Population Dynamics
(Excursions)
Workout
A. Write T for true and F for false.
1. People below 15 years of age are grouped as children. [T]
2. Migration changes the number, distribution and composition of the population. [T]
3. Asia is the most thinly populated continent in the world. [F]
4. Underpopulation is important for the development of a country. [F]
B. Answer in one word.
1. The number of people living per unit area.
= Population density.
2. The number of live births per 1000 people per year.
= Birth Rate.
3. The difference between natality and mortality.
= Growth Rate.
4. The structure of population in a country.
= Population Composition.
C. Fill in the blanks with the correct answers.
1. The people in the .............. age group are categorized as the working population.
a. 15 to 60. [ ]
b. 15 to 65. [✓]
c. 15 to 55. [ ]
d. 20 to 60. [ ]
2. ...................... means the number of females per 1000 males.
a. Population ratio. [ ]
b. Age ratio. [ ]
c. Sex ratio. [✓]
d. Male ratio. [ ]
3. ...................... population is an indicator of development and improvement in socio-economic conditions.
a. Urban. [✓]
b. Rural. [ ]
c. Male. [ ]
d. Female. [ ]
4. The Sahara Desert is sparsely populated because of its .....................
a. favourable climate. [ ]
b. scarce water availability. [✓]
c. even terrain. [ ]
d. abundant water bodies. [ ]
5. The Nile Delta is densely populated because of .........................
a. its hilly terrain. [ ]
b. harsh climatic conditions. [ ]
c. availability of fresh water. [✓]
d. less annual rainfall. [ ]
D. Give reasons.
1. River valleys are densely populated.
= River valleys are densely populated due to the fresh water, fertile soil and even terrain of the river valley.
2. The Census is an important source of statistical information.
= The Census is an important source of statistical information as it is used to study the population composition of a country. It gives precise information on population, economy, literacy, sex ratio and age composition.
3. A balanced sex ratio is beneficial for a country.
= A balanced sex ratio is beneficial for a country as both the male and female are equally responsible for the progress of our society.
4. Polar regions are the most sparsely populated regions in the world.
= Polar regions are the most sparsely populated regions in the world because they are the regions with extreme climatic conditions.
5. Migration of people from rural to urban areas.
= Migration of people from rural to urban areas due to the employment opportunity in the urban areas.
E. Answer these questions in brief.
1. Discuss the major factors of population growth.
= Population growth is the change in the number of people living in a particular region over a period of time. The rate at which the population growths is expressed in percentage. Population growth can be natural or induced. Natural growth in population can be measured by birth and death rates. Induced growth in population is caused by the inflow and outflow, that is, the migration of people. An imbalance between the population and available resources is important for the overall development of a country.
2. Define birth and death rates.
= ❐ Birth rates : The term 'birth rate' refers to the number of live births per 1000 people in a year. It is also known as natality. An increase in birth rate leads to an increase in population.
❐ Death rates : The term 'death rate' refers to the number of deaths per 1000 people in a year. Death rate is also referred to as mortality. A decrease in death rate leads to population growth.
3. Distinguish between population growth and population changes.
= Population growth is the change in the number of people living in a particular region over a period of time. On the other hand, The population of the world is dynamic, that is, it keeps changing constantly in terms of numbers, distribution and composition.
4. Differentiate between dependent and productive population.
= The dependent population is grouped between 0 to 15 years. They are also called the adolescent population. They are an important human resource for the future and need education and health care.
On the other hand, people within the age group of 15-65 years are known as the productive population. These people are employed in primary, secondary and tertiary activities. They are an important index of development and form the main workforce of a country.
F. Answer these questions in detail.
1. Explain the factors that influence the distribution of population in a region using suitable examples.
= The factors that affect the distribution of population in the world are :
Geographical Factors :
❐ Topography : Plains and plateaus have a higher population compared to mountainous regions. River valleys are densely populated, while mountain regions are sparsely populated. For example, the land around the Rocky Mountains, the Andes and the Himalayas are sparsely populated compared with the Ganga, the Nile and the Mississippi river valleys. The topography of the plains allows people to lead more comfortable lives, while the rugged topography of hilly regions makes life difficult.
❐ Climate : Regions with extreme climatic conditions are sparsely populated compared with regions with moderate climatic conditions. The tundra and the deserts are the least populated regions in the world. Some examples are the polar regions of Russia, Canada and Antarctica and the desert regions of the Kalahari and the Sahara.
❐ Water : Regions with low availability of water are sparsely populated, whereas areas close to water bodies are densely populated. Low availability of water is a major reason for the sparse population in the arid regions of the world. The river valleys are densely populated because water is found in abundance. Cities around the Mississippi river in the United States and the Mackenzie river in Canada are some examples of densely populated regions.
❐ Soil and minerals : The fertility of the soil also affected the distribution of population. The Ganga-Brahmaputra plain in India, the Nile River Valley in China are densely populated because these regions have favourable conditions for agriculture. Regions with rich mineral deposits have a developed industry presence that provided employment to people. Hence, these regions are also densely populated. For example, despite scarcity of water and extremely hot temperatures, Saudi Arabia has a considerably higher population than other desert regions in the world.
Socio-economic factors :
❐ The ease of living and social policies of a place also determine its population distribution. Places with affordable living standards have higher population. Basic amenities such as housing, sanitation, healthcare and educational facilities attract a large number of people. Therefore, cities and suburban areas are densely populated, and villages are sparsely populated. London, New York and New Delhi are good examples of such cities.
2. Discuss the characteristics that determine the composition of the population.
= Population composition refers to the structure of the population of a country. It is an important aspect of demographic study as it helps us understand the composition of population defined by characteristics such as gender, age group, education, occupations, place of residence and literacy rate in a particular are.
❐ Age composition : Age composition refers to the number of people in different age groups in a country. The population of a nation is grouped into three broad categories : Children (below 15 years), Working (15 to 65 years) and Aged (above 65 years). The number and percentage of the population within these age groups are notable determinants of the social and economic structure of population.
❐ Composition of working population : The two broad categories based on a population's working ability are productive population and dependent population. People within the age group of 15-65 years are known as the productive population. These people are employed in primary, secondary or tertiary activities. They are an important index of development and form the main workforce of a country. The dependent population is grouped between 0 to 15 years. They are also called the adolescent population. They are an important human resource for the future and need education and health care.
❐ Sex ratio : Sex ratio is an important demographic concept. It is defined as the number of females per 1,000 males of the population. It is an important indicator of the equality between males and females in a society.
❐ Rural-urban composition : The rural-urban composition is an indicator of the ratio of people living in rural areas to that of people living in urban areas.
❐ Urban population : The urban population is the population living in urban areas such as cities and towns. A sizeable population in urban areas is an indicator of both development and improved socio-economic conditions. It also indicates an increase in rural-urban migration.
❐ Rural population : The rural population is the population living in villages. Rural areas are important because they provide raw materials for agro-based industries. In recent years, reduced economic activity in rural areas has led to a steady migration of people to urban areas. This phenomenon is called rural depopulation.
3. What is overpopulation?
= The imbalance in available resources and population is called overpopulation.
4. How are birth and death rates calculated?
= To calculate birth rate, number of live births is divided by total population and the quotient is multiplied by 1000.
To calculate death rate, number of deaths is divided by total population and the quotient is multiplied by 1000.