World Studies Hybrid 2/9 Due 2/10

1. Watch the Population Reference Bureaus Highlights of the 2014 World

Population Data Sheet and identify the major trends and statistics discussed
in the video.
a. Over the last 40 years, women are having fewer children (avg.
4.7 in 1970 to 2.5 today)
b. Population pyramids are beginning to have a smaller base (not
as young of population)
c. European countries have older populations and have a smaller
working population and may have extra costs associated with
caring for the elderly.
d. Most population growth will occur in underdeveloped countries
e. Infant mortality has declined by more than 50% globally
f. Mother mortality rate has declined by almost 50%, most
deaths occur in underdeveloped countries
g. Extreme poverty has decreased by over 50%
h. Carbon emissions continue to rise
2. View the World Population Datasheet Infographic and answer the following:
a. How will the location of population change between 2014 and 2050?
Identify changes by
continent and by country.
The population in Africa and Asia will increase while the
population in Latin America, North America, Oceania and
Europe will generally stay the same.
b. Describe the trends on each continent for Fertility Rate, Infant Mortality
Rate & Life Expectancy between 1970 and today.
Africa
o Fertility rate: decreased by 2 children per woman (4.72.7)
o Infant mortality rate: decreased by over 50% (139-62)
o Life expectancy: increased by 14 years (45-59)
Asia
o Fertility rate: decreased by 3.2 (5.4-2.2)
o Infant mortality rate: decreased by over 70% (91-34)
o Life expectancy: increased by 15 (57-71)
Europe
o Total fertility rate: decreased by 1.7 (2.3-1.6)
o Infant mortality rate: decreased by 80% (27-6)
o Life expectancy: increased by 8 years (70-78)
Latin America
o Total fertility rate: decreased by 3.1 children per
woman (5.3-2.2)
o Infant mortality rate: decreased by 80% (86-18)
o Life expectancy: increased by 15 years (60-75)
North America
o Total fertility rate: decreased by 0.5 children per
woman (2.3-1.8)
o Infant mortality rate: decreased by over 70% (21-5)

o Life expectancy: increased by 8 years (71-79)

Oceania
o Total fertility rate: decreased by 1 child per woman
(3.4-2.4)
o Infant mortality rate: decreased by 50% (43-21)
o Life expectancy: increased by 11 years (66-77)
c. Describe the difference between Population Structure in 1970 and today.
In 1970, there was a much younger population and very
pyramidal look to population structure. Now the population
structure has a much smaller base and takes the form of a
developed pyramid.
d. List countries that have made the most progress in reducing maternal and
child mortality rates and speculate 3 reasons for the high % reduction.
Peru, Egypt and China have all decreased their child
mortality rates and maternal mortality rates by over 66%.
o All these countries have developed immensely in the
last 40 years with increases in health care.
o Not as many children are being born in these
countries
o Higher urban populations mean there will be a better
access to health care rather than living in rural areas
where women would have to give birth and are more
prone to infection
3. View Hans Roslings presentation entitled Population growth explained with
IKEA boxes. Write a brief paragraph essay explaining your agreement or
disagreement with his conclusion Only by raising the living standards of the
poorest, in an environmentally-friendly way, will population growth stop at 9
billion people in 2050.
Roslings idea that increasing the living standards of the poor will help to
level off population is completely accurate. The largest amount of
population growth is occurring in the poorest parts of the world where
families cannot provide effectively for the children they produce. Many
women have many children because they want to ensure that at least a
couple of them will make it to adulthood. When living in rural areas,
families do not have access to contraceptive methods, and may not want
to use them, if they can produce more helping hands around the house. If
we can improve the living standards of these people, women will have a
better access to contraceptive options and families will not feel the need
to have 8 children. Making changes in the places with the highest fertility
rates is the only way the worlds population will ever stop growing and
Roslings idea corresponds with that.