The Geography of population

1. The Geography of population Geographers use the term population to mean the total number of people who live in a specific area. By late 2011 there will be 7 billion people living in the world.

2. The Geography of population • Over the last 200 years the number has jumped by 5 billion. • What has led to such a rapid population growth?

3. The Geography of population • The most important factors are increase in food production, technology in medicine, and improvement in sanitation. • Geographers measure population by how many people have been born and how many people have died.

4. The Geography of population • To figure out statistics such as the rate of natural increase you must subtract the death rate from the birth rate. • In countries such as Africa, Asia, and South America the rate of natural increase is very high. Why? Remember farming is a major part of life in these continents.

5. The Geography of population • The expanding population creates serious challenges such as basic needs being fulfilled such as clean water, food, and housing. • The increased population is putting pressure on the limited amount of resources. • What resources does this put pressure on?

6. The Geography of population • People are not equally distributed through the world, people chose to live in a place by climate, elevation, and resources. • 70% of the earth surface is water and 35-40% of land in the world is either too hot • or too cold.

7. The Geography of population • Today, about half the population in the world lives in urban areas, this was caused by the Industrial Revolution and jobs in the cities. • This has changed because 200 years ago most people farmed for a living and lived in rural areas such as farmland or towns.

8. The Geography of population • Demographers study population trends and the characteristics of human population. • They use population density to figure out how heavily populated an area is, this is figuring out population density.