Global Human Population Concept Questions

1. Describe how the human population has changed from early times through the 1800s and then to the present. What is predicted for the next 50 years? (slow growth then exploded and continues to grow quickly)

2. What factors limited growth for most of human history? What contributed to the rapid growth in recent history?

3. How is the world divided in terms of income, fertility rates, and population growth rate? (high and low; basically on basis of income)

4. Most growth in the next few decades will be in developing countries. What are the social and environmental consequences of rapid population growth in developing countries? How may developed countries be affected? (social problems associated with poverty; environmental degradation; developed can be affected because all share environment and use resources from developing)

5. What information can be gained from a population profile? What format is used to present this information? (the pyramid shows the age distribution)

6. How do the population profiles, fertility rates, and population projections of developed countries differ from those of developing countries? (developing are sloping pyramids showing rapid growth; developed are more rectangular showing slow growth or stable population)

7. How might future population goals of developed and developing countries contrast? (developing try to slow growth and develop; some developed try to increase population to grow economy)

8. What is meant by the term population momentum and what is its cause? (population continues to grow even after fertility drops to replacement; caused by large number of people entering reproductive years)

9. What is demographic transition? Describe its four phases and the conditions that lead to each. (progression from primitive to modern; high birth and death rate to low birth and death rate)

10. It has been suggested that excess human population can be accommodated by building orbiting space stations that could house 10,000 people each. Each station would be able to produce it’s own food. How many space stations would be required to house the world’s projected population growth over the next 10 years? What kind of policy would have to be enforced on the space stations? Does this seem like a good solution to the problem? (over 8000 space stations/year)

11. Contrast the long term effect on population growth caused by changes in total fertility with that caused by changes in longevity. (fertility increases population faster because once elderly people don’t have more children so don’t increase population)

12. Can future sustainability be attained through development alone? Defend your position. (no because large numbers of people living a consumptive life style will strain environment)

13. How might growing population help solve development problems?

14. In developing countries, why have fertility rates not come down with development as was expected in the demographic transition? (death rate dropped very quickly; other factors at play)

15. What are some of the specific factors that influence the number of children in a family? How does each influence family size? (old age security, infant mortality, children as assets, education, status of women, contraception)

16. What are the key aspects of family planning and why is family planning of critical importance to other aspects of development? (education, improved health, available contraception; population control is required so can focus on other aspects of sustainable development)