CONTENT SHEET LESSONS 3 AND 4

GRADE TEN
2021

Factors influencing population Change

The following factors are responsible for the rate of population change in a country or
region:

Birth rate: the birth rate refers to the number of live births each year for every thousand people
in the population. Birth rates are affected by things such as the number of women of child
bearing age, norms regarding family size and government policies towards population control.

Economic conditions and health care: the economic development of a country affects the level
of health care that can be provided, while the economic situation of individuals has implications
regarding their access to health care. It also affects the number of individuals of child bearing
who remains in a country and those who may migrate as well as the number of individuals who
may enter a country seeking better health care opportunities.

Family planning: family planning has to do with couples deciding how many children to have
and when to have them and usually involves the use of contraceptives. The Caribbean family
planning affiliation is devoted to family planning and sexual and reproductive health care in the
Caribbean.

Culture and religious attitudes: in some cultures women are traditionally expected to have
many children. Similarly, some religions teach that family planning and contraceptives should
only be attempted through natural means.

Education: governments may run programmes in family planning education and counselling.
Links are often made between the level of education an individual has and the ease at which they
can access family planning programmes and services. Women who enter education and consider
a career of their own often have fewer children.

Death rate: the death rate refers to the number of deaths that occur for every thousand people in
a population.
Nutrition: A key factor in health is an adequate and healthy diet. CARICOM has established the
Caribbean food and nutrition institute (CFNI) which aims to food security and optimal
nutritional health for all Caribbean citizens.

Migration: migration occurs when people move within a country or between countries.

 Emigration: happens when individuals move out of a country to settle in another

 Immigration: happens when people move in to a country to settle.

The effect on the population depends on the relationship between these two types of migration.
For example net immigration occurs when the number of people entering a country exceeds the
number leaving.

Other factors affecting population change:

 Fertility rate: the average number of children born to each woman during her life time
produces the fertility rate of a population.
 Infant mortality rate: this is the number of deaths of infants under the age of one (1)
year old.
 Life expectancy: this is the number of years a person in a specific country or region can
expect to live.
 POPULATION DISTRIBUTION

Population distribution means the pattern of where people live. World population distribution is
uneven. Places which are sparsely populated contain few people. Places which
are densely populated contain many people. Sparsely populated places tend to be difficult places to
live. These are usually places with hostile environments e.g. Antarctica. Places which are densely
populated are habitable environments e.g. Europe.

Factors influencing population distribution

 Climatic factors - There are some areas, primarily the major cities that are located on the
leeward side of the Caribbean islands, away from the direct force of the northeast trade
winds. People sometimes occupy these areas because of the protection from the direct
force of hurricanes. There are other areas that experience continuous rainfall or the
opposite thereof (drought), such areas usually have a sparse population.

 Relief of the Land (Topography) - There are persons who have a preference for living
as that are flat rather than those areas that are mountainous; flat areas presents less
challenge when building a home or cultivating crops.

 Developed Areas (Urban Influence) - There is a high concentration of resources and

facilities in the urban areas. These areas are usually ‘buzzing' with activities such as those
in manufacturing, commercial, banking, cultural, recreational, etc and people are
attracted to those factors.

 Mineral Resources - Mineral resources are associated with economic activities, which
suggest job creation. People will want to live near those areas because of the availability
of jobs.

 Fertile Areas - People have a tendency to settle in areas that are fertile, in particular
those interested in farming. Even the non-farmer is interested in a backyard garden,
especially during period of hardship and economic recession where one is encouraged to
grow what one eats and eat what one grows.

 Vegetation Type- Few people will settle in forested areas or areas of desert vegetation.
Nb. This is the 2011 population distribution map of Jamaica

Population Density

Population density is a measurement of the number of people in an area. It is an average number.

Population density is calculated by dividing the number of people by the area of the land in
which they live. Population density is usually shown as the number of people per square
kilometre. Choropleth (shading) map are used to illustrate population density.

Formula for calculating population density

Population Density = Total Population

Area

Activity 1
Let us say, for example, that the population size of St. Kitts is 50,000 and the land area is 5,000
km2, using the information above, what would be the population density of St. Kitts?

Calculation of population density- (the formula)

Total population of St. Kitts ═ 50,000 people

Area of St.Kitts ═ 5,000 km2 ═ 10 persons per km2

Country Population Area (km2) Density (km2)

Belize 269 000 22 960

Guyana 767 500 214 970

Suriname 433 700 163 820

Dominica 71 200 750

Jamaica 2 635 400 10 991

St Vincent & the 109 200 388

Grenadines

Trinidad &Tobago 1 282 400 5128

Barbados 270 800 431

Bermuda 2 100 55

Answer Key

Country Population Area (km2) Density (km2)

Belize 269 000 22 960 12km2

Guyana 767 500 214 970 4km2

 Suriname 433 700 163 820 3km2

Dominica 71 200 750 95km2

Jamaica 2 635 400 10 991 240km2

St Vincent & the 109 200 388 281km2

Grenadines

Trinidad &Tobago 1 282 400 5128 250km2

Barbados 270 800 431 628km2

Bermuda 2 100 55 38km2