Population

Revision
Booklet

IGCSE
Geography
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POPULATION REVISION LIST
Describe and give reasons for the rapid increase in the world's population.
Identify the major influences on population density and population distribution.
Reference should be made to physical, economic and human factors.
Examine a case study of a country/region that is sparsely populated (Case Study:
Canadian Northlands)
Examine a case study of a country/region that is densely populated (Case study:
North-east United States)
Define over and under population
Explain the causes of over and under population
Provide case studies of an over populated and under populated country (Case studies:
Over-population = Bangladesh, under-population = Canada)
Understand the main cause of change in population size
Explain varying reasons for high and low birth and death rates
Explain the impact of HIV/AIDs in a country (Case study: Botswana)
Describe and explain the demographic transition model
Give reasons for contrasting rates of natural population change
Identify features of population pyramids for countries at different stages of
development
Explain implications of countries with different population structures.
Examine case study for a population with a high dependent population (Case studies:
Japan (elderly dependents) and Gambia (young dependents)
Explain why population structures are changing
Examine issues of a country with a high rate of natural population growth (Case study:
Gambia)
Examine issues of a country with a low rate of natural population growth or population
decline (Case study: Japan)
Link population pyramids to different stages of the demographic transition model
Explain problems of rapid population growth
Evaluate a population policy to reduce population growth (Case study: China One Child
Policy)
Evaluate a population policy to increase population growth (Case study: Japan)
Describe and suggest reasons for population migrations.
Differentiate reasons for different migrations such as internal movements i.e. rural-
urban migration as well as to international migrations both voluntary and involuntary.
Examine reasons for international migration in a particular country (Case Study of
International Migration: Mexico to USA)

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 Theme 1 - Population Revision Notes
Population distribution means the pattern of where people live. World population
distribution is uneven. Places which are sparsely populated contain few people. Places
which are densely populated contain many people. Sparsely populated places tend to be
difficult places to live. These are usually places with hostile environments e.g.
Antarctica, Sahara. Places which are densely populated are habitable environments e.g.
Europe.

Population Density

Population density is a measurement of the number of people in an area. It is an average

number. Population density is calculated by dividing the number of people by area.
Population density is usually shown as the number of people per square kilometre.

The map below is a choropleth (shading) map and illustrates population density. The
darker the colour the greater the population density.

The map above shows that world population distribution is uneven. Some areas have a
high population density while others have a low population density. Areas of high
population density tend to be located between 20° and 60°N. This area contains a large
land area and a relatively temperate climate.

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Factors Affecting Population Density

There are a range of human and natural factors that affect population density. The
tables below illustrate this.

Physical Factors High Density Low Density

Relief Low land which is flat e.g. Ganges High land that is mountainous
(shape and height of land) Valley in India e.g. Himalayas
Areas rich in resources (e.g. coal,
Areas with few resources tend
oil, wood, fishing etc.) tend to
Resources to be sparsely populated e.g.
densely populated e.g. Western
The Sahel
Europe
Areas with temperate climates Areas with extreme climates of
tend to be densely populated as hot and cold tend to be
Climate
there is enough rain and heat to sparsely populated e.g. the
grow crops e.g. UK Sahara Desert

Human Factors High Density Low Density

Countries with stable governments Unstable countries tend to have
Political tend to have a high population lower population densities as
density e.g. Singapore people migrate e.g. Afghanistan.
Groups of people want to live close Other groups of people prefer
Social
to each other for security e.g. USA to be isolated e.g. Scandinavians
Good job opportunities encourage Limited job opportunities cause
high population densities, some areas to be sparsely
Economic
particularly in large cities in MEDCs populated e.g. Amazon
and LEDCs around the world. Rainforest

Case study of a sparsely populated area: The Canadian Northlands

Location:
The Canadian Northlands are an area of North America that lie beyond 55 degrees
north
•The largest settlement in the Canadian Northlands is Yellowknife in the Northwest
Territories, population 19,000
•The area has a population density of less than 1 person per square kilometer

Reasons why the area is sparsely populated:

•A major reason why so few people live in this area is due to the climate.
•Temperatures are extremely cold and inhospitable in winter, with the mean average
January temperature being -20 degrees C.
•Summers are short and the climate in much of the northlands is beyond the limits of
agriculture.
•The inability to grow food on the land is a key factor in explaining low population
density.
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 • Much of the Northlands are affected by permafrost. This means that the ground
is permanently frozen for long periods of the year. When the ice does melt in
some the land becomes waterlogged. This makes life in the region very difficult
e.g. it makes it restricts building and crop growth.
• The environmental conditions mean that there are great difficulties for human
development in the region.
• For example, transport and communications are hampered by the climatic
conditions.
• Railway and road routes are extremely limited and the use of water transport is
dictated by the seasons.
• For many communities, air transport is the only link they have to the outside
world.

Case Study of a densely populated area: The North-East United States

• The greatest concentration of population in the USA is in the North-East.
• The region stretches from Inland from Boston and Washington to Chicago and St Louis.
• The area from Boston to Washington is known as BOWASH. This continuous urban area is
known as a megalopolis, it also includes the cities of New York and Philadelphia.
• New York City is a global city because it is one of the great financial cities of the world. It is the
most densely populated city in the USA.
• The global importance of New York means that there is a wealth of job opportunities in the
area, leading to population growth.
• The north-eastern states are along the Atlantic Coast, this enables trade which provides job
opportunities and boosts population growth. Port of New York is the busiest port in the
United States of America.
• The north-east has the most highly developed transport networks In North America, this
enables people to move around easily making it more appealing for businesses to develop
and for people to settle in the area.
• The climate and soils in the north-eastern USA are generally fertile. This enables the
development of agriculture to support human populations.

Over-population, under-population and optimum population

Key definitions
OVER-POPULATION
• Is when there are not enough resources for the inhabitants in an area. Inevitably
this leads to famine, water and electricity shortages, increased unemployment.
• Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and parts of China, Brazil and India are said to be
overpopulated as they have insufficient food, minerals an energy resources to
sustain their populations.
• All suffer from localised famines, natural hazards (drought/flood) and are
characterised by low incomes, poverty, poor living conditions & high levels of
emigration.

UNDER-POPULATION
• Is when there are more resources than inhabitants in an area. Surplus in food and
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 water results in wastes.
• Societal systems such as schools and hospitals will then not have enough demand
to run at a sustainable level, so the cost per capita for the service will increase.
• Additionally, there will be less "working population" this has a negative impact on
a countries economy and will lead to an increase in taxation.
• Canada and Australia are good examples of countries that are underpopulated.
Both have surplus amounts of food, energy and mineral resources that are
exported. Their populations have high incomes, good living conditions and high
levels of technology an immigration.
• Standards of living would probably rise further if populations increased, as
greater volumes of resources would be produced and exploited!

OPTIMUM POPULATION
• Is when there are enough resources for the number of inhabitants
(population demand for goods is equal to the supply).
• The optimum population will also be influenced by developments in technology,
demographic structure changes, as trade opportunities develop/falter, and as new
raw materials are discovered to replace old ones which are exhausted or whose
values change over time.

CARRYING CAPACITY:
• The amount of people an area can support

Case Study of an over-populated country: Bangladesh

Lack of resources, poor infrastructure and under-developed technology coupled with
the high population have been responsible for decreasing the carrying capacity of the
region.

Problems of overpopulation:
• Overpopulation in Bangladesh results in overcrowded areas with traffic
congestion as there are too many vehicles on the roads, especially in cities such as
Dhaka. Vehicle emissions, industrial discharge and burning of fossil fuels have resulted
in air pollution, while the ground water has been polluted due to arsenic. Furthermore,
shortage of food lead to over-cultivation on the flood plains of the Ganges river,
causing lower yields and soil exhaustion.
• Another major problem is the widespread deforestation for firewood on the
slopes of the Himalayas.
• The capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, also suffers from severe housing shortages
due to mass urbanisation.

Case study of an under-populated country: Canada

Canada is regarded as an underpopulated country as the carrying capacity is much
higher than the current population. The 35 million people in Canada cannot fully exploit
the available resources and technology.

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Problems of under-population in Canada:
• Labour shortage: 32% of Canadian employers are encountering difficulties in
hiring workers due to a lack of applicants.
• Services (e.g. schools, hospitals and transport) close down as there are not
enough customers.
• Less innovation and development (lee brain power)
• Difficulties in defending the country
Canada has tried to promote immigration to maintain the fairly high standard of living,
but in the previous decades less people are migrating to Canada, than during the 1950’s
and 1960’s.
Solutions:
• Relaxing immigrant policies and visa requirements to encourage migration
• Pro-natal government support to increase the birth rate e.g. subsidies and
parental leave programs.
• Allow pensioners to continue working

Population Change

The world's population is growing very rapidly. In 1820 the world's population reached 1
billion. In 1990 it reached 6 billion people.

This rapid growth in population has been called a population explosion. This is an
exponential growth of the world’s population that has taken place over the past 200
years.

The major reason for population changes, whether in an individual country or for the
whole world, is the change in birth and death rates.

The birth rate is the number of live babies born in a year for every 1000 people in the
total population. Death rates are number of people dying per 1000 people. When birth
rates are higher than death rates the population of an area will increase.
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Over the past 150 years improvements in health care and sanitation around the world
have led to a drop in the death rate, especially Infant Mortality rates (the number of
babies dying before their first birthday per 1000 live births.). While birth rates have
dropped in MEDCs, birth rates are still high in LEDCs. Therefore, the number of people
in the world has grown rapidly.

Life Expectancy

Life expectancy is the average age a person can expect to live to in a particular area.
Life expectancy can be used as an indicator of the overall 'health' of a country. From
this figure you can determine many features of a country e.g. standard of living. As a
general rule the higher the life expectancy the healthier (or developed) a country is.

The Demographic Transition Model

The Demographic Transition Model attempts to show how population changes as a

country develop. Natural Increase or Decrease: the difference between the birth
rate and the death rate. Additional effects of migration are not included.

The model is divided into four stages.

Stage 1
Birth rate and death rate are high - low natural increase - low total population
Prior to the Industrial Revolution, countries in Western Europe had a high Birth Rate
and Death Rate. Births were high because more children meant more workers on the
farm and with the high death rate, families needed more children to ensure survival of
the family. Death rates were high due to disease and a lack of hygiene. The high BR and
DR were somewhat stable and meant slow growth of a population. Occasional epidemics
would dramatically increase the DR for a few years (represented by the "waves" in
Stage I of the model.

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Stage 2
Birth rate is high - death rate is falling - high natural increase (population growth)
In the mid-18th century, the death rate in Western European countries dropped due to
improvement in sanitation and medicine. Out of tradition and practice, the birth rate
remained high. This dropping death rate but stable birth rate in the beginning of Stage
II contributed to skyrocketing population growth rates. Over time, children became an
added expense and were less able to contribute to the wealth of a family. For this
reason, along with advances in birth control, the BR was reduced through the 20th
century in developed countries. Populations still grew rapidly but this growth began to
slow down.
Many less developed countries are currently in Stage II of the model. For example,
Kenya's high BR of 32 per 1000 but low DR of 14 per 1000 contribute to a high rate of
growth (as in mid-Stage II).

Stage 3
Falling birth rate - low death rate - high natural increase (population growth)
In the late 20th century, the BR and DR in developed countries both levelled off at a
low rate. In some cases the BR is slightly higher than the DR (as in the U.S. 14 versus 9)
while in other countries the BR is less than the DR (as in Germany, 9 versus 11).
Immigration from less developed countries now accounts for much of the population
growth in developed countries that are in Stage III of the transition. Countries like
China, South Korea, Singapore, and Cuba are rapidly approaching Stage III.

Stage 4
Birth rate and death rate is low - low natural increase - high total population
At this stage there is little fluctuation, and there is low population increase. Many
MEDCs are at this stage. Japan, USA and UK are at this stage

Stage 5

The original theory had 4 stages but today some countries have gone to a next stage
which is the 5th stage. At this stage the birth rate has fallen below the death rate. In
countries like Sweden and Germany more people are dying than been born and the
population is falling i.e. a negative natural increase

The Demographic Transition Model does not take into account migration

Population Structure / Population Pyramids/ Age-sex pyramid

The population structure for a country shows the number of males and females
within different age groups in the population. Age-sex pyramids display the
percentage or actual amount of a population broken down by gender and age.

Population pyramids of LEDCs (Less Economically Developed Countries) typically

have a wide base and a narrow top. This represents a high birth rate and high
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death rate. Population pyramids of MEDCs (More Economically Developed
Countries) typically have a roughly equal distribution of population throughout the
age groups. The top obviously gets narrower as a result of deaths.

The most important demographic characteristic of a population is its age-sex

structure. Age-sex pyramids (also known as population pyramids) graphically
display this information to improve understanding and ease comparison.

There are three key types of population pyramids:

Rapid Growth

This pyramid of the Philippines (LEDC) shows a triangle-shaped pyramid and

reflects a high growth rate of about 2.1 percent annually.

Slow Growth

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In the United States, the population is growing at a rate of about 1.7 percent
annually. This growth rate is reflected in the more square-like structure of the
pyramid. Note the lump in the pyramid between the ages of about 35 to 50. This
large segment of the population is the post-World War II "baby boom." As this
population ages and climbs up the pyramid, there will be a much greater demand
for medical and other geriatric services.

Germany is experiencing a period of negative growth (-0.1%). As negative growth

in a country continues, the population is reduced. A population can shrink due to a
low birth rate and a stable death rate. Increased emigration may also be a
contributor to a declining population.

Population Problems in LEDCs

The population problem facing LEDCs is rapid population growth. Countries such
as Nigeria, Bangladesh and China already have high population even limiting
couples to have one child could still mean large population for them for many
years to come. By having lots of children, they are creating a high dependency
ratio. LEDCs tend to have lower Literacy Rates (the proportion of the total
population able to read and write), this lack to education can mean women are not
taught about contraception and are unlikely to have career aspirations.

Case study of youthful population structure:

Gambia

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Population Problems in MEDCs
Ageing Population: In the population structure of many MEDCs there is often a
high proportion of elderly people who have survived due to advances in nutrition
and medical care. This creates problems since these people do not work and have
to be provided with pensions, medical care, social support, sheltered housing etc.
from the taxes paid by a proportionally smaller number of workers. In addition,
an increasing number of young people are employed as care workers for the
elderly. This removes them from more productive jobs within the economy and
harms a country's competitiveness.

The number of people of non-working age compared to those of working age is

called the Dependency Ratio. If this is high, that means there are more people
not of working age (under 16 or over 65) than those of working age. A high
dependency ratio can be difficult for a country’s government to manage.

Case study of an ageing population structure: Japan

Why does Japan have an ageing population?
• Japan has an ageing population, meaning that it has a large proportion of its
population over the age of 65. Japan’s population is like this due to a combination
of long life expectancies and a very low birth rate.
• Japan has one of the lowest birth rates in the world, with a fertility rate of just
1.4 children per woman. This is below the replacement rate for the country,
meaning that Japan’s population will decline in the future. Japan has very low
birth rates, due to a cultural preference for only having one child. However,
Japan’s birth rate was higher in the past (especially during the post WW2 baby
boom). These people are now reaching old age, however, there are fewer young
people being added to the population to support them.
• Japan has the longest life expectancy in the world, with its citizens living to an
average age of 83 years. This is because it is one of the wealthiest countries in
the world and so it has an excellent healthcare system. The typical diet in Japan
is also healthy, including lots of fish, fruit and vegetables – such a diet helps keep
people healthy for longer.

What are the consequences of Japan’s ageing population?

Having an ageing population brings both positive and negative consequences for the
country.

Positive Consequences:
• Many of Japan’s elderly do not retire at the age of 65, many continue in the
workforce for much longer than this. This means that elderly people are still
contributing to society e.g. through their work and the taxes they pay. They are
therefore not dependent on others.

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 • When elderly people do retire they often add a lot to society in different ways,
for example through unpaid work such as volunteering or caring for grand-
children while their parents are working.

Negative Consequences:
• Japan has a high dependency ration, this means it has a lot of dependent people
(those who are not working) relative to its economically active population. Since
the taxes of the working population pay for the services of the ageing population
(e.g. pensions, healthcare etc), having a lot of people to support can be
problematic as there may not be adequate government money to pay for these
services. The consequence can be that the government raises taxes for the
working population to pay for the increased need for services. This is typically
unpopular with the working population as it leaves them with less disposable
income.
• Caring for elderly people in society often results on a burden for their relatives,
who often need to act as carers for them. Because Japan’s life expectancy is so
long, this often involves elderly people caring for even more elderly relatives. This
can be stressful and very time consuming for those people for need to act as
carers.
• Japan has a shortage of nurses and professional care workers because so many
are needed to care for the ageing population. This causes the country to need to
look for migrant labour to fill the shortage. However, immigration is unpopular in
Japanese society and it is often difficult for immigrants to settle in to the
country, especially due to the language barrier as Japanese is a very difficult
language to learn.
• Pensions in Japan are low and 20% of elderly Japanese live below the poverty line.
This can lead to a poor quality of life and there are growing numbers of elderly
homeless people in Japan.
• It has been noted that 1/3 of the suicides in Japan are from the over 65
population. This can be the result of unhappiness and loneliness that can occur
when people are widowed or when they have little contact with others.

How can Japan’s ageing population be managed?

Solutions:
• Increase birth rates (but, social attitudes and trends difficult to change)
• Reforms e.g. increasing child benefits, providing tax allowances for families,
making child care more accessible
• Encourage immigration (to solve labor shortages—but, difficult for country to
accept foreigners)
• Offer part time jobs for elderly population (less demanding)
• Increase retirement age so they can contribute to economy

Pro-natalist policy in Japan (a policy that encourages birth rate)

• The Government has introduced new laws like the 'Child Care' and 'Family Care
Leave' Laws. In which parents can receive:
-8 Weeks paid leave from work
-
Shorter Working hours
-A maximum of 24 hours over-time a month
• Economic Incentives e.g. Yamatsuri, a town of 7,000 just north of Tokyo, offers
parents $4,600 for the birth of a child and $460 a year for 10 years.

• Businesses have been urged to give their employees more time off to procreate.

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• Shops offer discounts to larger families.

• -Child allowance is paid to families by the government.
• Despite government efforts and various incentives put in place the scheme
was not a success. This is because the fertility rate only rose by 0.14%
from 2005 to 2013.

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The impact of HIV/AIDS on population structure

HIV/AIDS: Case Study Botswana

1. Why is there an issue?

• Botswana has the 2nd highest rate of HIV infection in the world (35-
38% of the population are infected, this compares to just 0.4-0.9% of
the population in North America).
2. What causes such high infection rates?
• Only 18% of people in Botswana are married, some men are polygamous –
meaning many people have multiple sexual partners.
• Until the government awareness campaigns there was much ignorance
considering HIV/AIDs.
• Lack of doctors/nurses
• Poverty led to some young women becoming prostitutes, increasing the
spread of the virus.
3. What are the issues/which groups of people are impacted?
• It is a social stigma to be diagnosed with the disease as people have
been shunned by their communities. This means people avoid getting
testing. If people don’t know they have the disease they are more likely
to pass it on to others.
• Life expectancy has fallen dramatically as a result of the high rates of
infection. The life expectancy in Botswana was 58 years in 2011, having
fallen from 65 in 1991.
• The most affected group is those in the age range 15-40. This is the
most productive sector of the population and so Botswana is facing a
labour shortage as so many of the working population are dying/too sick
to work. It is thought 1/3 of Botwana’s workforce is infected with the
disease.
• Children have become orphans as their parents have passed away.
• Some children are living with the disease as they contracted it in-utero
4. What are the solutions?
• Pregnant women have given anti-retroviral drugs since 2002. This has
made a huge impact on infant mortality rates (there were 56 child
deaths per 1000 in 2001 and 11.1 deaths per 1000 in 2011).
• Companies, such as Debswana (the National Mining company of
Botswana) provide free healthcare and access to anti-retroviral drugs
for all of their employees and their wives. They also run classes about
safe-sex for their employees – including the use of condoms.
• The government carry out awareness campaigns on TV, Radio and
Billboards.
• Routine testing for the virus is carried out and awareness campaigns
are used to promote the effectiveness of anti-retroviral treatment.
• Condoms are distributed for free and the number of people receiving
anti-retroviral treatment has steadily increased.
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 5. How may this issue be changing the population structure?

Managing population growth

An anti-natalist policy is a policy that aims to decrease birth rates.
An example of an anti-natalist policy is China’s One Child policy (1979-2015)

DECREASING BIRTHS – CHINA

During the 1960s and 70s China faced widespread famine as its population
exploded out of control. In a controversial attempt to control the size of its
population the Chinese government introduced the one-child policy in 1981. For
almost 20 years no couple was allowed more than one child and those that did
were severely penalised. After 1996 the policy was relaxed a little, particularly in
rural areas where couples are allowed to have a second child if their first was a
girl. The policy became a 2-child policy in October 2015.

During the One Child Policy, the Chinese government tried to control family size
by offering incentives (rewards for following the policy) and disincentives
(punishments for not following the policy.

Incentives and disincentives:

Incentives used to discourage childbirth –
• Cash payments – couples who sign up for the one child policy certificate
would receive additional money which would mean that parents can provide
their child with a better standard of living.
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 • Free healthcare for child – beneficial as less money would have to be spent
on the healthcare of a sick child, therefore this money can be saved or
spent on other needs.
• Free education for child – eases pressure on family to financially support
their child with education. Allows for more disposable income.

Disincentives used to discourage childbirth –

• Fines – discourage people from not obeying the rules as fines can be large
of up to 10-20% of annual salary, meaning that the standard of living for
these families would decrease.
• Job loss – if parents were not able to earn a living, then important
necessities like shelter and food would have to be compromised. This would
mean that the family doesn’t have enough resources to accomplish their
daily needs.
• Rice rations – when food handout are given in rural areas during times of
shortages, governments won’t give equal amounts per head to families with
more children. This will discourage people from having more children
because the family may not have enough resources meet daily needs.
• Nanny police – These are older women in the community who spy on other
community members and report people disobeying the policy to the
authorities. China’s government is communist, so regime leaders are highly
respected. Disobeying them would be taken very seriously and people would
be afraid as being revealed as traitors to government ideals.

Impact of the policy:

• The birth rate in China has fallen since 1979, the Communist party credits
the policy with preventing 400m births, thus contributing to China’s dramatic
economic takeoff since the 1980s.
• However, there are many negative impacts of the policy:
• Many human rights campaigners have rallied against the policy for years
saying that the Chinese government should not be able to dictate how many
children people have.
• Due to a traditional preference for boys, large numbers of female babies
have ended up homeless or in orphanages, and in some cases killed. In 2000, it
was reported that 90 per cent of foetuses aborted in China were female.
• As a result, the gender balance of the Chinese population has become
distorted. Today it is thought that men outnumber women by more than 60
million.

THE FUTURE:
While China's population is now rising more slowly, it still has a very large total
population (1.3 billion in 2008) and China faces new problems, including:

• The falling birth rate - leading to a rise in the relative number of elderly
people.

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• Fewer people of working age to support the growing number of elderly
dependents - in the future China could have an ageing population.

China Is trying to combat these negative impacts by relaxing the policy. Since
2015, the country has operated a 2-child policy to try to ensure that there are
sufficient young people being added to the population. However, experts say that
the relaxation of family planning rules is unlikely to have a lasting demographic
impact, particularly in urban areas where couples were now reluctant to have two
children because of the high cost.

Some people also believe the changes to the population policy haven’t gone far
enough. Human rights campaigners would like to see an end to any government
stipulations over the number of children families can have.

Migration
What is Migration?

Migration is the movement of people from one place to another.

What are the main types of migration?

Migration can be:

• Internal – Movement within a country Or International Moving from one

country to another
• Voluntary Moving by choice Or Forced Having to move - reasons could
include: war, famine, natural disaster, political asylum
• Permanent- with no intention of going back shortly Or Temporary/seasonal
Moving for a short period of time
• Rural to urban Moving from the countryside to the city Or Urban to
rural Moving from the city to the countryside

Push and Pull factors

Migration can occur as result of push and pull factors.

Push factors are those which force a person to move. This can include drought,
famine, lack of jobs, over population and civil war.

Pull factors are those which encourage a person to move. These include a chance
of a better job, better education, a better standard of living, availability of food,
peace and wealth

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 Migration has a lot of advantages and disadvantages

Advantages Disadvantages
To the 1. source of labour- skilled and 1. Strain on resources-housing,
host unskilled hospitals and education
country
2. Cultural exchange 2. Increase of unemployment

3. May cause racial tension, violence

and discrimination
For the 1. May reduce burden on the country 1. Loss of labour especially the skilled
losing ones
country 2. Migrants send money to support
families and friends 2. Can cause diplomatic tensions if
migrants are not treated properly
3. Help to sustain the local and
national economy
For the 1. May earn more money and improve High cost of living
migrant standard of living
and family May result in family separation
2. May meet new people and broaden
cultural understanding.

Case Study of International Migration: Mexico to USA

Location

Migration from Mexico to the United States Of America primarily involves the
movement of Mexicans from Mexico to the southern states of America which border
Mexico. In order to gain access to America, Mexicans must cross the “Unites States-
Mexico Border”, a border which spans four US states & six Mexican states. In America,
it starts in California and ends in Texas (east to west). Due to their proximity to the
border & the high availability of work in these states, the majority of Mexicans move to
California followed by Texas. California currently houses 11,423,000 immigrants with
Texas holding 7,951,000.

Many Mexicans from rural communities migrate to America, the majority being males
who move to America and then send money back to their families in Mexico. Many of
these immigrants enter the country illegally, which often requires them to cross a large
desert that separates Mexico and America and the Rio Grande. These journeys are
dangerous and many immigrants have died, or nearly died, trying to cross into America
through these routes.

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Reasons for Migration

Push Factors

• There are incredibly high crime rates in Mexico, especially in the capital.
Homicide rates come in at around 10-14 per 100,000 people (world average 10.9
per 100,000) and drug related crimes are a major concern. It is thought that in
the past five years, 47,500 people have been killed in crimes relating to drugs.
Many Mexicans will move out of fear for their lives and hope that America is a
more stable place to live, with lower crime rates.
• Unemployment and poverty is a major problem in Mexico and has risen
exponentially in recent years. In 2000, unemployment rates in Mexico were at 2.2,
however, in 2009, they rose by 34.43%.. A large portion of the Mexican population
are farmers, living in rural areas where extreme temperatures and poor quality
land make it difficult to actually farm. This is causing many Mexican families to
struggle, with 47% of the population living under the poverty line. With these high
unemployment and poverty rates, people are forced to move to America, where
they have better prospects, in order to be able to support their families and
maintain a reasonable standard of living.
• The climate and natural hazards in Mexico could force people to move to America.
Mexico is a very arid area which suffers from water shortages even in the more
developed areas of Mexico. The country also suffers from natural disasters
including volcanoes, earthquakes, hurricanes & tsunamis. Recent natural disasters
could force people to migrate if their homes have been destroyed or made
uninhabitable. People who live in danger zones could also migrate out of fear for
their lives.

Pull Factors

• There is a noticeable difference in the quality of life between America & Mexico.
Poverty, as mentioned above, is a major issue in Mexico, with 6% of the population
lacking access to “improved” drinking water. Mexico’s infrastructure is severely
undeveloped when compared to America’s. Despite being the 11thrichest country in
the World, Mexico also has the 10th highest poverty. With America offering
significantly better living standards and services, such as health care, people are
enticed to move to America for a better life.
• Existing migrant communities in states such as Texas and California help to pull
people towards migration. Existing communities make it easier for people to settle
once moved and family members & friends who have already moved can encourage
others to move. People are also enticed to move in order to be with their families.
Cousins and brothers will often move in with their relatives after they have lived
in America for a while in order to be with their family.
• 86.1% of the Mexican population can read & write versus 99% of the population in
America. In addition, the majority of students in Mexico finish school at the age
of 14, versus 16 in America. These statistics show that there are significantly
better academic opportunities in America than in Mexico, which can entice
Mexicans to migrate for an improved education, either for themselves or, more
likely, their future children, in order to give them more opportunities in the world
and allow them to gain higher paying jobs.

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Impacts

Social

• Assimilation of Mexicans into American communities has been problematic. Many

Mexicans can’t speak fluent English and studies show that their ability to speak
English doesn’t improve drastically whilst they live in the US. This is largely due
to them living in closed communities of other Mexican immigrants which reduces
their need to assimilate with America. This can, in turn, create tension between
migrants and locals which can, in extreme cases, lead to segregation, crime and
violence.
• The introduction of Mexican cultural traditions to America, especially in states
with large numbers of migrants, have helped to improve cultural aspects of those
states. Mexican themed food has become incredibly popular in America with
burrito and taco fast food shops opening up across the country. The new food &
music has helped to improve the cultural diversity of America significantly.
• With such a large number of Mexican migrants not speaking English fluently, it is
now common for Spanish to be taught in American schools, widening the skill set
of the younger population and improving the potential career opportunities that
students may have. This also (slightly) helps ease social tensions caused by people
speaking different languages which locals don’t understand.
• With so many young people leaving Mexico, its developing an increasingly
dependant population as the majority of people left are the elderly who can not
work. Furthermore, the lack of young fertile couples is reducing the birth rate in
Mexico, further increasing the dependency ratio as there is no workforce to pay
taxes to support the elderly.
• The majority of migrants leaving Mexico are males leaving a population with a high
number of females. This is problematic as they are unable to find partners, get
married and, in a mostly catholic country, have children (out of wedlock). This is,
as mentioned above, reducing the birth rate and increasing the dependency ratio.

Economic

• Mexican migrants often take low paying, menial jobs, which, while low paying,
offer higher wages than what they’d earn in Mexico. This was, at first,
advantageous, as many Americans did not want these low paying jobs but
companies needed people to fill these jobs. Now, as unemployment rises in
America, Americans want these menial jobs but many migrants already have taken
the jobs. This can lead to increased social tension as Americans believe that their
jobs are being taken.
• Migrants work at incredibly low wages. Americans who are desperate for work are
now often expected to work at these incredibly low wages too, which they can’t
afford to do, leading to increased poverty in America. Many companies are now
also replacing American labour with cheaper migrant labour, also increasing
unemployment rates are people are forced out of their jobs.
• While legal Mexican migrants are working & paying taxes, they often send money
they earn back to their families in Mexico, rather than spending it in America,
which can affect the country’s economy as there is less money being spent on
products which are taxed in America. Conversely, the increased amount of money

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 being sent back to Mexico is helping its economy greatly as people now have money
to spend on goods and services.
• As people move out of Mexico, pressure on land, social services and jobs is being
relieved. Unemployment will fall and health services will no longer be over capacity
as the population is reduced. The problem, however, arises when the young and
skilled workforce leaves, resulting in a shortage of potential workers to fill these
newly freed jobs and to work in these social services. A shortage of medically
trained people, for example, could counteract the relieved health system.
• Mexico’s population is very dependent on food grown in Mexico. Unfortunately,
the majority of migrants come from rural areas, leaving a shortage of farmers
and therefore the potential for food shortages in Mexico as the economically
active people from rural areas leave.

Model Answer exam questions - IGCSE Geography: Topic

Population

Describing questions

TIP: If it is a describe question and there is data to use, make sure you use it!

Q: Using historic and future global population growth describe the overall pattern of
global population growth (4 marks).

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A: The overall pattern shows an increase in global population between 1750 and
projected figures for 2150. Population was under 1 billion in 1750 and is projected to rise
to over 10 million by 2150. Global population has increased rapidly from the 1950s
onwards, particularly in LEDCs.

Q: Using historic and future global population growth describe the contribution made
by LEDCs to global population growth.

A: LEDCs are responsible for contributing the most people to the world’s population.
There has been a rapid rise in population growth in these countries since the 1950s and
this has led to a population explosion. By 2150 it is projected that approximately 90% of
the world’s population will be inhabitants of LEDCs.

Explaining questions – give reasons for the things you notice

TIP: For a 7 mark question, make sure you can include a case study (with specific
facts and figures about the area)

Q: For a named country explain why natural population growth is taking place (7
marks)
A: The Gambia is a country in west Africa. It is a developing country, with high birth
rates and falling death rates. It is at stage 2 of the demographic transition model.
Whilst healthcare has improved, enabling death rates to fall, Gambia’s birth rate remains
high.
There are religious, cultural and economic reasons why birth rates continue to be high in
the Gambia. One reason is that due to the religious beliefs held many in the country. 95%
of people in the Gambia are Muslim and Islamic religious teachers have often taught that
contraception should not be used. As a result, it is a cultural taboo in society to use
contraception or discuss family planning.

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An economic reason for high birth rates is that many people in the Gambia still live in the
countryside and rely on farming for their income. It has often been thought that more
hands on the land means better agricultural production and so children help their
families to cultivate the crops.
These factors contribute to a rapid increase in Gambia’s population as birth rates are
still very high, with 7 children been born on average per woman, whilst death rates have
been declining.

Another 7 mark question:

A: Name of the country: China

Policy: One Child Policy

Impacts:

The communist government of China, introduced the One Child policy in 1979; it was
finally relaxed in 2015. After more than 30 years of the policy, it is now a 2 child policy.
The birth rate in China has consequently fallen since 1979; the Communist party credits
the policy with preventing 400m births, thus contributing to China’s dramatic economic
takeoff since the 1980s.
However, there are many negative impacts of the policy. For example, many human rights
campaigners have rallied against the policy for years saying that the Chinese government
should not be able to dictate how many children people have. Indeed, it is believed by
many that the current 2 child policy does not go far enough in protecting people’s rights
and freedoms.
Due to a traditional preference for boys, large numbers of female babies have ended up
homeless or in orphanages, and in some cases killed. In 2000, it was reported that 90 per
cent of foetuses aborted in China were female. As a result, the gender balance of the
Chinese population has become distorted. Today it is thought that men outnumber women
by more than 60 million.
Today, China faces new problems; including a rise in the relative number of elderly
people, compared to the young. This means that in the future China may have an ageing
population.

Q: Describe the problems caused by an ageing population (7).

A: Japan is a country that has an ageing population, meaning it has a large proportion of
its population in the over 65 age group. This situation has presented Japan with several
problems.
One problem is that it often costs a lot of money to care for elderly people, especially as
they reach the older age groups, as people can become increasingly frail and many
require specialized care. This means that more government money needs to be spent on
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services such as healthcare and state-run retirement homes, leaving less money for
other societal needs.
Caring for elderly people in society often results on a burden for their relatives, who
often need to act as carers for them. Because Japan’s life expectancy is so long (average
life expectancy is 83 years), this often involves elderly people caring for even more
elderly relatives. This can be stressful and very time consuming for these carers.
Japan has a shortage of nurses and professional care workers, because so many are
needed to care for the ageing population. This causes the country to need to look for
migrant labour to fill the shortage. However, immigration is unpopular in Japanese
society and it is often difficult for immigrants to settle in to the country; especially due
to the language barrier as Japanese is a very difficult language to learn.
A final problem is that pensions in Japan are low, as a result 20% of elderly Japanese live
below the poverty line. This can lead to a poor quality of life and there are an increasing
number homeless people amongst Japan’s ageing population. Sadly 1/3 of Japan’s suicides
are from Japan’s over 65 population.

Exam board mark-scheme:

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