Population Growth and Its Consequences

Study Notes

Definition: Increase in the number of people living in a particular area or region over time.
Factors influencing population growth: +Birth rate (number of births per 1000 people)
- Death rate (number of deaths per 1000 people)
- Migration (movement of people from one place to another)
Consequences of population growth:
- Increased demand for resources (food, water, housing)
- Environmental degradation (pollution, deforestation)
- Social and economic pressures (unemployment, poverty)

Definition: The process of people moving from rural areas to cities and towns.
Causes of urbanization:
- Economic opportunities (jobs, education)
- Better amenities (healthcare, transportation)
- Push factors (poverty, conflict) in rural areas
Characteristics of urban areas:
- High population density
- Diverse economy (industry, services)
- Social and cultural diversity

Definition: The way people distribute themselves across the landscape.
Types of settlement patterns:
- Dispersed settlement: Scattered, isolated homes (e.g., rural areas)
- Nucleated settlement: Clustered homes around a central point (e.g., villages)
- Linear settlement: Homes along a road or transportation route (e.g., roadside towns)
Factors influencing settlement patterns:
- Topography (natural features, terrain)
- Climate
- Economic activities (agriculture, mining)

Definition: The process of improving the economic well-being of a region or country.
Factors influencing economic development:
- Natural resources (availability, accessibility)
- Human capital (education, skills)
- Infrastructure (transportation, communication)
Consequences of economic development:
- Increased GDP and income
- Improved standard of living
- Potential environmental degradation

Definition: The coexistence of different cultural groups within a region or society.
Factors influencing cultural diversity:
- Migration and immigration
- Historical events (colonization, trade)
- Geographical features (mountains, rivers)
Characteristics of culturally diverse areas:
- Multilingualism (multiple languages spoken)
- Plurality of religious beliefs and practices
- Variety of traditional customs and traditions

Increase in population occurs when birth rate exceeds death rate
High birth rates and low death rates lead to rapid population growth
Migration also affects population growth, as it increases or decreases the number of people in an area
Unchecked population growth leads to:
- Increased demand for resources (food, water, housing)
- Environmental degradation (pollution, deforestation)
- Social and economic pressures (unemployment, poverty)

Urbanization occurs when people move from rural areas to cities and towns
Economic opportunities, better amenities, and push factors in rural areas drive urbanization
Urban areas are characterized by:
- High population density
- Diverse economy (industry, services)
- Social and cultural diversity
Urbanization leads to:
- Increased economic growth
- Improved living standards
- Increased environmental degradation

Settlement patterns refer to the way people distribute themselves across the landscape
Types of settlement patterns include:
- Dispersed settlement (scattered, isolated homes)
- Nucleated settlement (clustered homes around a central point)
- Linear settlement (homes along a road or transportation route)
Factors influencing settlement patterns include:
- Topography (natural features, terrain)
- Climate
- Economic activities (agriculture, mining)

Economic development is the process of improving economic well-being
Factors influencing economic development include:
- Availability and accessibility of natural resources
- Human capital (education, skills)
- Infrastructure (transportation, communication)
Economic development leads to:
- Increased GDP and income
- Improved standard of living
- Potential environmental degradation

Cultural diversity refers to the coexistence of different cultural groups within a region or society
Factors influencing cultural diversity include:
- Migration and immigration
- Historical events (colonization, trade)
- Geographical features (mountains, rivers)
Characteristics of culturally diverse areas include:
- Multilingualism (multiple languages spoken)
- Plurality of religious beliefs and practices
- Variety of traditional customs and traditions