Population: density, distribution, growth & structure
How many people live in a place, where they choose to live, and how their numbers change over time — this is the study of population, and it is one of the most powerful tools in Development Studies. In this lesson we define population density and distribution, work out a real density on the board, explain where people live in the world and in Namibia and why, then learn the language of growth — birth rate, death rate, infant mortality and the demographic transition model. We look at how governments control growth (China and Singapore), how Namibia uses census data to plan, how to read a population pyramid at a glance, and finally we assess honestly how HIV and AIDS have reshaped Namibia's population.
By the end you should be able to (NSSCO Development Studies 7.1):
- Define population density (people per km²) and population distribution (how people are spread out)
- Describe and explain the distribution of population in the world and in Southern Africa, with reference to physical factors (climate, relief, water) and economic, social and political factors; Namibia is sparsely populated and dry, with most people in the north-central regions
- Describe and explain trends in population growth in countries at different levels of development, and define population growth rate, crude birth rate, death rate, infant mortality and the demographic transition model (with its stages)
- Discuss ways to control population growth: national policies to reduce growth (e.g. China's former one-child policy) and to increase growth (e.g. Singapore)
- Describe how population data can be used for economic and social purposes, with Namibian examples (planning schools, clinics and housing; the national census)
- Discuss population pyramids for developed and developing countries (wide base = high birth rate LEDC; barrel/narrow base = MEDC)
- Assess the impacts of HIV and AIDS on the population of Namibia (lower life expectancy, orphans, loss of working-age adults, a dented population pyramid)
Miss Catherine and Mike talk through the whole topic — with the figure and working drawn live.