Population Growth and Change - CCEA

Definitions of Population Change

• Population balance: Achieved between the number of births and deaths.
• Crude Birth Rate (CBR): Number of live births per year per thousand people.
• Crude Death Rate (CDR): Number of deaths per year per thousand people.
• Natural Change: Imbalance between CBR and CDR.
• Natural Increase: Higher birth rate than death rate.
• Natural Decrease: Higher death rate than birth rate.

Patterns of Population Growth

• Global population rising, but growth rates vary by country.
• MEDCs: Low population growth due to low birth/death rates (e.g., UK, Canada).
• LEDCs: High population growth with high birth/death rates (e.g., South Africa, Botswana).
• Improved healthcare in LEDCs lowers death rates, but birth rates remain high.

Demographic Transition Model

• Definition: Shows population change over time, influenced by birth and death rates.
• Stages: Different stages show the transition from high birth/death rates to low rates.
• Stage 1: High birth/death rates, low total population (no countries currently at this stage).
• Stage 2: Rapid decrease in death rate, high birth rate.
  • Birth rates remain high due to cultural, economic, and lack of contraception factors.
  • Death rates fall due to improved healthcare, sanitation, and food.
• Stage 3: Birth rate falls rapidly, death rate continues to fall slowly.
  • Birth rates fall due to family planning, decreased infant mortality, and societal changes.
• Stage 4: Low and balanced birth/death rates, high total population.
• Stage 5: Death rate higher than birth rate, leading to potential population decline.

Characteristics of Each Stage

• Stage 1: Balanced due to high birth/death rates.
• Stage 2: Population rise as death rates fall.
• Stage 3: Slowing natural increase, narrowing birth-death rate gap.
• Stage 4: Stable and balanced population growth.
• Stage 5: Ageing population, potential decline.

Conclusion

• LEDCs typically at stages 2-3, MEDCs at stage 4 or entering stage 5.
• Understanding these models helps analyze different countries' population structures and growth trends.