grade 11 population,distribution,density and structure

1. Population
Distribution and
Density
S. Mathison

2. Objectives:
Students will be able to:
1.Explain the factors influencing
population distribution and density in the
Caribbean
2. Interpret maps and diagrams of
population distribution, density and
structure
3.Compare the factors affecting the growth of
population in the Caribbean with any one of the
following countries : India, China , Nigeria

3. Key terms
• Demography
• Birth rate
• Death rate
• Population density
• Population distribution
• Overpopulation
• Population explosion
• Natural increase
• Sparsely populated
• Densely populated
• Infant mortality rate
• Child mortality rate
• Ethnicity / emigrant / immigrant

4. What is population?
• The term population refers to the total number of
people living in an area at a given in time.
• Human population is dynamic ; it is changing all the
time
• The world’s population of 7.9 billion is unevenly
distributed.
• Population distribution in a country refers to the
SPREAD of people within the country. There are
always some places in a country where there are
more people living there than in others.

5. Name the 10 most populated
countries in the world.
• Population is unevenly distributed across
the world.
• Some areas have high concentration such
as China, India ,NW Europe and SE
Africa.
• Some areas have low concentration
Russia, Canada, Australia and Northern
Africa .

6. What is Population
Distribution?
• Population distribution in a country refers to
the SPREAD of people within the country.
There are always some places in a country
where there are more people living there
than in others.
• For example, in some islands, most people
live near the coast and few live in the
interior.
• A dot distribution map is used to show
population distribution- it gives a more
accurate impression of the distribution of
population.
• Two important factors of a dot distribution
map are the dot size and the dot value.

7. Factors affecting Population Distribution
There are several factors which affect population distribution including the
following:
Relief :
• Steep slopes are generally sparsely populated because it is difficult to
cultivate, example the Blue Mountains, Jamaica .
• Lowland/ flat areas support dense population because flat lands are easier to
cultivate, construct roads and railways example the Liguanea Plain, Kingston
Jamaica.
• The photo below shows a section of the town of Soufriere in St. Lucia. Notice
that most of the buildings are located in the flatter areas. There are very few
buildings in the steeper areas.

8. Factors affecting Population Distribution
Climate: Not a factor in the Caribbean
• Parts of the world where the climate is very harsh are generally sparsely
populated than areas with warmer climate example Canada .
• Plant growth ceases below 6˚C ( poles and high mountains) these areas
are sparsely populated . Antarctica is so cold and inhospitable, that
nobody lives there. The people who go there are usually scientists who
want to conduct research there.
• Hot wet regions supports forest vegetation- these areas are subjected to
a variety of diseases example the Amazon and Congo Basin /Maya Mts.
in Belize.

9. Factors affecting Population Distribution
Drainage and soils:
• Badly drained areas are of limited use for agriculture and are
sparsely populated.
• Fertile soil support a greater number of people because it is
capable of producing food.
• Soil in limestone regions are infertile and thin . These are have
limited agricultural potential and support a small amount of
people.

10. Factors affecting Population Distribution
:
Influence of Agriculture:
• Agricultural areas support a moderate population density
due to :
(a)Availability of land for cultivation
(b)Available water supplies
(c)Easy accessibility to markets
Example : Queen of Spain Valley , Jamaica

11. Factors affecting Population Distribution
Mineral deposits:
• Industries attract high population densities because employment oppurtunities,
higher paying jobs and a higher standard of living.
• Areas which have large deposits of minerals such as bauxite tend to have high
population densities. In Jamaica for instance there are relatively high
population densities near some bauxite mining areas. Some relatively large
settlements such as May Pen and Mandeville are located near bauxite mining
areas.
• The petroleum industry at Pointe- a Pierre in Trinidad.

12. Factors affecting Population Distribution
Urban Influence:
Urban centres have a high population density as these
offer both employment and public and social services.

13. ACTIVITY
1. What is the difference between
population distribution and population
density?
2. List and explain TWO human factors
that aff et population distribution
3. List and explain one economic factors
that affect populationdistribution

14. Dot distribution Map
• A dot distribution map is an accurate method of showing distribution .
• Each dot represents a certain quantity .
• Dots should be placed only in areas where population is concentrated.
• Two important things to consider when drawing a dot distribution map
are ; the dot value and the dot size.
• The smaller the dot value the more accurately the dot value can be
shown
• N.B. these maps are very tedious and time consuming to draw .

15. Representing
Population Data
Dot maps are used to represent
population data.
One dot represents several thousands of
people.
Dot maps gives a good visual impression
of population density.
However, it is difficult to show population
density in areas where a few dots must
represent a thin and scattered population.

16. What is Population Density?
Population density refers to the relationship
between the size of an area of land and the
number of people living there.
• Population density is ;
High around the largest city
Moderate in agricultural and mining areas
Higher in coastal areas than the interior
Low in mountainous and swampy areas.
N.B. A choropleth map is used to show
population density.

18. Note
•Population distribution
refers to the spread while
density refers to
concentration.

19. How to calculate Population Density?
• Population density is expressed as the number of people per square
kilometer.
• This is done by dividing the total population by the area of the land .(
round off to the nearest whole number.
example - Population = density
Area

20. Population Density of Caribbean Countries
Country Population ‘000 Area sq. km Density per sq. km
Bermuda 62,100 55 1129 (High )
Belize 269,000 22,960
Guyana 767,500 214,970
St. Kitts & Nevis 47,00 261
Dominica 71,200 750
Jamaica 2,635,400 10,991
St. Vincent 109,200 388
Trinidad & Tobago 1,282,400 5128
Barbados 270,800 431
US Virgin Islands 107,00 342
Haiti 5,358,00 27,750

21. Factors affecting population density in Jamaica
Capital city - Kgn. and St Andrew
supports the largest population
density on the island
Mining areas – prospect of
employment and mobility in jobs
example the bauxite areas of
Manchester / St. Ann and Clarendon
High relief – few people live in the
Blue Mt. regions because this area
is heavily forested/ hard rocks /
infertile soils/step gradient cause a
lack of communication in the area.
Settlements are confined to the
valley areas.
Agricultural areas - most rural
population live close to the coast on
areas of fertile soils( sugar cane/
bananas/ other crops )
Example – Linstead / Rio Minho
valley/Black River /Queen of Spain
valley
Cock pit Country – lack of surface
water/ communication is difficult due
to the limestone topography rugged
cockpit hills and depressions/ poor
thin soils are unsuitable for farming
Resort towns –development of
tourism Mo.Bay/ Negril/ Ocho Rios
and Port Antonio

22. Choropleth maps
• Choropleth map show the population
density of a country / parish or a region
• The information is shown on a map using a
system of shading or colouring .
• Dark shades are used to show high
densities with progressively lighter
shades being used to show lower
densities .

23. Activity- complete the Choropleth map
Parishes Density
a) St Peter 330
b) St. Joseph 410
c) St. Michael 470
d) St Lucy 245
e) St. Thomas 290
f) St. Phillips 200
g) St. James 140
h) St. John 105
i) Christ Church 75
j) St Andrew 50
k) St . George 35

24. • Which parish/es has the least
density ?
• Which parish has the third
highest density ?
• Which parish has the largest
density ?
• Complete choropleth map of
Barbados .

25. How does World
Population
Changes?

26. Population Growth
• At the beginning of the 1900’s, the world’s population
was roughly 1.65 billion people.
• By 1950, the world’s population had grown to about
2.56 billion.
• In 2000, the world’s population reached 6 billion.
• The population of the world is now roughly 7 billion.
• The world’s population is growing at a faster and faster
rate.
• However, in some countries, the population is
decreasing while in others, the population is increasing.
• Some other countries have a stable population.
• What are the factors which affect population growth in
various countries?
• Let us examine a few of them:
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.

27. The birth rate:
This is given as the number of births per thousand.
Therefore, a birth rate of 20 per thousand means that 20 babies were born for
every thousand people in the population.
The birth rate is not to be confused with the fertility rate.
In countries with a very high birth rate, the population will tend to increase.
The population will tend to decrease in countries where the birth rate is very
low.

28. Death rate:
This is given as the number of
deaths per thousand.
A high death rate may cause the
population to grow very slowly or
even to decrease.
Note that the difference between
the birth rate and death rate is
known as natural increase.

29. The fertility rate:
• This is the number of children that the average
woman will bear in her lifetime.
• If the fertility rate is about 2.0, then the
population tends to be stable.
• The population will tend to increase in countries
which have a fertility rate which is greater than
2.0.
• In countries which have a fertility rate which is
less than 2.0, the population will tend to
decrease.
• The fertility rate has decreased in many
countries because the women in those
countries are delaying childbearing to pursue
higher education and careers.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.

30. Life
Expectancy:
This is the number of years that
someone born today can expect to
live.
A high life expectancy tends to have a
positive effect on population growth.
In countries with very low life
expectancy, the population tends to
grow very slowly or even to decrease.

31. Infant
mortality:
This refers to the
proportion of children who
die before the age of one.
A high infant mortality rate
tends to slow the rate
of population growth.

32. How to calculate annual natural increase in %
If St Lucia’s birth rate is 30 per 1000
and death rate is 6 per 1000. Calculate
the rate of natural increase in
percentage .
Example
30 – 6 = 24 per 1000 ( it is therefore
necessary to divide the original figure
by 10 )
30-6 = 24 divide by 10 = 2.4 %

33. Calculate the natural increase
Caribbean Birth rate Death rate Annual rate of
natural increase %
Antiqua &Barbuda 15 5
Bahamas 24 5
Barbados 17 8
Cuba 16 6
Grenada 25 7
Haiti 41 14
Jamaica 24 5
Montserrat 22 10
Puerto Rico 19 7
Trinidad and Tobago 29 7

34. Calculate Population Change/ Growth
• The natural population change is
calculated by births minus deaths
• Net migration is the number of immigrants
(population moving into the country)
minus the number of emigrants
(population moving out of the country)
• Natural Increase means that a country
has a growing population.
• Natural Increase = Birth rate – Death rate
• NI = BR – DR
• Natural Change (NC) is expressed as a
percentage
• NC = BR – DR x 100

35. Calculate Population Change/ Growth example
In 1994 Jamaica’s population was 2,482, 900
During the year number of births 59,200
During the year number of deaths - 13,500
Natural increase = 45,700
Emigration - 18,800
Net population = 26,900
NB : Birth – Death + Immigration – Emigration = Net Population
Population Growth = Net Pop divide by last count x 100 = % growth
26,900 / 2, 482, 900 x 100 = 1.1% growth
This exercise is normally done every 10 years and is called a CENCUS

36. Compare population growth in Jamaica with China/ India / Nigeria
Factors Jamaica China
High High
Birth rate Infant mortality rate is low 11.9”000
Death rate High rate of teenage pregnancy High rate of teenage pregnancy
Natural Increase
Fertility rate Life expectancy rate high = 74
years
Life expectancy rate high = 76
years
Life expectancy Govt.- 2 is better than too many GOVT - One child policy
Govt. policy Poverty alleviation programme
through agencies like USAID and
UNESCO
Fastest growing major economy
ECONOMIC GDP- too many babies - fewer
people are able to produce more
goods.
Second highest GDP in the world
Migration Ja’s pop increase is more a result
of natural increase than migration.
Massive international migration
more than 12 million however pop
growth is still high.

37. Population Structure
• Population Pyramids are diagrams which
show the proportion of people in each
particular age group by sex.
• High birth rate are common in the Caribbean
and a high proportion of the population of the
region is made up of children .
• Old people make up a much smaller portion of
the total population of the Caribbean .
• Some countries can be said to high population
• While others can be described as having
ageing population.
• In both cases these different population
structures will cause problems for the
governments of the countries concerned.

38. Activity
1. What is the age range for each
group represented on the
population pyramid ?
2. Which age group had the
LARGEST number of people ?
3. How many females were between
the age group 5 – 9 ?
4. How many males were between
the age group 10-19 ?
5. Identify one particular age group
which had twice as many females
as males.

39. The Demographic Transition Model

40. Stages
• Stage 1
Both the birth rate and death
rates are high and fluctuating.
Resulting in slow and small
population growth. The death rate
is especially among children and
occasional epidemics would
dramatically increase the death
rates– Rain forest / Indonesia.
• Stage 2
Birth rates remain high but
death rates decline sharply.
This usually results in rapid
population growth. Countries
experiencing this stage are
mainly agricultural countries
with simple and few industries.

41. Stages
Stage 3
• The gap between the birth
and death rates narrows
because of rapid declining
birth rates. Death rates
continues to fall but at a much
slower rate.
• Countries that are at this
stage are rapidly
industrialising.
Stage 4
Both death and birth rates decline
further and remain very low.
Population growth is very slow but
steady.
Countries at this stage usually
have economies with emphasis on
service oriented businesses.
Agriculture contributes only to
small portion to the economic
development of the country e.g.
Barbados

42. Population pyramids – reflecting population
changes

43. Analysis
Stage 1 ---- developing country with high fertility and
mortality and low life expectancy .Many school age
children to support.
Stage 2 ------large workforce with few elderly.
Stage 3 ------An ageing population with many elderly to be
supported
Stage 4-----Longer life higher dependency ratio

44. References
CSEC New Integrated Geography –
Bleasdell S et. al/
•Caribbean Environment – Mark Wilson
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMOat3
MAxIw&t=37s
•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWhwH
gkk73U