Topic One (1.1): Population Dynamics

By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

describe and give reasons for the rapid increase in the world’s population (show an understanding of over-population and under-population, the causes and consequences of over-population and under-population)
understand the main causes of a change in population size (how birth rate, death rate and migration contribute to the population of a country increasing or declining)
give reasons for contrasting rates of natural population change (impacts of social, economic and other factors (including government policies, HIV/AIDS) on birth and death rates)
describe and evaluate population policies.

This topic's Case Studies:

A country which is over-populated.
A country which is under-populated.
A country with a high rate of natural population growth.
A country with a low rate of population growth (or population decline).

Reading

Read Chapter 1.1 ‘Population Dynamics’, pages 2–18. Think carefully about the Key Questions (page 2) and complete all of the Activities. Pay particular attention to the key points listed below.

It is important you understand the term ‘carrying capacity’ and that a massive increase in the world’s carrying capacity during the Industrial Revolution allowed the population explosion that has occurred from 1850 onwards. Pay close attention to Fig. 3 as it shows clearly where most population growth has occurred since 1950.
Natural population change refers to population change just caused by birth and death rates. Population change also includes immigration and emigration. Make sure you know how to calculate both (the questions based on Fig. 5 are good practice).
The Demographic Transition Model is very important for understanding change in populations over time. You should be able to describe what is happening in each stage and the effects this has on population growth, as well as identifying what type of countries are in each stage.
Learn the terms pro-natalist and anti-natalist. In the exam it is common to be asked to evaluate a country’s population policy, so learn China as an example.

Task

The reasons for population change are divided into demographic, socio-cultural, economic and political in your textbook (page 7) and this is an excellent way to categorise them.

COMPLETE - Task 1.1 Reasons for Population Change Download COMPLETE - Task 1.1 Reasons for Population Change

Case Studies

Add the following Case Studies to your Case Study File (General Resources).

A country which is over-populated: Bangladesh. Make sure you can explain what it is that makes Bangladesh over-populated, remember it’s not just having a high population density, it’s why you cannot support that density of people.
A country which is over-populated: China. Make a list of ways the One-Child policy has worked but also the negative effects it has had.
A country which is under-populated: Australia. There are arguments for and against Australia being considered under-populated – learn both.
A country with a high rate of natural population growth: Kenya. Make sure you can describe Kenya’s population structure and the reasons for it.

To achieve A/A* grades you need to be learning specific facts and figures for each case study as well.

A country with a low rate of population growth (or population decline): Russia. Russia can be compared to Kenya in terms of what is happening to the population and why it is happening.

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