overpopulation underpopulation and optimum population

Overpopulation, Overpopulation, underpopulation underpopulation and optimum population

L.O.s To define and explain the terms: Overpopulation, Overpopulation, Underpopulation, Underpopulation, Optimum population, Population Population density and a nd Carrying Capacity and provide examples as evidence

Population distribution Vast areas in the continental interiors are uninhabited

Greatest concentrations of  population are in India and China

Why are these areas uninhabited?

This image of population distribution was obtained o btained from a satellite-based satellite-based model which disregards time of day.

Population density

What is the difference between population distribution and density? Distribution uses absolute numbers, whereas density gives numbers per unit area

Population Population density Some of the most densely populated places are islands or small states: Macao, China 20,346 people per km 2 Monaco 33,104 people per km2 Singapore 6,785 people per km2 But not all: Bangladesh 1,035 people per km 2 Bahrain 1,098 people per km 2 World average: 49 people per km 2

The Population-Resource Population-Resource Balance

Can you define the followi following ng terms? Over-population When there are too many people in an area for the available resources resources Under-population When there are too few people in an area to use the available resources resources efficiently Optimum population The theoretical ‘ideal’ where the people can work with the available resources resources to achieve the best standard of living for the population.

Carrying capacity Any geographical area area has a carrying capacity – the maximum number of people it can sustainably support with the available natural resources The carrying capacity will vary through time with changes in technology and economic and social development. development.

Semi-arid West West Africa: a carrying capacity of just 10 people per square km due to its poor soils and unreliable un reliable rainfall.

Optimum population An optimum population size is not the same as the maximum number of people that could be packed into an area at one time.

Freedom from persecution and inequality

What are the factors which identify optimum population? Small enough to guarantee the minimal physical ingredients of a decent life to everyone

Small enough to ensure the preservation preservation of biodiversity biodiversity

Sufficiently large to provide a ‘critical mass’ where creativity (e.g. artistic, technological) would be stimulated

Over-population Maybe over-population refers to an upper limit on population density. Yet some of the most densely packed areas on Earth are also some of the most economically successful, while some parts of the world with very low population density ratios are also some of the poorest, most starvation-prone.

Netherlands has high population density but is it over-populated?

Is Mexico over-populated because of  its economic problems?

Over-population “An area is over-populated if fewer people would lead to a higher standard of living” (Lorimer 1945)

Density

GNP per capita

(per sq. mile)

(2004)

Ethiopia

182

820

Singapore

17,946

26,590

Areas that many people consider to be over-populated are not necessarily densely populated

Is it possible to formulate a sentence which compares Ethiopia and Singapore?

Under-population Environmental

What is under-population? Under-population is usually defined as when a country's population has declined too much to support its current economic system.

Climate

Vegetation

Inaccessiblity

Remoteness

What causes underpopulation? It is not exclusively exclusively concerned with areas of low population density.

Soils

Poor communication Under-population

History

Type of economy

Population composition

Under-population

Canada is the world's second-largest second-largest country in total area, after Russia. The population density is 3.5 people per square kilometre, which is among the lowest in the world.

But the population figure by itself is misleading; approximately approximately 80% of Canada's Ca nada's population live within 200 km of the US border. WHY?

Quebec

Halifax Victoria

Montreal

Vancouver Regina Calgary

Winnipeg

Toronto

An example of Overpopulation: Unreported World – The Philippines Manila: the city with too many people

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http://www.chan nel4.com/progra mmes/unreporte d-world/4od