Global Population: Patterns and Trends

1. Cultural Geography James Leigh, University of Nicosia Tracy Bucco

2. PopulationPart 1 Crowd, http://lbcpastor.wordpress.com/tag/service/

3. This lecture’s reading • Rubenstein, J. (2005), The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography, Latest Edition, Saddle River,Prentice Hall. • Chapter: Population • Fellman, J. Getis, A. and Getis, J. (2005), Human Geography: Landscapes of Human Activities, Latest Edition, New York, McGraw-Hill. • Chapter: Populations: World Patterns, Regional Trends

4. Preview summary • MDCs: • low birth rates lead to • aging and • slowly growing population • only partly offset by immigration • LDCs: • high birth rates lead to • young and rapidly growing population • which siphons off any economic surplus • and exhausts the economic ability of the country to supply a life of wellbeing to its people • (Corruption and lack of organization and infrastructure are also huge problems) (Tracy Bucco)

5. Some global facts • More people alive now than ever – 6.5 billion people • In last half of the 20th century world populations increased rapidly • Virtually all global population growth is concentrated LDCs • MDCs have stable or shrinking populations • World pockets of over- and under- population

6. Population concentrations • 75% world population live on 5% of earth’s surface • World population clusters in 5 areas: • East Asia • South Asia • Southeast Asia • Western Europe • Eastern Nth America • On the population cartogram countrysize is related to population Population cartogram, http://www.santafe.edu/~mgastner/cartogram/cartogram.html

7. Population density, http://www.maps.com/ref_map.aspx?pid=12867

8. Where do they live? ~ 88% ~ 12% (Fellmann et al)

9. Where are the people? • Population largely clustered 10o - 55oN • In low flat areas, near oceans or rivers with good soil • Not in dry, polar orhighland areas Climates,http://www.countrywatch.com/facts/facts_default.aspx?type=image&img=GC Population density, http://www.maps.com/ref_map.aspx?pid=12867

10. Sparselypopulated areas • Humans avoid harsh environments • Permanently settled areas are the ecumene: not too wet/dry or too hot/cold or too high or too mountainous • The ecumene world area ever increases Ecumene shown in greens (Rubenstein)

11. 5 hypotheses: where we don’t live • Dry • Wet (?) • Hot • Cold • High http://skyblu.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/hot-world.jpg

12. World Deserts, http://www.powayusd.com/teachers/blees/desert_locations.htm Sparsely populated areas • Dry Lands • 20% earth’s surface • Largest areas: 15o-50o N, and 20o-50o S • N Africa and SW and central Asia • Nomads and oil rich, some irrigation Population density, http://www.maps.com/ref_map.aspx?pid=12867

13. Population density, http://www.maps.com/ref_map.aspx?pid=12867 Sparsely populated areas • Wet Lands • Very wet areas areinhospitable • 20o N and S or equator • Interiors of S America,Central Africa, SE Asia • At least 1.25 m and most2.25 m rainfall • Rain + heat depleted soil, makes agriculture difficult • Rainfall may be seasonal or spread across the year • Seasonal wet lands can grow food, e.g. rice in SE Asia Humid tropical areas, http://www.nature.com/nrmicro/journal/v4/n9_supp/fig_tab/nrmicro1525_F2.html

14. Population density, http://www.maps.com/ref_map.aspx?pid=12867 Sparsely populated areas • Hot lands • N & S Africa • Middle East • Persian Gulf • N Australia • W USA • Many are deserts • Hostile environment • Demands changed behaviour Hottest deserts, http://www.didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk/depts/geog/bcs_geography/deserts.htm

15. Sparsely populated areas • Cold Lands • N and S poles with extreme cold and permafrost • Polar regions have: • Actually little precipitation • Can’t crop or have animals • Few humans Population density, http://www.maps.com/ref_map.aspx?pid=12867 Cold lands, http://www.athropolis.com/weather1.htm

16. Sparsely populated areas • High Lands • Steep, snow cover and few people • ½ Switzerland is >1,000 m high, only 5% of people live there • Some exceptions: S America and Africa where high altitude living may be more comfortable • E.g. Mexico City 2,243 m high, Nairobi 1,800 m high Population density, http://www.maps.com/ref_map.aspx?pid=12867 Relief mag, http://geology.com/world/world-map.shtml

17. Population density: Arithmetic density (Rubenstein)

18. Population density: Physiological density (Rubenstein)

19. Agricultural density • Agricultural density: Number of farmers for arable land area Tractor, http://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/834639-case-580c-tractor-workshop-service-repair-manual

20. Population density compared (Bernstein)

21. Population measurements • (Crude) Birth Rate (CBR): • Number of births for 1,000 people in a year CBR, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Birth_rate_figures_for_countries.PNG

22. Contraception, http://www.wwan.cn/Pubs/chronicle/2002/issue3/0302p44_contraceptives_map.jpg

23. World abortion laws Abortion laws, http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/mapworldablegs.gif

24. Population measurements • (Crude) Death Rate (CDR): • Number of death for 1,000 people in a year CDR, http://www.geographyalltheway.com/ib_geography/ib_population/popn_mort_revision.htm

25. Population measurements • Natural Increase Rate (NIR): • NIR = CBR – CDR • This figure excludes immigration NIR, http://www.countrywatch.com/facts/facts_default.aspx?type=image&img=PIAG

26. Many visual items are used in the course. • They have been collected in “notes” over several years. • If any items are unreferenced please let us know. • We would be happy to give credits. • James Leigh, University of Nicosia Tracy Bucco