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Population Dynamics

Caleb Lopez

Caleb Lopez

8 min read

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Study Guide Overview

This study guide covers population dynamics (fertility rates, mortality rates, natural increase rate, doubling time) and migration (migration patterns, causes of migration including social, cultural, political, and economic factors). It emphasizes key terms like TFR, IMR, and net migration, and provides practice questions including multiple-choice and free-response questions (FRQs) focused on applying these concepts. The guide also highlights the Demographic Transition Model and population pyramids as important exam topics.

AP Human Geography: Population and Migration - Your Ultimate Study Guide 🚀

Hey there, future AP Human Geography master! Let's break down population and migration into bite-sized, easy-to-digest pieces. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource, especially for that last-minute review. Let's get started!

1. Population Dynamics: The Basics

1.1. Fertility Rates: Why Are Birth Rates Different?

  • Total Fertility Rate (TFR): The average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime. It's a key indicator of population growth.

    • Developed Countries: Lower TFR due to higher education levels for women, more women in the workforce, and better access to family planning. Think Europe, North America, and Australia. 📉

    • Developing Countries: Higher TFR due to less education for women, subsistence farming (where more kids = more farmhands), and cultural norms favoring larger families. Think Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South/Southeast Asia. 📈

Key Concept

Key Point: Education and access to family planning are HUGE factors in lowering fertility rates. 💡

  • Factors Influencing Fertility Rates:
    • Education: More educated women tend to have fewer children.
    • Family Planning: Access to contraceptives and reproductive health services decreases TFR.
    • Socio-Cultural Norms: In some cultures, large families are seen as a sign of economic security or social status.
    • Economic Factors: In agricultural societies, children may be seen as extra labor.

1.2. Mortality Rates: Who Lives Longer and Why?

  • Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): The number of deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births.

    • Developed Countries: Lower IMR due to better healthcare, hospitals, and access to birth control. 🏥

    • Developing Countries: Higher IMR due to lack of healthcare, poor sanitation, and limited access to birth control. 😔

Quick Fact

Quick Fact: Lower IMR often leads to lower TFR because parents are more confident that their children will survive to adulthood.

1.3. Natural Increase Rate (NIR)

  • NIR Calculation: Crude Birth Rate (CBR) - Crude Death Rate (CDR). It's the percentage at which a ...
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