POP - Population Geography [OVERVIEW]

Population Geography

Introduction

The image shows a view of Earth from space, focusing on the North American continent. The perspective is such that the curvature of the Earth is visible, with the darkness of space and stars in the background. The continent is lit up with city lights, indicating populated areas.Welcome to the module on Population Geography! Population means “people” but in a separate way than cultural geography from an earlier module in this course. In cultural geography, we learned how physical and human characteristics of places and regions are connected to human identities and cultures. In this module, we will explore the fascinating dynamics of groups of people across the globe. From understanding demographic patterns to analyzing migration trends, we'll learn about the factors that shape the distribution, movement, and characteristics of populations on Earth's surface. So, what will tie the lessons in this module together? Well, since this is a branch of human geography, the answer is people, in this case groups of people, how they form, how they change, how they are influenced by decision makers, etc. All these things shape the population you live in and other populations around the world. Let’s learn!

Guiding Questions 🧭

In this module, we will be unraveling these knowledge-based questions:

  • How do graphs, maps, and models help us understand demographic patterns of population?
  • What are the effects of significant population issues of pro and anti-natal policies, such as China's natalist policy, on population characteristics?
  • How do push and pull factors contribute to human migration patterns, and what impacts do migrations have on resource utilization and service provision?
  • How do different governments and communities respond to migration, including the differences in national migration policies and local community policies?

Key Terms

Amnesty | A pardon or forgiveness granted by a government, usually for a group of people who have committed a particular offense, often related to immigration or political dissent.

Asylum Seeker | A person who has fled their country and is seeking protection from persecution or other dangers in another country but has not yet been granted refugee status.

Birth Rate | The number of live births per 1,000 people in a population within a given year.

Child subsidies | Financial aid or payment provided by governments to families to help raise children.

Death Rate | The number of deaths per 1,000 people in a population within a given year.

Demographic Transition Model | A model depicting the transition from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as a country develops from a pre-industrial to an industrialized economic system.

Demography | The study of human populations, including their size, composition, and distribution, as well as the changes that occur over time due to factors such as birth rates, death rates, and migration.

Emigration | The act of leaving one's own country or region to settle permanently in another.

Evacuee | A person who is temporarily relocated from their home due to an imminent threat or emergency, such as a natural disaster (e.g., hurricane, flood, wildfire) or a human-made disaster (e.g., chemical spill, armed conflict). The displacement is often short-term and intended to ensure the safety of individuals until they can return to their homes once the threat has passed.

Fertility Rate | Measures the average number of children born to women of childbearing age (usually between 15 and 49 years) in a specific population during a given period, typically expressed as births per woman.

Guest Worker | A foreign worker who can temporarily reside and work in a country other than their own.

Immigration | The act of moving permanently to a new country or region to settle there.

Migration | The movement of people from one place to another, often driven by factors such as economic opportunity, political instability, or environmental conditions.

Natalist Policies | Government strategies aimed at either boosting or reducing birth rates within a population by creating incentives and/or disincentives.

Official Language Laws | Regulations enacted by governments that designate one or more languages as the official languages of a country or region, affecting matters such as government proceedings, education, and public services.

Overpopulation | A situation where the number of people in an area exceeds the environment's capacity to support them at an acceptable standard of living.

Parental Leave Policies | Rules or programs that allow parents to take time off from work to care for their newborn or adopted children, either with pay or unpaid.

Population Density | The number of people living per unit of area, often expressed as persons per square mile.

Population Distribution | The arrangement or spread of people in an area, often influenced by factors like geography, resources, and historical patterns of settlement.

Population Growth Rate | The rate at which a population's size increases or decreases over a specific period usually expressed as a percentage.

Population Policies | Government policies designed to regulate population growth or address demographic challenges, such as natalist policies, family planning programs, or immigration quotas.

Population Pyramid | A graphical representation of a population's age and gender composition typically displayed as a series of horizontal bars grouped by age and gender.

Population Quota | A predetermined limit or allocation of individuals within a specific area, often set by governments for various purposes such as resource management or immigration control.

Pull Factors | Factors that attract people to move to a particular location, such as job opportunities, political stability, or favorable climate.

Push Factors | Factors that encourage people to leave their current location and migrate elsewhere, such as lack of economic opportunities, political persecution, or environmental disasters.

Refugee | Someone who has been forced to flee their home country due to persecution, war, or violence. Refugees typically cross international borders to seek safety and asylum in another country. Their displacement is often long-term or permanent, and they cannot return to their home country due to fear of persecution or danger.

Replacement Rate | The fertility rate needed for a population to replace itself from one generation to the next, without migration, typically estimated at around 2.1 children per woman in industrialized countries.

Resettlement Programs | Initiatives by governments or organizations to relocate groups from one area to another.

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