History of Population GrowthBBCBBC videoNat GeoNatGeo

The current world population is over 7.1 billion

How did this happen? Throughout most of human history, our

population grew very little. This was because our ancient ancestors

did not live as long as we do. Most of these ancestors lived a hunter-

gatherer lifestyle. Video

These societies were limited in growth because they were constantly on the move looking for food.

About 12 000 years ago AGRICULTURE or farming was developed. This allowed people to stay in one place

with a secure food supply. This made for a safer and healthier environment to bring up children and population numbers started to grow more rapidly.

Agriculture also allowed for the development of cities. This also allows for the development of technology.

However even with these advances, birth rates and death rates remained relatively the same and so population growth was limited. Women had lots of children but the death

rates for kids under the age of five remained very high due to poor sanitation and little medicine.

This begins to change with the INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION (c.1750) This time marks great advances in

technology and science In particular there were many inventions in

the areas of farming, nutrition, medicine and sanitation.

These changes led to a rapid decline in the death rates, especially among children.

Birth rates however took much longer to fall, because these are much more closely tied to culture and moral traditions.

This lead to the rapid increase in human population that has come to be known as the POPULATION EXPLOSION. ( look at the chart for the 1900’s.

Crash Course

DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION

RoslingMusic Video

Time

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4

Natural

increase

Birth rate

Death rate

Note: Natural increase is produced from the excess of births over deaths.

Lesson Plan: The Demographic Transition, Activity One

World Population GrowthDemographic transition This is an historical pattern of population growth

based on experience of developed countries suggests that economic development can be a means of slowing

population growth

World Population GrowthDemographic transition Stage One

High BR + High DR = Little population growth

STAGE ONE little access to birth control many children die in infancy (high IMR) so

parents tend to have more children in the hopes that more will live

children are needed to work on the land to grow food for the family

children are regarded as a sign of masculinity in some cultures

religious beliefs (e.g. Roman Catholics and Hindus) encourage large families

high death rates, especially among children because of disease, famine, poor diet, poor hygiene, little medical science.

World Population GrowthDemographic transition Stage Two

DR declining + High BR = High Population Growth

STAGE 2 improvements in medical care - hospitals,

medicine, etc. improvements in sanitation and water

supply quality and quantity of food produced rises transport and communications improve the

movements of food and medical supplies decrease in infant mortality.

World Population Growth Stage Three

Low BR + Low DRS = Low population growth

STAGE THREE

Birth rates now fall rapidly while death rates continue to fall. The total population begins to peak and the population increase slows. The reasons for this could be: increased access to contraception lower infant mortality rate means there is less need to

have a bigger family industrialisation and mechanisation means fewer workers

are required (especially in rural areas) the desire for material possessions takes over the desire

for large families as wealth increases equality for women means that they are able to have a

career rather than feeling obligated to have a family.

STAGE 4STAGE 4: •Very low BR + low DR: Zero population growth/stays the same

ADVANCED INDUSTRIALISIED SOCIETYADVANCED INDUSTRIALISIED SOCIETY•TFR continues to decline as the role of women changes - they chose education, work, careers instead of getting married at an early age and having children•Some people decide to have NO kids or just one !•The importance of marriage lessens and divorce increases.

STAGE 4

•Role of woman as a traditional child bearer becomes less important and role as equal partner increases•Greater income, savings, and insurance policies erode the concept that many children are needed as a source of old age security•Changes in BRs may indicate govt. efforts in increasing BRs to maintain population numbers!!

STAGE 5 ???

Low BR + High DR = population loss A stage 5 was not originally thought of ,

but some developed countries are now reaching the stage where total population is declining because birth rates have dropped below death rates.

One such country is Germany, which has had to take in foreign workers to fill jobs.

The UK's population is expected to start declining by 2021.

Canada’s pop. is projected to start declining by 2025.

STAGE 5-Germany

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