IHG - People by the Numbers Lesson
People by the Numbers
Do you like numbers and statistics? Do you find information gained from data to be interesting? Within human geography there is a field of study devoted to population changes and the spatial distributions of populations across the planet. This number driven field is called demography and the people who study it are called demographers. Demographers are interested in human population growth and decline. They collect information about the numbers of births and deaths in various regions. They track the migrations and settlement patterns of humans and provide information about what the future populations may be. Take a moment to fully consider the information displayed in the graph below.
World population estimates from 1800 to 2100, based on:
- United Nations projections (in 2010) — "high" (colored red), "medium" (orange), and "low" (green)
- U.S. Census Bureau (historical estimates) — (colored black).
- Actual recorded population figures (colored blue).
According to the highest estimate, the world population may rise to 16 billion by 2100; according to the lowest estimate, it may decline to 6 billion.
Having examined the data contained in the chart above, answer the following questions.
- How would you describe population growth prior to 1960?
- How would you describe population growth from 1960 to 2000?
Hopefully, you see that the population prior to 1960 grew very slowly and that between 1960 and 2000 it grew rapidly. Did you notice the green projected line that declines? If our population has been increasing for all of these years, what causes demographers to project possible declines? The answer is that populations do not always increase and in many modern countries the populations are actually declining.
What causes changes in populations?
Increasing populations are often the result of living in agricultural societies. This is due to the need for many people to cultivate the crops. Other causes include advances in healthcare, nutrition, and sanitation.
Decreasing populations are, as one might guess, due to people leaving agricultural jobs to work in developed urban areas. Other causes include a decline in healthcare, a decline in sanitation (particularly a decline in the cleanliness of water sources), and or a decline in the food available to provide proper nutrition.
What are the problems associated with population growth?
The more people that populate an area, the more resources the inhabitants consume. Some areas cannot sustain large populations and eventually suffer from deforestation, soil erosion, mineral depletion, and water pollution. Take a moment to review the information contained in the charts below. Which countries have the largest populations? Which continents have the largest populations?
There is much more to learn about demographics and how the data is used to make decisions. Read the information contained in the optional Demographic Transitions handout Links to an external site. carefully. The document will help you understand the My County and State: By the Numbers assignment. This Population Pyramids Video is also a great resource to help you understand this topic. Links to an external site.
RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.