2.1 Population & Migration
4 min read•december 30, 2022
Population & Migration
Introduction to Population & Migration
Today, there are over 7 billion people living on the planet! Although are declining, there are more people in the world than ever before in human history. Despite improved living conditions and increased access to healthcare, the vast majority of people still live in . In this unit, we will tackle a very simple, yet fascinating, question -- Why do people live where they do?
Unit Preview (Try to answer these questions!):
Why are there so many people in China and India?
What factors cause people to live in certain areas rather than others?
Why do people move from place to place?
Why do so many migrants come from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia?
Why has the world population grown so rapidly in the last century?
Why do migrants move to developed regions such as Europe or North America?
How do density and spatial distribution affect where people live?
What determines where people live?
Physical Factors
Take a moment to think about where you live. What makes a city or country a desirable (or undesirable) place to live? To answer this question, you might have thought about the climate of a region, the proximity of bodies of water, or even the location of major geographical landmarks such as mountain ranges.
People need food to survive, and thus we often see cities develop around fertile valleys and around rivers. Most people in the world live in (regions between 30°N and 60°N and between 30°S and 60°S). These areas have moderate climates and better soil that contribute to a desirable location to live.
Lastly, people want to live in low-lying areas rather than high in the mountains. Low-lying areas have better soils and are often located near oceans or other bodies of water. (water without salt) also drives people to lake regions or rivers.
Human Factors
Despite the appeal of , food and water alone are not enough to get people to move into an area. People in the modern world also seek safety, job opportunities, and proximity to relatives.
Types of Densities
Demographers study these three types of population density: Arithmetic, Physiological, and Agricultural population density.
: This type of density simply measures the average number of people in a given area. For example, the US has a total population of 330 million people spread out over 3,841,999 square miles. Thus, the arithmetic density is about 84 people per square mile.
: Unlike , this type of density is calculated by dividing the total population by the amount of arable land available. In other words, this is the number of people in a given area divided by the amount of land suitable for growing crops.
: This last type of population density compares the number of farmers to the area of arable land. A smaller number of farmers in a given area most likely indicates a higher degree of efficiency because fewer people are required to make the same amount of food.
Population Pyramids
⟁ show the distribution of people in a given country by age group and gender. can provide valuable information on birth rates, death rates, economic development, and education levels in a country. These pyramids are often questions on the exam so make sure you know how to read them and what each stage of the population looks like as a pyramid. Follow the link under the image and try out what different countries currently look like. It can be really interesting.
Images Courtesy of PopulationPyramid.net
Population Growth and Decline
A country’s population will fluctuate wildly depending on a variety of different factors. The Demographic Transition Model (DTM) is the most important model of population growth and shifting rates of birth and death in a country. There are four main stages of the DTM, but recently there has been a shift towards a fifth stage. As a country modernizes, birth and death rates decline as a result of increased access to education and healthcare, larger food supplies, and overall economic growth. Make sure you understand these 5 stages! They are very helpful for the exam.
Image Courtesy of Wikipedia
📽️Watch: APHUG - The Demographic Transition
Why People Move
Push and Pull Factors
Push and are commonly used to describe why migrants move. are reasons why people leave their home country while are reasons why people are attracted to another country that they desire to move to. Wars, terrorist activity, poor economic conditions, and overpopulation are examples of common . A desire to live with relatives in another region, new job opportunities and safe living conditions are that lure people into a new country.
📽️Watch: APHUG - Population Pyramids
📽️Watch: APHUG - Migration
Key Terms to Review (14)
Agricultural Population Density
: Agricultural population density refers to the number of farmers per unit area of farmland.Arithmetic Population Density
: Arithmetic population density refers to the total number of people divided by the total land area.Demographic Transition Model (DTM)
: The Demographic Transition Model is a model that describes how populations change over time due to changes in birth and death rates. It consists typically four stages - high birth & death rates; high birth rate & declining death rate; declining birth & death rates; low birth & death rates.Freshwater
: Freshwater is naturally occurring water found on Earth's surface which has low concentrations of dissolved salts making it suitable for consumption or irrigation.Global birth rates
: Global birth rates refer to the number of live births per 1,000 people per year on a global scale.Human Factors
: Human factors refer to the physical, social, and psychological characteristics of people that influence their behavior and interactions with products, systems, and environments.Low-income developing countries
: Low-income developing countries are nations with low gross national income (GNI) per capita according to World Bank classifications. These countries often struggle with issues such as poverty, low levels of education and healthcare.Midlatitudes
: The midlatitudes are the regions on Earth lying between 30° and 60° latitude from both equator and poles. They experience seasonal changes in climate throughout the year.Physical Factors
: Physical factors refer to the natural elements of the environment that influence human activities and patterns. These can include climate, landforms, soil type, vegetation, and availability of water.Physiological Population Density
: Physiological population density refers to the number of people per unit area of arable land - land capable for agriculture.Population & Migration
: Population refers to the total number of individuals living in a specific area, while migration is the movement of people from one place to another with intentions of settling, permanently or temporarily, at a new location.Population Pyramids
: A population pyramid is a graphical representation that shows the distribution of various age groups in a population, which forms the shape of a pyramid when the population is growing.Pull Factors
: Pull factors are conditions that attract people to a new area, encouraging them to move from their current location. These can include better job opportunities, higher wages, political stability, or even a more pleasant climate.Push Factors
: Push factors are conditions that drive people to leave their homes and migrate to another region. These can include things like poverty, war, or severe environmental conditions.2.1 Population & Migration
4 min read•december 30, 2022
Population & Migration
Introduction to Population & Migration
Today, there are over 7 billion people living on the planet! Although are declining, there are more people in the world than ever before in human history. Despite improved living conditions and increased access to healthcare, the vast majority of people still live in . In this unit, we will tackle a very simple, yet fascinating, question -- Why do people live where they do?
Unit Preview (Try to answer these questions!):
Why are there so many people in China and India?
What factors cause people to live in certain areas rather than others?
Why do people move from place to place?
Why do so many migrants come from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia?
Why has the world population grown so rapidly in the last century?
Why do migrants move to developed regions such as Europe or North America?
How do density and spatial distribution affect where people live?
What determines where people live?
Physical Factors
Take a moment to think about where you live. What makes a city or country a desirable (or undesirable) place to live? To answer this question, you might have thought about the climate of a region, the proximity of bodies of water, or even the location of major geographical landmarks such as mountain ranges.
People need food to survive, and thus we often see cities develop around fertile valleys and around rivers. Most people in the world live in (regions between 30°N and 60°N and between 30°S and 60°S). These areas have moderate climates and better soil that contribute to a desirable location to live.
Lastly, people want to live in low-lying areas rather than high in the mountains. Low-lying areas have better soils and are often located near oceans or other bodies of water. (water without salt) also drives people to lake regions or rivers.
Human Factors
Despite the appeal of , food and water alone are not enough to get people to move into an area. People in the modern world also seek safety, job opportunities, and proximity to relatives.
Types of Densities
Demographers study these three types of population density: Arithmetic, Physiological, and Agricultural population density.
: This type of density simply measures the average number of people in a given area. For example, the US has a total population of 330 million people spread out over 3,841,999 square miles. Thus, the arithmetic density is about 84 people per square mile.
: Unlike , this type of density is calculated by dividing the total population by the amount of arable land available. In other words, this is the number of people in a given area divided by the amount of land suitable for growing crops.
: This last type of population density compares the number of farmers to the area of arable land. A smaller number of farmers in a given area most likely indicates a higher degree of efficiency because fewer people are required to make the same amount of food.
Population Pyramids
⟁ show the distribution of people in a given country by age group and gender. can provide valuable information on birth rates, death rates, economic development, and education levels in a country. These pyramids are often questions on the exam so make sure you know how to read them and what each stage of the population looks like as a pyramid. Follow the link under the image and try out what different countries currently look like. It can be really interesting.
Images Courtesy of PopulationPyramid.net
Population Growth and Decline
A country’s population will fluctuate wildly depending on a variety of different factors. The Demographic Transition Model (DTM) is the most important model of population growth and shifting rates of birth and death in a country. There are four main stages of the DTM, but recently there has been a shift towards a fifth stage. As a country modernizes, birth and death rates decline as a result of increased access to education and healthcare, larger food supplies, and overall economic growth. Make sure you understand these 5 stages! They are very helpful for the exam.
Image Courtesy of Wikipedia
📽️Watch: APHUG - The Demographic Transition
Why People Move
Push and Pull Factors
Push and are commonly used to describe why migrants move. are reasons why people leave their home country while are reasons why people are attracted to another country that they desire to move to. Wars, terrorist activity, poor economic conditions, and overpopulation are examples of common . A desire to live with relatives in another region, new job opportunities and safe living conditions are that lure people into a new country.
📽️Watch: APHUG - Population Pyramids
📽️Watch: APHUG - Migration
Key Terms to Review (14)
Agricultural Population Density
: Agricultural population density refers to the number of farmers per unit area of farmland.Arithmetic Population Density
: Arithmetic population density refers to the total number of people divided by the total land area.Demographic Transition Model (DTM)
: The Demographic Transition Model is a model that describes how populations change over time due to changes in birth and death rates. It consists typically four stages - high birth & death rates; high birth rate & declining death rate; declining birth & death rates; low birth & death rates.Freshwater
: Freshwater is naturally occurring water found on Earth's surface which has low concentrations of dissolved salts making it suitable for consumption or irrigation.Global birth rates
: Global birth rates refer to the number of live births per 1,000 people per year on a global scale.Human Factors
: Human factors refer to the physical, social, and psychological characteristics of people that influence their behavior and interactions with products, systems, and environments.Low-income developing countries
: Low-income developing countries are nations with low gross national income (GNI) per capita according to World Bank classifications. These countries often struggle with issues such as poverty, low levels of education and healthcare.Midlatitudes
: The midlatitudes are the regions on Earth lying between 30° and 60° latitude from both equator and poles. They experience seasonal changes in climate throughout the year.Physical Factors
: Physical factors refer to the natural elements of the environment that influence human activities and patterns. These can include climate, landforms, soil type, vegetation, and availability of water.Physiological Population Density
: Physiological population density refers to the number of people per unit area of arable land - land capable for agriculture.Population & Migration
: Population refers to the total number of individuals living in a specific area, while migration is the movement of people from one place to another with intentions of settling, permanently or temporarily, at a new location.Population Pyramids
: A population pyramid is a graphical representation that shows the distribution of various age groups in a population, which forms the shape of a pyramid when the population is growing.Pull Factors
: Pull factors are conditions that attract people to a new area, encouraging them to move from their current location. These can include better job opportunities, higher wages, political stability, or even a more pleasant climate.Push Factors
: Push factors are conditions that drive people to leave their homes and migrate to another region. These can include things like poverty, war, or severe environmental conditions.
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