UNIT 3. HUMAN BEINGS IN THE WORLD

Billion= mil millones / Billón= un millón de millones

1. POPULATION DISTRIBUTIONThe Earth, as you know, is inhabited by over 7.3 billion human beings.However, they are not evenly distributed over the Earth´s surface.

FACTORS THAT AFFECT POPULATION DISTRIBUTION.

There are inequalities in population distribution because of different factors: physical and human factors.

  PHYSICAL FACTORS

 These are factors that occur in nature, making it possible for people to obtain and use resources.

› Climate. A suitable temperature favours human settlement. › Topography. People prefer to settle in low-lying areas near the coast and

in river valleys.› Soil. The fertility of the soil, which favours the developed of agriculture, has

been an important factor. › Water. In areas where water is scare, such as in deserts, the population is

usually low.

  HUMAN FACTORS

  These are consequences of human actions which

attract people to a territory or cause them to leave it. 

› Political. Decisions made by governments can influence demographic behavior. For instance, policies encouraging or penalizing births, regulating migration or causing citizens to go into exile.

› Economic. People usually settle where there is employment and services.

› Technological. Technological advances allow people to alter natural physical factors. For example, agriculture can be developed in previosly arid areas thanks to hydraulic technologies.

Most of humanity is grouped in only about 20 % of the available land area, while there are also many demographic vacuums or sparsely areas, which extend over around 43 % of the land area, but are home to just 2 % of the population. NOTE: Look at the map of page 31 to see the characteristics of population distribution.

› POPULATION DENSITY

To analyse the number of people concentrated in an area, we calculate the population density. This indicator allows us to make comparisons between territories or countries of different sizes. To calculate it, we use the following formula:

For example: if we know that Africa has 30.310 Km2 of surface area and 1.186.000 of total population, what is the population density of this continent? Population density of Africa = 39, 13 inhabitants/km2

You have to take into account that the population is distributed unequally across the whole territory: there are areas that are almost empty, whilst others are overpopulated.

Therefore, if you see the map on page 32, we can identify the main geographical areas where the population is concentrated.

THE WORLD´S POPULATION

The population of the Earth is continuing to grow. However, this growth is very uneven: whereas in developed countries there are a low natural growth, in developing countries natural growth is higher (over 2 %).

THE PROBLEMS OF WORLD POPULATION THE DISPROPORTION BETWEEN GROWTH AND RESOURCES.

In many poor countries, where the population is growing very fast, people go hungry and development is restricted. This scarcity and lack of economic prospects mean that these places are the starting point of migration. Besides, the governments of these countries try to solve this situation by using demographic policies that restrict the birth rate (for instance, in China until 2015)

THE AGEING POPULATION.In developed countries, such as Spain, we can talk about an elderly population. It means not only that we have to pay pensions, healthcare and specialist care, but also the productive capacity of society suffers, because if there are fewer births, there are fewer workers. In many countries with this situation, governments are putting pro-natalist policies into practice.

INEQUALITIES IN DEVELOPMENTApart from inequalities in the demographics of countries, there are differences between the developed countries (richest countries) and developing or underdeveloped countries (poorest countries). To measure these differences, the UN uses the Human Development Index (HDI) or INDICE DE DESARROLLO HUMANO (IDH)

Differences developed and developing countries GDP AND PERCAPITA INCOME

Gross domestic product (GDP). In Spanish language, PIB o Producto Interior Bruto. The value (in money terms) of all of a country´s production of goods and services. Per capita income (renta percápita). If the relationship between GPD and the number of inhabitants is calculated, the per capita income is calculated.In developed countries, these indicators are very high, whereas in developing countries are very low.

ECONOMY AND TECHNOLOGY

In developed countries: great level of technological development, tertiary sector the most important economic sector and a large-scales trade.In developing countries: agriculture is the primary activity and they do not have advanced technology.

EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE

In developed countries: governments guarantees social benefits, such as public education, health coverage and pensions. However, many inhabitants of developing countries do not have access to these services. Sometimes, non-governmental organisations provide these services.

SOCIAL INEQUALITIES

In developed countries, the distribution of wealth is relatively equitable. Most of the population enjoys a level of purchasing power. On the other hand, there is very unequal distribution of wealth in developing countries, with a rich minority and a large number of poor people.

The end