Population Dynamics and Migration
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Birth rate and death rate
Birth rate is the number of live births per 1,000 people per year. Death rate is the number of deaths per 1,000 people per year.
These are the two basic measures used to explain population change in any country.
Birth rate and death rate — Key Knowledge
- Birth rate live births per 1,000 per year
- Death rate deaths per 1,000 per year
Natural increase
The difference between birth rate and death rate. If birth rate is higher, the population grows naturally.
Migration is the other factor — total population change = natural increase + net migration.
Natural increase — Key Knowledge
- Natural increase birth rate minus death rate
- Rate of natural increase expressed per 1,000 or as a percentage
Over-population
When there are too many people relative to the resources and technology available to support them.
Not the same as high population density — a small, resource-poor country can be over-populated while a dense, wealthy one is not.
Over-population — Key Knowledge
- Over-population too many people for the resources available — leads to low living standards, food shortages, environmental damage
Under-population
When there are too few people to fully use the resources available.
Countries like Canada and Australia have vast resources but relatively small populations in many regions.
Under-population — Key Knowledge
- Under-population too few people to exploit resources fully — leads to labour shortages, undeveloped resources
Factors affecting birth rate
Birth rates vary between countries depending on social, economic and cultural factors.
Birth rates tend to be higher in less economically developed countries (LEDCs) and lower in more economically developed countries (MEDCs).
Factors affecting birth rate — Key Knowledge
- Access to contraception widely available = lower birth rate
- Education of women more education = fewer children
- Infant mortality high infant mortality = more births to compensate
- Economic factors children as workers in LEDCs; expensive to raise in MEDCs
- Cultural and religious factors some encourage large families
- Government policies pro-natalist or anti-natalist
Factors affecting death rate
Death rates vary depending on healthcare, living conditions and other factors.
Death rates have fallen globally due to improved medicine, sanitation and food production.
Factors affecting death rate — Key Knowledge
- Healthcare better medical care = lower death rate
- Clean water and sanitation reduces disease
- Diet and food supply malnutrition increases death rate
- Conflict and war increases death rate
- Natural disasters earthquakes, floods, drought
Population policies
Governments may try to influence population size through policies.
Policies can be effective but may have unintended consequences — China's policy led to an ageing population and gender imbalance.
Population policies — Key Knowledge
- Anti-natalist policy aims to reduce birth rate — e.g. China's one-child policy: fines for extra children, incentives for one child, later relaxed to two-child then three-child
- Pro-natalist policy aims to increase birth rate — e.g. France: tax breaks, childcare subsidies, parental leave for larger families
Push and pull factors
Migration is driven by push factors (reasons to leave) and pull factors (reasons to go to a destination).
Most migration decisions involve a combination of push and pull factors, not just one.
Push and pull factors — Key Knowledge
- Push factors unemployment, poverty, war/conflict, natural disasters, poor services, lack of farmland
- Pull factors better jobs, higher wages, safety/stability, better education and healthcare, family connections, perceived better quality of life
Types of migration
Migration can be internal or international, voluntary or involuntary.
Rural-urban migration is a major driver of urbanisation in developing countries.
Types of migration — Key Knowledge
- Rural-urban migration movement from countryside to city — most common internal migration in LEDCs
- International migration movement between countries
- Voluntary migration person chooses to move
- Involuntary migration forced — refugees fleeing war, persecution or natural disasters
Impacts of migration on origin
The country or area people leave is affected both positively and negatively.
Remittances can be a significant source of income for LEDCs — sometimes more than foreign aid.
Impacts of migration on origin — Key Knowledge
- Negative impacts loss of young, working-age population; brain drain of skilled workers; families split up; reduced labour force
- Positive impacts remittances sent home; reduced pressure on resources and jobs; returning migrants may bring new skills
Impacts of migration on destination
The country or area receiving migrants is also affected in multiple ways.
Impacts depend on the scale of migration and how well it is managed.
Impacts of migration on destination — Key Knowledge
- Positive impacts fills labour shortages, cultural diversity, skills and enterprise, younger workforce
- Negative impacts pressure on housing and services, overcrowding, tension between communities, language barriers, competition for jobs
Case studies required (1.1–1.2)
The spec requires named examples for population dynamics and migration topics.
Each case study should illustrate causes, effects and any responses or policies involved.
Case studies required (1.1–1.2) — Key Knowledge
- Over-populated country, Under-populated country, Country with high natural population growth, Country with low/declining population growth, An international migration
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Population Dynamics and Migration
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