Population An Introduction to

Concepts and Issues 9th Edition

John R. Weeks

Part OneA Demographic Perspective

Part Outline• 1 Introduction to Demography• 2 Global Population Trends• 3 Demographic Perspectives• 4 Demographic Data

Chapter 1Introduction to Demography

Chapter Outline• What Is Demography?• Why Is Demography Important?• How Will You Use This Information?

What is Demography?• The scientific study of human population.• Concerned with:

Population size Population growth or decline Population processes Population distribution Population structure Population characteristics

The Past Is a Foreign Country

1900 2000

World population (billions) 1.6 6.1

U.S. population (millions) 76 281

U.S. percent of world total 4.8% 4.6%

Life expectancy 47 77

Children per woman 3.5 2.1

The Past Is a Foreign Country

1900 2000

U.S. PopulationImmigrants from Italy

(1900–1910); (1990–2000) 2 million 63,000

Immigrants from Mexico(1900–1910); (1990–2000) 50,000 2.2 million

% foreign-born 13.6% 11.1%

% urban 40% 80%

The Past Is a Foreign Country

1900 2000

U.S. PopulationNumber of passenger cars 8,000 130 million

% of population under 15 34.4% 21.4%

% of population 65+ 4.1% 12.4%

Average persons per household 4.76 2.59

% high school graduates 10% 80%

Why is Demography Important?• Global issues that have important

demographic components include: Terrorism and regional conflict Violence in sub-Saharan Africa The backlash against immigrants Globalization The degradation of the

environment

Degradation of the Environment• Every person added to the population

requires energy to prepare food, to provide clothing and shelter, and to fuel economic life. More than half a billion people face

water scarcity. Two to three billion live in areas that

are water-stressed.

Demographics of Politics• The Census of Population provides data

for the apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives.

• Legislators ask questions about how population influences the programs: Will increase in the older population

bankrupt the Social Security system? Would federal subsidies to inner-city

areas help lower the unemployment rate?

Demographics of Social Planning• Local agencies use demographics to

plan for services for their communities.

• Sickness and health are affected by sociodemographic characteristics and the demand for services shifts with demographic trends.

Births and Selected Age Groups in the United States

Marketing Demographics• Segmenting markets - tailoring products

and services to a specific demographic group

• Targeting - aiming the advertising of a product or service to a specific demographic group

• Cluster marketing relates demographic information about people to information about where they live.

Business Demographics• Demographics are an important

component of site selection for many businesses.

• Investors use demographics to find areas of potential market growth.

• Human resource managers use demographics to increase their awareness of the special qualities and needs among their present and prospective employees.