Chapter 3 Population Introduction Late 1700s Thomas Malthus

Chapter 3 Population

Introduction ¢ Late 1700’s Thomas Malthus warns of the growing population in Great Britain. l l He issued warnings of massive famine and widespread suffering. Although it did not take hold in England, his predictions would follow suit in the growing world.

Focus of Chapter ¢ Where? l Geographers 1 st study population problems by describing where people are found across Earth’s space. ¢ Why? l 3 rd issue is why populations are growing at different rates in different places l 4 th issue = overpopulation? • = population distribution l 2 nd issue is the places where population is growing

Demography ¢ Definition: l ¢ ¢ Study of the characteristics of human populations Vital Records l • Births, deaths, marriages, divorces, and certain infectious diseases • Collected at all levels Census l Definition: straightforward count of the number of people in a country, region, or city. • Not usually simple l l The #’s are important, they determine government funding Limitations • Expensive, labor • Undercounts • Many protest that not all of the population is counted – homeless • India- biometric census l Most nations repeat every 10 years • U. S. since 1790 • 1985 - quinquennial (5 years) report: l Other organizations • WHO, Immigration Bureau

Key Issue 1: Where is the world’s population distributed? ¢ Important because: l l l More people are alive! World’s population is increasing at a faster rate Almost all the population growth is located in LDC’s ¢ If distributed evenly, the world’s population density would be 108 persons per square mile. l l ¢ World Population – l l l POP CLOCKS Greenland=. 1 per square mile Bangladesh= 2300 per square mile l 7 billion!!! About 77 million per year since 1990 China and India = 38% of world pop

Population Distribution ¢ Degree of accessibility, topography, soil fertility, climate and weather, water availability and quality, and type and availability are some factors that shape population distribution. ¢ l ¢ ¢ Ex. Brazil’s high pop concentration along the coast dates back to the Portuguese control in the 16 th and 17 th centuries. l l l ¢ Example: Mecca/ Medina Population clusters l A country’s political and economic experiences and characteristics can shape the population as well. l Another important factor is culture as expressed in religion, tradition, or historical experience All world’s inhabitants live on 10% of land Most live near edge of landmasses, near water 90% live North of the equator Most of world’s pop lives in temperate, lowlying areas with fertile soils Asia most populated continent l l 2 nd = Africa 3 rd= Europe

Population Density

Continent # in millions Total % Asia ¢ Africa ¢ Europe ¢ L. America 4, 216 1, 051 740 596 60% 15% 11% 8. 5% 346 37 5%. 05% ¢ + Caribbean N. America ¢ Oceania ¢ Sub-Saharan Africa is fastest growing population in the World!

¢ 2011 Data

Population Concentrations ¢ 2/3 rds of the world’s population clustered in four regions! l l ¢ East Asia South Asia SE Asia Europe All four regions have: - An ocean or river nearby Low-lying areas Fertile soil and average climate In the Northern Hemisphere - Between 10 degrees and 55 degrees North

East Asia ¢ 1/4 th of world’s population ¢ Distribution l ¢ Region includes: l l l ¢ Border to Pacific Ocean Eastern China Japan Korean Pensinsula Taiwan 5/6 ths live in People’s Republic of China l Clustered near Pacific Ocean and fertile valleys Japan and South Korea • 40% live in 3 larges Metro areas : • Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul • Only 3% land area

South Asia ¢ 1/4 th world’s population ¢ Region includes: l India • Contains 3/4 th of South Asia Pop. l l l ¢ Pakistan Bangladesh Sri Lanka Largest concentration of people in 1, 500 mile corridor from Lahore, Pakistan to the Bay of Bengal l l Indus/ Ganges River plains Also coastline • Most are farmers, live in rural areas • Region contains 18 urban areas • Only 1/4 th urban population • Two physical barriers: • Himalayas • Taklimakan Desert confine the growing population. • There is more pressure on the land in this region due to high densities!

¢ Southeast Asia ¢ ¢ 600 million people Mainly islands -including Java - 100 million people High Percentage of people live in rural areas along river valleys and deltas.

Europe ¢ 1/9 th the world’s population ¢ Four dozen countries l ¢ 3/4 th live in cities or metro areas l l ¢ Monaco to Russia Less than 10 % farmers Dense network of roads/ rail lines Highest population near industry l Coalfields

Other Population Clusters ¢ Western Hemisphere l l l ¢ Northeastern U. S. + Southeastern Canada 2% of world’s population Mainly urban West Africa l l South-facing Atlantic coast ½ of population concentration in Nigeria • Africa’s most pop. Nation l Work in agriculture • 5 urban areas with 2 million + • 11 urban areas with 1 million +

Sparsely Populated Regions ¢ Ecumene l ¢ portion of the earth’s surface occupied by permanent settlement Areas once considered too harsh to live has diminished and ecumene increased l l 7, 000 years ago population clustered in River Valleys 500 years ago North America outside of ecumene ¢ Ecumene today l 3/4 ths world population lives on only 5% of earth’s surface • Oceans 71%

Dry Lands ¢ 20% of earth’s surface too dry for farming l Largest desert region: • North Africa to Southwest and Central Asia • Sahara, Arabian, Thar, Takla Makan, and Gobi ¢ Not enough water to sustain a population/ crops BUT: l l l Adaption = camels Irrigation systems Natural resources • oil

Wetlands ¢ Located primarily near equator l ¢ Between 20 degrees North and South latitude Rainfall averages more than 50 inches per year l Most receive 90 inches + ¢ Combination of heat and rain rapidly depletes soil of nutrients ¢ Seasonally rainfall = more agriculture

Cold and High Lands ¢ Cold Lands l l Near North and South poles Massive ice coverage Less precipitation but snow/ice piles up over time Unsuitable for crops/ humans/ animals ¢ High Lands l l l High elevations Usually steep, snow-covered Example: Switzerland • ½ of land above sea level • Only 5% live there l Exceptions: • Latin America • Mexico City • Africa

Population Density ¢ Definition: l ¢ Several ways to determine Population Density l l ¢ A numerical measure of the relationship between the number of people and some other unit expressed as a ratio Arithmetic (Crude) Physiological/ Agricultural Helps geographers describe distribution of people in comparison to available resources.

Arithmetic Density ¢ Definition l l ¢ enables geographers to compare # of people trying to live on a given piece of land in different regions of the world ¢ One dimensional Total # of objects in an area Total # of people divided by total land area • Example: United States • 310 million people / 3. 7 million square miles = • 84 people per square mile • Example: Bangladesh = 1, 127 ppsm ¢ used to compare conditions in different countries l Tells us very little for about the variations in the relationship between people and land

Problems with Arithmetic Density ¢ Arithmetic Density does not always accurately portray population distribution. l Example: Egypt had a population of 73. 3 million in 2004, and an arithmetic density of 190 per square mile. However, 98% of the population lives on only 3% of the land making the density meaningless.

Physiological Density ¢ Definition: l # of people per area of arable of land in a region • Example: United States • Physio density of 175 ppsm of arable land • Example: Egypt • Physio density of 2, 296 ppsm ¢ the higher the physio density, the greater the pressure that people may place on the land to produce enough food ¢ insight to the relationship between size of population and availability of resources in a region

Agricultural Density ¢ Definition: l l ¢ ratio of farmers to the amount of arable land Measures economic differences MDC’s/ Core nations have LOW agricultural density because of technology. ¢ Putting Agricultural and Physiological densities together allows you to look at the relationship between population and resources l Example: Netherlands vs. Bangladesh • Both have high physiological densities • Dutch have low agricultural density • What does this mean? • both put pressure on land but Dutch utlizes less famers

Population Composition ¢ Another way to explore population patterns of distribution ¢ Addresses challenges l l ¢ Looks at subgroups: l l l # of males/ females # senior citizens/ children # active in workforce/ not active l Baby booms Aging population Women of childbearing age ¢ Understanding population composition not only tells us about future demographics of regions but also is useful for the present ¢ Geodemographic analysis l Definition: assessing the location and composition of particular populations