Environmental Science

Module 8-9: Populations and Communities

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

1. Identify the characteristics of Population
2. Discuss the compositions of population and communities
3. Determine factors of rapid population growth
4. Evaluate and compare the theories explaining population growth

Population Growth
Overpopulation is one of the most significant among environmental issues because
almost all human activities contribute to the aggravation of global warming, pollution,
environmental degradation, resource use and energy use.
In any environment, changes in population size are always affected by various
factors that include food, health issues, inter species interactions and some physico-chemical
factors like rainfall, flooding, temperature and regional locations.
The range of environmental problems caused by populations is usually pressures
caused by growing cities as a result of urban development.

Characteristics of Population:
1. Exponential Growth
> evidenced by an increase in quantity by a constant amount per unit time
2. Doubling time
> is the time needed for a population to be double in size at a constant rate annually
3. Total Fertility Rate (TFR)
> a key measurement in the increase of population. This is the average number of
children to be borne by a woman in her lifetime if the specific birth age is constant.
4. Infant Mortality Rates
> refers to the number of infants who died in a particular year
5. Zero Population Growth (ZPG)
> defined when immigration plus the number of births in a population is equal to
the number of emigration plus death

Course Module
Composition of Population and communities

 refers to the distinctiveness between groups of people and this unique

characteristics can be seen and observed in various ways. These characteristics
can be represented by the number of men versus the women in a society/group.
The two most important composition of a population are:
• Age
• Sex
 The basis of many developmental and health programs that administrators and
demographers consider is based on these two main compositions.

Population composition is divided into three different types

1. Biological
2. Cultural
3. Economic

1. Biological

a. Racial and Ethnic composition

Populations of people all over the world are diverse and we have many races and
ethnicities of people in different communities. Because of this diversity, we can say that there
is no “pure” concept of races because of the ethic mixtures of people.

Currently, there is no decisive categorization of the population of the world based on

communities and races. Although physical features may be used to distinguish different ethnic
groups and races but is not a good decisive factor for judging the cultural traits of the people.
Because of the vague characteristic of Racial and Ethnic groups, this component of the
population structure is deemed less important as compared to other compositions.

b. Age Composition of Population

This also known as age structure or age distribution, it is the most fundamental
among the distinctiveness of population. Demographers often use population pyramids to
clarify the age distribution a population. This composition is important in understanding
the idea of mortality and fertility of a society. Furthermore, differences in age groups may
also generate economic and social differences. Economic activities and the social attitudes,
affects all aspects of individual life. .

Age structure is determined by the three important factors

• Fertility
• Gives information about population percentage of each group, high
fertility countries have a population of young people who are age 0-
15
• Mortality
• Life expectancy rate is less developed country is low; we can also
observe that an old age group has extremely small population and
population is influenced by a young group.
• Migration
 Environmental Science
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• Movement of people is also sex and age selective, in general groups

of working people in the age of 15-45 are more mobile compared to
people in a different age

c. Sex Composition of Population

A key factor of the socio-economic condition of an area is sex ratio of male and
female. This characteristic often used by geographers at the regional level. This
composition has a profound impact on the demographic makeup of the region and also a
significant characteristic of a countryside area. Sex ratio can be determined from three
basic factors

 Sex Ratio at Births

 Sex Ratio at Deaths
 Sex Ratio due to Migration

2. Cultural Characteristics of Population

a. Religious Composition

Religion acts as a motivating force; it is an important feature of the population because it

plays an essential function in the lives of humans. In fact, wars were fought on the basis of religion,
such as of Europe and Israel

Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism are considered among the top religions of the
world. Christianity is leading religion in the western hemisphere as well as in some the European
countries. Buddhism is the prevailing religion in East Asia and Hinduism in the South Asia.

b. Linguistic Composition

Language is culture, in fact one nation’s identity is because of the distinct language it uses,
it is also connected to nationality, thus we can say that the language part of ethnicity. There are
thousands of diverse languages spoken across the world. Language reflects unity and solidity in a
community and It also reinforces the idea of patriotism and nationalism.

c. Educational Composition

Education can be said as the backbone of progress for a country. A literate nation
experience high degrees of success as it also shapes society in different ways.

Cause of Rapid Population Growth

Course Module
 We have seen in the past couple of years the exponential growth of population over
the past centuries and this is because of birth rate as opposed to death rate in humans. This
population growth has a great impact on the economy and the environment

The following can be seen as factors for the rapid increase in population
1. Decline in Death Rate
> While advancements in medicine are beneficial in addressing and curing certain e
even the dreadful ones have caused a decline in death rates and increase in life
expectancy
2. Increase in Birth Rate
>medical advancements have also contributed in population increase because of
new ways to conceive that is aided by science.
3. Migration
> humans are very mobile and have a tendency to migrate and settle in areas where
they are able to find work. This movement led to highly urban area that result in
imbalance in the density population
4. Lack of Education
> Knowledge on the ill effects of overpopulation and how prevent it is decreased if
majority of the population is uneducated.

2 Theories on Population Explosion

1. Mathusian Theory
> The rate of increase in population grows faster or at a compound rate versus the
rate of food production which increases slowly or remains stable. This phenomenon
caused increase in problems of starvation, disease, poverty, and crime.
Famine, disease outbreak, violence and birth control are considered positive checks
to stabilize population growth.

2. Marxian Theory
> A notable thinker, Karl Marx believes that the growth in population is a mere
symptom rather than the cause of poverty, depletion of resources, pollution and
other social problems. He said that when the social class or the less privileged are
exploited; it leads to poverty, unemployment, overcrowding and the degradation of
environment. He proposes social justice and equity to all to allow everybody to
have a good standard of living and will lead to a stabilized global population.

References:
https://www.ukessays.com/essays/geography/characteristics-population-composition-5189.php
http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/population/population-growth-causes-characteristics-and-
explosion-of-population-growth/9968