Causes and rates of population change

The three main causes of population change

 Births - usually measured using the birth rate (number of live births per 1,000
of the population per year).
 Deaths - usually measured using the death rate (number of deaths per 1,000 of
the population per year).
 Migration - the movement of people in and out of an area.

Rate of change

Births and deaths are natural causes of population change. The difference between
the birth rate and the death rate of a country or place is called the natural increase.
The natural increase is calculated by subtracting the death rate from the birth rate.

natural increase = birth rate - death rate

The rate of natural increase is given as a percentage, calculated by dividing the
natural increase by 10. For example, if the birth rate is 14 per 1,000 population, and
the death rate is 8 per 1000 population, then the natural increase = 14 - 8 = 6. That
is 6/1000, which is equal to 0.6%.

World population distribution

World population distribution describes how people are spread out across the globe.
The human population is not spread evenly. Few people live in locations that
are sparsely populated and densely populated places have many. The distribution of
people is often shown using a dot distribution map.

Population density: the population density in an area is equal to the number of

people per square km, divided by the size of the area in square km.

Population distribution is the spread of people across the world, ie where people
live.
 The physical factors that cause areas to be sparsely populated:

 steep slopes
 harsh climate - very hot or very cold
 dense forest
 dry conditions
 isolated areas with poor transport links
 few jobs
 lack of resources

 Accessibility is poor. Sparsely populated areas have poor accessibility; they

are often in the interior of countries where it was hard for early settlers to travel.

 Climate is poor - too wet/dry/cold/hot. Places that have climatic extremes are
sparsely populated. Polar regions or deserts are too hot or cold for people to be able
to live comfortably. high or low temperatures and lack of precipitation, or aridity are
the main reasons. Antarctica and the Sahara Desert are two examples.

 Too mountainous. Areas with high mountains steep relief have hostile
climates, poor accessibility and poor soils and vegetation, meaning farming is
difficult. This sort of environment can support few people. An example is the Andes
Mountains in South America.
Why was the one child policy made?
This policy was made because the population of china was going up too quickly and this meant
that the population was too high for the land mass and resources used. The policy was put in
pace because the population was estimated to be at 0.6 million in 1950 when the population was
unstable, then by 1975 the population was 0.9 billion, as this growth would have lead to famine
and mass starvation.

When was this policy introduced?

1981's
What did the one child policy do, when it was
first introduced?
1. People could only have one child per married couple unless they wanted to have a fines which
would bankrupt the wealthier families.
2. Only people which come from both single parents would be able to have 2 children and be in
the laws boundaries, as this is unusual as most couples had a single child.
3.Farmers could only have one child, the same went to all farmers.

Where is China located?

Asia
Negatives to the One child policy:
1. Increased infanticide rates
2. Girls manly placed in orphanages were they are starved and
they eventually die.
3. More men to women based on the census.
4. Those which are a single child have to look after 2 parents, 2
grandparents, and so on.
Positives to the One Child policy:
1. This reduced the population by 500 million births.
2. Reduced the risk of famine and starvation.
3. Higher quality of life for those who have one child.
4. The population growth became stable when controlled.

Long term negative effects on China:

1. Reduced population growth, leads to natural population decrease
and this means population may fall to quickly, as for every one child
there is only 2 deaths: 2 parents = 1 Child.
2. Reduced levels of skills because of less people and less natural skill
range.

Long term positive effects:

1. More resources per person means increased standard of living.

How the policy has changed?

1. Since major incidents such as earthquakes and this has caused deaths of children, and some
couples only could have one child, so for this reason couples with lost children could have more
children.
2. Couples which the participants are from 1 single child family, and one sibling families would be
allowed two children so that the population isn't as stressed when it comes to look after the relatives.

3. Richer families can afford more children and for this reason they can afford the fine which is placed,
as well as the health care and schooling fees.
4. Farming families which live and need a man to inherit the farm, means that if you have a child and
you had a daughter it would be a bad omen so that you would be able to have another child which
reduces the infant mortality rates.

How effective has this policy been? Name an

after effect?
Very, however the later effects will be seen when the
population needs to even out, and such there will be
men which cannot have children because there is less
women there.

Why was the One Child Policy Introduced?

 Changes to an industrial economy caused a famine from 1959-61, with 35 million
deaths.
 Couples were encouraged to have large families to repopulate the country. A 'baby
boom' followed and the population was growing unsustainably fast. 
 In the early 1970s, the government realised the country was headed for famine
unless severe changes were made quickly. 
 Also, the increasing population meant that there were limited resources, such as
food, houses, education and healthcare -> a low quality of life without these.
 A lack of resources such as jobs meant that there were many poor people who
could not afford to pay taxes, and the government needed more money to create
facilities for the large population. 

The Policy
The one-child policy was introduced in 1979. It said that:

 Couples must not marry until their late 20s.

 Most have only one successful pregnancy.
 Must be sterilised after the first child or abort any future pregnancies.
 Would receive a 5-10% salary rise for limiting their family to one child.

The punishments for disobeying the rules were:

 A 10% salary cut

 A fine so large that it would bankrupt most households
 The family would have to pay for the education of both children and health care for
all the family
 Second children born abroad were not penalised, but they were not allowed to
become Chinese citizens

In 2007, 39% of the population was subject to a strict one-child restriction.  

Problems with the Policy
 Women were forced to have abortions, even as late as the ninth-month of the
pregnancy.
 Women were placed under tremendous pressure from their families,
workmates, the 'Granny Police' and their own consciences and feelings. 
o (The Granny Police were older women entrusted with keeping a regular
check on couples of childbearing age, even accompanying women to
contraception appointments to make sure they attended.)
 Local officials and central government had power over people's private lives.
 Chinese society had a preference for sons over daughters, which resulted in
female infanticide or girls being placed in orphanages.
 'Little Emperor' syndrome: only children were often spoiled.
 Gender imbalance: more than 30 million youngmen than young women.

Benefits of the Policy

 The famine which was previously forecast has not occurred.
 Population growth has slowed down sufficiently  for people to have enough food
and jobs.
o The population growth rate has decreased by more than 10% since the
policy was introduced. 
 It's estimated that 400 million fewer people have been born. 
 New industries have lifted millions out of poverty, although technology from other
countries has helped to do this.

Exceptions to the Policy

 Rural families were allowed to have two children if their first was a girl.
 Ethnic groups were exempt because they could have become unsustainable under
the One Child Policy.
 If a parent was an only child then they were allowed to have two children. (except
government workers)

Changes from the Policy

 With less time needed for childcare, women have had the opportunity to
concentrate on careers, so have achieved more.
 With increasing wealth, more people are able to break the rules, pay the fine and
take the other consequences, of having a second child
  The attitude to having a daughter and the quality of life for women have improved.
 Some girls have been rejected, so now there are over 30 million more young men
than women. Not all men will be able to marry, which could present difficulties for
Chinese society.
 Some studies have indicated that the policy only had a minimal effect on the
population, as the rapid economic development may have caused a bigger
change. Countries like Thailand have had the same result without a one child
policy. 

The policy was abolished on the 1st January 2016, and replaced with the two-child policy,
however couples still have to gain permission to have a second child. 
 Push factors Pull factors

Lack of services Better services

Low employment Higher employment

Lack of safety Safe society

High crime Less crime

Crop failure Fertile land

Drought Lower risk of natural hazards

Flooding Good climate

Poverty More wealth

War Political stability

Reasons for Migration
Push Factors
 There are incredibly high crime rates in Mexico, especially in the capital. Many
Mexicans will move out of fear for their lives and hope that America is a more
stable place to live, with lower crime rates.

 Unemployment and poverty is a major problem in Mexico and has risen in recent
years. people are forced to move to America, where they have better prospects, in
order to be able to support their families and maintain a reasonable standard of
living.

 The climate and natural hazards in Mexico could force people to move to America.
Mexico is a very arid area which suffers from water shortages even in the more
developed areas of Mexico. The country also suffers from natural disasters
including volcanoes, earthquakes, hurricanes & tsunamis. Recent natural disasters
could force people to migrate if their homes have been destroyed or made
uninhabitable. People who live in danger zones could also migrate out of fear for
their lives.

Pull Factors
 There is a noticeable difference in the quality of life between America & Mexico.
America offers significantly better living standards and services, such as health
care, people are enticed to move to America for a better life.

 Existing migrant communities in states such as Texas and California help to pull
people towards migration.
 86.1% of the Mexican population can read & write versus 99% of the population in
America. In addition, the majority of students in Mexico finish school at the age of
14, versus 16 in America. These statistics show that there are significantly better
academic opportunities in America than in Mexico, which can entice Mexicans to
migrate for an improved education, either for themselves or, more likely, their
future children, in order to give them more opportunities in the world and allow
them to gain higher paying jobs.