow you have second child.

Under population
This is when the number of people living in a certain area are less than the resources
available for them to use. 
The available resources are more than the people.
Examples of overpopulated countries are; Germany, Greenland, Iceland 
    

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People resources

Causes of under population

They include;
1. Increased emigration
This is due to high number of people moving out of a country. This decreases the total
number of people in the country.
2. Increased death rates (mortality rates)
When the number of people dying is extremely high it causes under population.

3. Natural disasters
This include; earthquakes, hurricanes, drought, famine. Areas highly struck by this
natural disasters which and are not well prepared, so many people end dead which
causes under population.
4. Increased disease outbreaks
So many diseases outbreaks have killed so many people causing under population.
Like cholera.

5. Government policies like china’s one child policy.

6. Increased family planning methods

Effects of under population.

It had both positive and negative effects.

1. Shortage of labour/ workforce

There are no enough people in the country to provide labour in the different sectors of
employment.

2. Closure of social amenities

This include; hospitals, schools, recreational facilities. Most of them lack customers
hence end up closing down due to many loses and minimal profits.

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3. Unstable economy (low levels of production)
 This is because of the under used resources and closing down of social sectors.
4. High taxes
Taxes become high to compensate for the people who are not there for them to be
taxed.
This makes life quite expensive.

5. Resources are under used.

Most of the resources are not in use because there are no people to work on them for
more productivity. This decreases the levels of development in a country.

6. Reduced rates of pollution

This is due to decreased use of resources

7. Decrease in environmental degradation

There are only a few people hence the environment is not destroyed that much because
most of the resources are not even fully exploited. The environment remains attractive

8. Increased job opportunities

Having few people in a country ensures that most of its people have good well-paying
jobs for both skilled and unskilled workers. It also creates jobs for people from other
countries.

9. Smaller markets for goods and services

There are more goods and services in the country's but only limited market. This affects
the economy of a country because it limits trade.

Ageing population.
They are the old or elderly people normally 65 years and above.  They are many in
MEDCs.

 Problems caused by the ageing population (problems of having too many aged
people)

1. Strain on working population

The working population will have to work extra to provide for the elderly because most
of them don't work which may strain them.

2. A lot of money is spend on pensions

The government spends a lot of money on paying pensions which may strain its
finances when paid at once to a lot of people.
3. A lot of money is spend on care homes
These care homes requires a lot of money to be put in place which is all done by the
government and is usually expensive.

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4. Few people to defend the country
The old people are too weak to defend the country well which makes it insecure from
attacks.

5. High taxation
The working people have to be taxed highly to help provide money for supporting this
large proportion of people who are not working. VAT on services and goods becomes
high too.

6. A lot of money is spend on medical care for the elderly (nursing homes)
The elderly have many complications eg; joint and back pains which need specialized
doctors and facilities which are normally expensive to purchase. The nursing homes are
hard to put in place.
 

7. Increased wages
The country's outputs is low hence the country may fall into debts because of few
workers. Some people work till their old age and become very unproductive.

 8. Limited workers

 Only a few people are able to work effectively because most of them are aged, not very
skilled (technology) and can only work for few hours.

Problems faced by the ageing population.

1. Many have to live alone after their partners die. This makes them very lonely.
2. Most of them cannot afford cost of care homes. The homes are expensive and some
of them might not be able to afford them.

3. They face biasness and prejudice (wrong judgment) from others

Other people feel like the old people are too old to make decisions that are helpful.

4. Difficulties in getting to the hospitals for treatment or shops to buy necessities

This is due to lack of appropriate transport and also most of them cannot drive.

5. Lengthy waits for hospital operations

They take long to be treated because of few doctors and their sicknesses are
complicated like hip replacements

6. Late retirement. 
Some old people are forced to work until their late ages because their are no young
people to replace them. It becomes a problem to them.

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How the elderly population is supported.

This Mostly occurs in MEDCs

1. Giving them pensions after retirement. Upkeep money given as an appreciation after
retirement.
2. Creation of retirement homes
This ensures the ones whose partners have died do not feel lonely because they have
the company of other age mates.
3. Creation of care and nursing homes
This ensures they get specialized and appropriate treatment.
4. Donating charities for the aged
This helps the elderly people get walking sticks, wheelchairs, food and also pays for the
fee required for the care homes for the ones not able to pay.
5. Giving special services to the aged like wheel chairs, special meals, specialized
doctors and nurses. 

6. Offering reduced rates of specialized public transport.

There are public vehicles set aside for the elderly and have comfortable seats to avoid
hurting their backs and without loud music for their ears.
They also are given first chances and also pay less for transport to enable their free
movements.
7. Building specialized clinics and hospitals for the elderly
This ensures that they don't queue for long in hospitals before they get treatment. They
are also able to visit the doctors easily. These hospitals have the appropriate facilities to
treat complications for the elderly.

Young dependents
They are 0 - 14years old. They are non-economically active ( not working)

 Problems of having too many young dependents

1. It strains the economically active population (working)
The people who are working are few and have to work harder to provide for the many
children. They end up getting overworked.
2. More street children
Some parents are not able to take care of their children and some lack places to live in
hence the streets become their homes.
3. Overcrowded social amenities like schools and hospitals
The schools and hospitals are led compared to the number of children. Some of the end
up accommodating more children than they can hold.
4. High cost on available resources
The resources are few than the children so they tend to be sold at higher prices hence
only a few people can afford them.
5. Increases time spent by women on children
Women take much time taking care of babies and less time working which lowers the
level of productivity.

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Topical revision questions[population]
1 (a) Study Fig. 1, which shows information about the birth and death rates of Eritrea (an LEDC)
and Denmark (an MEDC).

[i]Eritrea has a death rate of 18.5. What is meant by this? [1]

(ii) Calculate the natural population growth rate of Denmark. You must show your calculations.
[2]

iii) Explain why there are high death rates in LEDCs such as Eritrea. [3]

(iv) Explain why there are low birth rates in MEDCs such as Denmark. [4]

(b) Study Fig. 2, which shows a population pyramid for Eritrea.

(i) Suggest three ways in which the population pyramid for Eritrea, an LEDC, is likely to be
different from a population pyramid for an MEDC. [3]

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(ii) Describe the likely problems for an LEDC, such as Eritrea, of having so many young
dependents. [5]

(c) The size and structure of the population in a country may change as a result of HIV/AIDS.
For a country which you have studied, describe the impacts of HIV/AIDS on the population
and economy. [7]

END OF QUESTION 1 [Total: 25 marks]

2(a) Study Fig. 1, which shows information about the birth and death rates of Nigeria (an LEDC)
and Ireland (an MEDC).

i) Ireland has a birth rate of 14.4. What is meant by this? [1]

(ii) Calculate the natural population growth rate of Nigeria. You must show your calculations.[2]

(iii) Explain why there are low death rates in MEDCs such as Ireland. [3]

(iv) Explain why there are high birth rates in LEDCs such as Nigeria. [4]

(b) Study Fig. 2, which shows a population pyramid for Ireland (an MEDC).

(i) Suggest three ways in which the population pyramid shown for Ireland in Fig. 2 is likely
to be different from a population pyramid for an LEDC. [3]

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 (ii) Describe the likely problems for an MEDC, such as Ireland, of having so many old
dependents. [5]

(c) The size and structure of the population in a country may change as a result of government
policies.For a named country which you have studied, describe the policies which have been
used by the government to influence rates of natural population growth. [7]

END OF QUESTION 2 [Total: 25 marks]

3(a) Study Fig. 1, a graph which shows average population density by continent.

(i) Explain how the population density of an area is calculated. [1]

(ii) Name a continent with a population density which is:

A below the world average……………………………………………………………………………….

B above the world average………………………………………………………………………….. [2]

(iii) Explain why desert areas are sparsely populated. [3]

(iv) Explain why some settlements have grown up in sparsely populated areas. [4]

(b) Study Figs. 2A, 2B and 2C which show information about Brazil.

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(i) Describe the distribution of areas in Brazil where the population density is more than
25 per sq km. [3]
(ii) With the help of Figs. 2B and 2C suggest reasons why the population of Brazil is unevenly
distributed. [5]

(c) For a country which you have studied, explain why the government is worried about its rapid
population growth. [7]

END OF QUESTION 3 [Total: 25 marks]

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4.a}Study Fig. 1, which shows densely and sparsely populated areas in the world.

(i) What is meant by a densely populated area?1]

(ii) Name a densely populated area shown on Fig. 1:

A with a temperate climate; ...........................................................................................................

B in South East Asia. .............................................................................................................[2]

(iii) For either the area marked X or the area marked Y on Fig. 1, suggest reasons why it is
sparsely populated.[3]

Area chosen ..................................................................................................................................

(b) Study Photographs A and B (Insert) which show two areas which are sparsely populated.

(i) Suggest reasons why the area shown in Photograph A is sparsely populated.[3]

(ii) Suggest how the relief of the land shown in Photograph B has resulted in the area being
sparsely populated.[4]
(iii) Explain why some river valleys are densely populated.[5]

(c) For a named country which you have studied, describe and explain the distribution of its
population. Name of country [7]
END OF QUESTION 4 [Total: 25 marks]

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5(a) Study Fig. 1, which shows birth rates and death rates in Niger (an LEDC) and Australia
(an MEDC).

(i) What was the birth rate per 1000 in Niger in 1955?.[1]

(ii) Calculate the natural population growth rate for Australia in 2005. Show your calculation.[2]

(iii) Suggest reasons why the death rate in LEDCs, such as Niger, declined rapidly between
1955 and 1995. [3]

24
(iv) The death rate in Niger has increased since 1995 due to HIV/AIDS. Explain what can be
done by governments to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS. [4]

(b) Study Fig. 2, which shows the relationship between the average number of births per woman
and the percentage of girls in secondary education.

(i) Describe the general relationship between the average number of births per woman and
the percentage of girls in secondary education. Give data from Fig. 2 to support your answer.[3]

(ii) Explain the advantages of educating girls and women in LEDCs. [5]

(c) Name an example of a country which has attracted large numbers of international migrants.
Explain the pull factors which have attracted people to your chosen country.

Country chosen [7]

END OF QUESTION 5 [Total: 25 marks]

25
6. (a) Study Fig. 1, which shows information about the population density in India (an LEDC)..

(i) Identify a state in India with a population density of 800 people or more per square
kilometre. [1]

(ii) The Indian state of Karnataka has a population of 52.73 million (52 730 000) and an
area of 191 976 square kilometers. Calculate its population density. Show your calculations.[2]

(iii) List the three states in India which have the lowest population density. Describe one
similarity in the location of all three of these states.

Similarity in location [3]

(iv) Many parts of India are densely populated. Give reasons why both agricultural areas and
industrial areas may be densely populated in an LEDC. [4]

(b) Study Photographs A, B and C (Insert), which show areas with a low population density.

(i) Give one reason why each of the areas shown are sparsely populated. You should choose a
different reason for each photograph.

Photograph A ,Photograph B ,Photograph C [3]

(ii) Explain why some towns may grow up in areas which otherwise have a low population
density. [5]

(c) For a named country which you have studied, explain why the birth rate is high.

Name of country [7]

END OF QUESTION 6 [Total: 25 marks]

26
7(a) Study Fig. 1, which shows how the population structure changes as a country develops.

(i) What is meant by the term population structure? [1]

(ii) Identify from Fig. 1 the stage when:

A the birth rate is the highest; .........................................................................................................

B there is the lowest rate of natural population increase. ........................................................ [2]

(iii) Describe three changes in the population structure of a country between Stages 2 and 3. [3]

27
(iv) Explain why the population structure of a country changes as a country develops. [4]
(b) Study Fig. 2, which shows changes in the percentage of population over the age of 65 in
Japan and the USA.

(i) Compare the change in the percentages of the population over the age of 65 in Japan and
the USA between 1950 and 2010. [3]
(ii) Explain how people over the age of 65 can be supported in MEDCs. [5]

(c) For a named country which you have studied, describe the problems caused by an increase
in the percentage of the population over the age of 65.

Name of country [7]

[Total: 25 marks]
END OF QUESTION 7

28
8. (a) Study Fig. 1, which shows the population pyramids of Mexico (LEDC) and the USA
(MEDC).

(i) What is meant by economically active? [1]

(ii) What evidence in the population pyramids shown in Fig. 1 suggests that:
A people in Mexico have a shorter life expectancy than people in the USA;

B the USA has a lower birth rate than Mexico? [2]

(iii) Compare the percentage of young dependents in Mexico with that in the USA. Support your
answer with figures. [3]

(iv) Explain why, in LEDCs such as Mexico, young dependents make up a large percentage of
the population. [4]
(b) Study Fig. 2, which shows changes in the number of old dependents in the UK (MEDC).

29
(i) Describe how the number of people aged 75 and over is expected to change in the UK
between 2011 and 2031. Support your answer with figures. [3]

(ii) Explain why the governments of MEDCs, such as the UK, are concerned about the ageing
population. [5]

(c) For a named country, state a policy which has been used to influence rates of population
growth. Describe the impacts of this policy.

Name of country .............................................................................................................................

Policy .............................................................................................................................................

Impacts [7]
[Total: 25 marks]
END OF QUESTION 8

30
9 (a) Study Fig. 1, which shows information about the birth rates and death rates of Angola
(LEDC), New Zealand (MEDC), and Philippines (NIC).

(i) What is meant by birth rate? [1]

(ii) Complete the table below by inserting the names of the three countries in Fig. 1.
The countries should be arranged in rank order of their natural population growth rates.[2]

(iii) Explain why there are high birth rates in LEDCs, such as Angola. [3]
(iv) Explain how death rates have been reduced in NICs, such as Philippines. [4]

(b) Study Fig. 2, which shows a population pyramid for New Zealand.

31
(i) Suggest three ways in which a population pyramid for an LEDC is likely to be different from
that of New Zealand (an MEDC). [3]

(ii) Describe the likely problems for an MEDC, such as New Zealand, of having so many old
dependents. [5]

(c) The size and structure of the population in a country may change as a result of
international migration. Choose any example of international migration which you have studied
and name the countries between which people moved. Explain why many people made the
decision to migrate. You should refer both to pull and to push factors.

Chosen example
[7]
[Total: 25 marks]
END OF QUESTION 9

10 (a) Study Fig. 1, which shows the population of four parts of the world in 1960, 2010 and
2060(projected).

32
(i) What was the population of Europe in 1960?

........................................................................................................................................ million [1]

(ii) Using Fig. 1, identify the part of the world which is likely to:

A decrease in population between 2010 and 2060;

B increase most in population between 2010 and 2060.[2]

(iii) Describe three different problems caused by population growth.[3]

(b) Study Fig. 2, which shows the birth rate and death rate for Vietnam (an LEDC) between
1960 and 2010.

(i) Calculate the natural population growth rate in Vietnam in 2010. You should show your
calculations and answer in the box below.[3]

(ii) Describe the changes in the death rate between 1960 and 2010 in Vietnam. Refer to
statistics and years from Fig. 2 in your answer.[4]
(iii) Suggest reasons why the birth rate in LEDCs such as Vietnam is still high compared
with MEDCs.[5]
(c) For a named area you have studied, explain why it has a low population density.

Name of area [7]

[Total: 25 marks]
END OF QUESTION 10

33
11 (a) Study Fig. 1, which shows information about four countries which have a low population
density.

(i) Using Fig. 1, identify the country which is most sparsely populated.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………...…. [1]

(ii) Using only evidence from Fig. 1, explain why countries with a large population may have
a lower population density than countries with a smaller population. You should refer to
examples and statistics. [2]
(iii) Give three other reasons why countries may have a low population density. [3]

(b) Study Fig. 2, which shows information about world population and the extinction of species
of plants and animals.

(i) Describe the relationship between world population and the number of extinct species of
plants and animals. You should include statistics and years in your answer. [3]
(ii) Explain the relationship between world population and the number of extinct species of
plants and animals. [4]

34
(iii) Many areas in the world are now overpopulated. Describe the problems faced by people in
countries which are overpopulated. [5]
(c) For a named country you have studied, explain why the distribution of its population is
uneven.
Name of country [7]
[Total: 25 marks]
END OF QUESTION 11

12 (a) Study Fig. 1, which shows information about the population of Lithuania (an MEDC).

(i) What is meant by death rate = 11.5 per 1000 ? [1]

(ii) Calculate the natural population growth rate of Lithuania in 2013.

You should show your calculations in the box below.[2]

(iii) Describe the changes to Lithuania’s net international migration between 2005 and 2011.You
should refer to data from Fig. 1 in your answer. [3]

(iv) Suggest the possible impacts on Lithuania of a large amount of emigration. [4]

35
 (c) Name a country you have studied where internal migration has occurred. Explain the
reasons for this migration.
Name of country [7]
[Total: 25 marks]
END OF QUESTION 12

13 (a) Study Fig. 1, which shows information about the birth rates and death rates in Cameroon,
Ghana and Nigeria, three LEDCs (Less Economically Developed Countries) in West Africa.

(i) What is meant by birth rate? [1]

(ii) Complete the table below by inserting the names of the three countries in Fig. 1. The
countries should be arranged in rank order of their natural population growth rates.

(iii) Explain why there are high birth rates in many LEDCs. [3]

(iv) Describe the problems caused by high natural population growth in LEDCs.[4]

(b) Study Fig. 2, which shows information about the population growth rates in China and Iran
between 1970 and 2009

36
(i) Compare the changes in population growth rates in China and Iran:

from 1970 to 1984;

from 1985 to 1999;
from 2000 to 2009. 3]

(ii) The governments of both China and Iran have used policies to reduce population growth
during the period shown by the graph. Describe policies which governments can use to reduce
birth rates. [5]

(c) For an example of a country you have studied, describe the impacts of HIV/AIDS.

Chosen country [7]

[Total: 25 marks]
END OF QUESTION 13

14(a) Study Fig. 1, which shows information about the birth and death rates of three countries in
2013.

(i) What is meant by South Africa has a death rate of 17.2? [1]
(ii) Using Fig. 1, identify the following:
– the country with the lowest birth rate; ..........................................................................................

– the country with the highest rate of natural population growth. .............................................. [2]

37
(iii) Give three reasons why death rates vary from country to country. [3]

(b) Study Figs. 2A and 2B, which show information about birth rates in Vietnam (an LEDC in
South East Asia)

(i) Using Fig. 2A only, describe the reduction in the birth rate of Vietnam between 1960 and
2015. Include statistics in your answer. [3]

(ii) Suggest how government policies and other factors may have reduced Vietnam’s birth rate
[4]

(iii) Explain why the governments of some MEDCs are now concerned that birth rates are
too low in their countries. [5]

(c) For a named country you have studied, describe the problems caused by over-population.

Name of country [7]

[Total: 25 marks]
END OF QUESTION 1

38