Population Flashcards
Why do we need to know populations?
Information vital for planning resources, education, employment, housing and government services.
How do we find out populations?
Through censuses, vital registrations and sample surveys.
What is a census?
A 10 yearly count of everyone in a country and is the most accurate method of population measurement.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of vital registrations?
Regularly updated and population is recorded at a local level. It does not take into account migration however.
What are the problems with a census?
- Very expensive and time consuming.
- If a country has a low literacy rate, enumerators are needed.
- There may be difficult terrain to navigate over.
- Different languages in different parts of the country.
- Political instability, not first priority for some governments.
- Migration
- War
- Distrust of what figures are used for.
What are the reasons that a country would have a high mortality rate?
- Less investments in health.
- Manual labour.
- Diseases.
- Poor water quality and sanitation.
- War.
- Investments in health and welfare are limited.
- Natural disasters.
- Insufficient infrastructure relating to water, power and sanitation.
What are the reasons that a country would have a low mortality rate?
- Increased investments in healthcare, education, welfare, wealth and pension provision.
- Good levels of infrastructure in water, sanitation, power and transport.
- Increased funding for medical care.
- Improved diet and nutrition.
- The output from agriculture improves.
- General medical and environmental improvements.
If a country has a population pyramid with a narrow top and wide base is it an LEDC or an MEDC?
LEDC.
What are the factors that affect population structures?
Improved living standards: means people have better water and sanitation so will be healthier.
