Population Geography

Population Geography

• An Overview

What factors influence population distribution?

• Environmental factors--
• What type of natural resources are in the area? Does it have oil, or arable land or access to water?
• What is the climate like?
• Does it have capital resources such as transportation and technology?

• Economic factors--
• What is the economic development like?
• What are the resources like?
• Political factors--
• What is the government policy?
• Are there many conflicts?
• Is it a rural/urban area?

What are the characteristics of human populations?

• Birth and Death rates-
• How many people per 1000 are born or die in a year?
• Age Distribution--
• How many people are in each age category?

• Male/Female distribution--
• Are there more males or more females? Why?
• Life Expectancy--
• How old can you expect to live?
• Infant Mortality--
• How many children die before their second birthday?

• Urban /Rural--
• Where do most people live? In the city/country?
• GDP--
• Is the country’s GDP high or low?
• Ethnicity--
• Does the population have one dominate ethnicity or many and do they get along?

• Language--
• Do the people speak one language or do they have multiple languages?
• Religion--
• Do the people share the same religion or do they have multiple ones?
• Education--
• Are the people highly educated?

What factors influence population growth rates?

• Does the country have modern medicine and hygiene practices?
• What is the level of the average education?
• Is the country industrialized and do the people live in urban areas?

• What is the level of economic development? Does the country have a primary, secondary, or tertiary economy?
• What is the government’s policy toward growth? Are there any restrictions?
• What role do women play in the society?