This week we will continue looking at population through the lens of geographers and see why they have unique perspectives on the ability of people to live on Earth. More people are alive at this time than at any other point in Earth’s history, and most of the growth is concentrated in poor countries. Can Earth sustain more than 7 billion people now, let alone the added billions in the future? We will be looking more at the Demographic Transition Model and population pyramids.

Weekly Objectives

-Topic 2 Population-

Key Issue 3 Why Do Some Places Face Health Challenges?

Objectives: Understand reasons for varying sex ratios and for reduced birth rates. Understand the impact of the demographic transition on the percentages of young and old. Understand variations in health-care services between developed and developing countries. Summarize the four stages of the epidemiological transition.

Key Issue 4 Why Might Population Increase in the Future?

Objectives: Summarize arguments supporting and opposing Malthus’s theory of the connection between population and resources. Understand the future population of the world’s most populous countries and elements of a possible stage 5 of the demographic transition. Understand reasons for a possible stage 5 of the epidemiologic transition. Understand reasons for declining birth rates.

New Assignments Due 9/21

1. Demographic Transition Model Activity
2. Key Issue 3 Why Do Some Places Face Health Challenges?
3. Key Issue 4 Why Might Population Increase in the Future?

Late Assignments (not acceptable after 9/21 at 8:00 AM)

1. Key Issue 1 Where Are the World’s People Distributed?
2. Key Issue 2 Why Is World Population Increasing?