AS Geography

1. The Demographic Transition Model AS Geography

2. Learning Objectives To learn the concepts behind the DTM Draw, label and interpret pop’n pyramids How population pyramids can be used to predict pop’n change How various pop’n structures can cause issues for countries concerned

3. What is it The DTM is a simple diagram It is a model that shows pop’n change over time It is a simplified version of reality It suggests all countries go through 4 – 5 stages of development It can be used to predict population changes over time

5. Strengths It’s dynamic showing changes over time It describes effectively what happened in the UK Many industrialised countries went through similar stages in Europe and N. America Some NIC’s (S. Korea, Singapore) Also seem to go through similar stages but faster than the UK did It helps explain what happened and why in a particular sequence

6. Weaknesses Not very relevant to non industrialised countries Model assumes stage 2 followed from industrialisation (For many this was not the case) The factors that caused falls in DR were often imported from Europe Assumes stage 3 follows several decades after stage 2 and that DR fell as a consequence of changes brought about by changes in BR Often the onset of stage 3 held back by attitudes to family size, birth control, status, religion

7. Weaknesses Some Govt’s sped up the difference between stage 2 and 3 by introducing one child policies (China) Original model only contained 4 stages now 5 to show where DR is exceeding BR (Ageing pop’n) DR risen rapidly due to diseases e.g. Africa and Aids – does not help predict this.

8. DTM and Population Pyramids

9. Population Pyramids These are good for showing the structure of a country’s pop’n

10. Population Pyramids can show: The results of Birth minus deaths in a specific age group The effects of migration The effects of war, famine or disease An indication of life expectancy

11. Activity Review the following pyramids and see how well you can interpret them Think about: What type of country they are from, where they are in terms of the DTM and possible reasons for their shape

14. General Shapes

15. Age Structures and Problems Ageing population Young population Low Life expectancy population What problems can you foresee with these kind of populations?

17. Draw, label and interpret pop’n pyramids

18. How population pyramids can be used to predict pop’n change

19. How various pop’n structures can cause issues for countries concerned