Worksheet 1 Theme 1

Q1. (a) Study Fig. 1, population pyramids of Indonesia (an LEDC) and Japan (an MEDC)

(i) What is meant by economically active?

ans) economically active population are those who are a part of the labour force and
work to support the dependent population. they are aged above 14 and under 65.
[1]
(ii) What evidence in the population pyramids suggests that:
A people in Japan have a longer life expectancy than people in Indonesia;
ans) japan has a wider apex than indonesia showing that the life expectancy is higher
B Indonesia has a higher birth rate than Japan?
ans) indonesia has a broader base than japan, which means that the birth rate is more.
[2]
(iii) How is the young dependent population of Indonesia different from that of Japan?
Support your answer with figures from Fig. 1.
ans) japan has a narrower base than indonesia, which means that the young dependent
population is low. the 0-4 aged population is japan is almost 2.3%, the 5-9 aged
population is 2.4% and the 9-14 population is almost 2.7%, which shows that the young
dependents in japan are less than 10%, however in indonesia the birth rate is higher
having the population of young dependents to be more than 20%. [3]
 (iv) Explain why, in some countries, the young dependents make up a larger percentage of
the population than in other countries.

ans) many countries might have a larger percentage of young dependant population as
the infant mortality might be high, which pressurizes the population to increase birth
rates, women literacy also places a huge role in the increasing birth rate, as people need
to be aware of contraception and the problems faced by overpopulation. the birth rate
might be high where there are low medical facilities as it’ll cause the death rate to rise.
this usually occurs when countries are LEDC’s or least economically developed.
[4]

(b) Study Fig. 2, which shows changes in the percentage of population over the age of 65 in
Indonesia and Japan.

(i) Compare the percentage of the population over the age of 65 in Indonesia and Japan
between 1970 and 2005. [3]
(ii) Suggest reasons for the expected increase in the percentage of the population over the
age of 65 in Indonesia and Japan by 2025. [5]

[c] For a country which you have studied, explain why the government is concerned by an ageing
population. [7]

Q2. (a) Study Fig. 2, a scatter graph which shows the birth and death rates of seven countries in
2004.
 FIG 2

(i) Name the country with a birth rate of 36 per 1000 and a death rate of 24 per 1000. [1]
ans) mozambique
(ii) Calculate the natural population growth rate of Tanzania. You must show your working.
[2]
natural population growth = birth rate - death rate
= 40 - 17 = 23
(iii) Name the country shown on Fig. 2 which experienced:
A. the highest rate of natural population growth,
ans) tanzania
B. natural population decline.

ans)botswana [2]

(iv) Suggest reasons why Botswana has a higher death rate than the USA.

ans) botswana is considered to be an LEDC hence it might not have enough medical and economical
resources to satisfy the population, this might cause the death rates to increase and mortality rates
to be high, however USA being a MEDC may be more developed in medical services and may have
good literacy rates, which might decrease death rates.[3]

(b) Study Fig. 3 which shows how birth and death rates in Mauritius (an LEDC in the Indian Ocean)
changed during the 20th century.

ans) from the 20th century mauritius’ death rate was at peak around 1920, the population was
declining as the death rate was more than the birth rate, after 1940 the population growth of
mauritius started to increase, and the death rate started to fall. in 1960 the birth rates were at peak
and then the started to fall with the death rates this can be due to increase in technology and
medical resources.
 Fig3

(i) Suggest possible reasons for the decline in the birth rate in Mauritius from the 1960s. [5]
ans) the birth rate might have fallen due to increases in technology as the population
might have more resources and might live longer. it can also be due to increase in
medical resources as people are dying less and infant mortality is less. people might also
be more educated and the literacy rate might increased and the population might know
about contraception. the sale of contraception might also increase causing birth rates to
fall. the government might have placed an anti-natalist policy.
(ii) Describe how natural growth rates in Mauritius have changed during the 20th century.
Support your answer with dates and figures.

ans) the natural growth rate declined in 1920, when the death rate was more than the
birth rate, however in 1960 the natural growth rate started to increase when the birth
rate started to increase. eventually the birth rate also fell hence causing no change in
the natural growth of the population on mauritius [5]