The Human Population: Growth, Demography, and Carrying CapacityG. Tyler MillersLiving in the Environment12th Edition

Chapter 11Dr. Richard ClementsChattanooga State Technical Community College

Key ConceptsFactors affecting human population sizeManaging population growthHuman population problems

Factors Affecting Human Population SizePopulation change equationZero population growth (ZPG)Crude birth rate (BR) = births per 1000 populationCrude death rate (DR) = deaths per 1000 population

Natural Rate of IncreaseFig. 11.3, p. 240

Fertility RatesReplacement-level fertilityTotal fertility rate (TFR)Fig. 11.8, p. 242

Factors Affecting BR and TFRSee bulleted list in text p. 243US BRs and TFRsFig. 11.11, p. 243see Fig. 11-10 p. 243

Birth rate and fertility rate influenced byImportance of children as part of labor forceUrbanizationCost of raising and education childrenEducation and employment opportunities for womenInfant mortality rateAverage age at marriage

Birth rate and fertility rate influenced byAvailability of pensionsAvailability of reliable birth controlAvailability of legal abortionsReligious beliefs and traditionsCultural norms

Useful indicators of overall health of a countryLife expectancyInfant mortality rate (IMR)Fig. 11.14, p. 246

Factors affecting death ratesPeople live longer because ofIncreased food supplies and distribution Better nutritionBetter health care - types of and access tomedicine, immunizations, antibiotics, pre-natal careImproved sanitation and personal hygiene - prevents spread of infectious diseases that may kill early in lifeSafer water supplies prevents spread of infectious diseases that may kill early in life

Factors Affecting Natural Rate of IncreaseFig. 11.13, p. 245

Infant mortality is the death before the 1st birthdayHigh infant mortality rate usually results fromInsufficient food (undernutrition)Poor nutrition (malnutrition)High incidence of infectious diseases due to contaminated drinking water or poor sanitation

Population Age StructureFig. 11.16a, p. 247

Solutions: Influencing Population SizeMigrationEnvironmental refugeesReducing birthsFamily planningEmpowerment of womenEconomic rewards and penalties

The Demographic TransitionFig. 11.26, p. 255

The Demographic TransitionFig. 11.26, p. 255Pre-industrial -- high birth rate and high death rate (including high infant mortality rate), harsh living conditions

The Demographic TransitionFig. 11.26, p. 255Transitional - industrialization begins, trend to urbanization, food supply increases and health care is better, death rates drop BUT birth rates remain high

The Demographic TransitionFig. 11.26, p. 255Industrial - modernization becomes widespread, birth rates now drop to nearly equal death rate, pop growth is slow

The Demographic TransitionFig. 11.26, p. 255Post-Industrial - birth rates are now well below death ratesMost European countries have entered this stageLDCMDC

Case Study: Slowing Population Growth in IndiaPoor planningBureaucratic inefficiencyLow status of womenExtreme povertyLack of supportGenerally disappointing results:

Case Study: Slowing Population Growth in ChinaEconomic incentivesFree medical carePreferential treatmentIntrusive and coerciveLocally administeredGenerally positive results:

Cutting Global Population GrowthFamily planningReduce povertyElevate the status of women