The global population
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Variation in spatial patterns of population
While the world's population is growing rapidly, this is not true in all countries. The population in some countries is very stable or in fact declining. Whatever the case, all population are a product of fertility rate, death rate (referred to as natural increase or decrease) and migration.
Populations have usually followed a demographic transition model as they have developed. In all societies, death rates decline first, fertility rates follow and as these two factors change total populations stop increasing and level out.
The large population growth being witnessed globally is largely taking place in the LEDCs of Asia and Africa. These countries have higher fertility rates and rapidly declining death rates.
In most MEDCs, populations are either stable and ageing or actually declining. These countries have very low birth rates and death rates. Ageing is a considerable economic problem for the world's World Cities
These forces will likely cause the global population to level out at around 9 billion people. It is possible however that death rates increase in the future, either due to higher rates of pollution and obesity, failure of antibiotic resistance or large scale war.
Populations have usually followed a demographic transition model as they have developed. In all societies, death rates decline first, fertility rates follow and as these two factors change total populations stop increasing and level out.
The large population growth being witnessed globally is largely taking place in the LEDCs of Asia and Africa. These countries have higher fertility rates and rapidly declining death rates.
In most MEDCs, populations are either stable and ageing or actually declining. These countries have very low birth rates and death rates. Ageing is a considerable economic problem for the world's World Cities
These forces will likely cause the global population to level out at around 9 billion people. It is possible however that death rates increase in the future, either due to higher rates of pollution and obesity, failure of antibiotic resistance or large scale war.
Population migration
Besides natural increase and decrease, migration is the largest factor changing populations. However, there are many different types of migration.
Firstly, migration generally results from a combination of push and pull factors. The urbanisation (rural to urban migration) relies on the hardship pushing people out of the countries side into cities they believe will offer greater prospects.
Migration can be internal or international. People are more likely to migrate internally as the organisational and cultural barriers are not as great. People who migrate internationally often move to countries with similar cultures (such as a common language or religion) or to countries where they can rely on family ties.
Migration can be forced or voluntary. Forced migrations have been common in history. The world's 60 million refugees and internally displaced people have been forced from their homes. There are also more slaves today, then throughout the entire 400 years of transatlantic slave trading. Forced migration is more common in LEDCs, but trafficked people are increasingly arriving in MEDCs.
For the voluntary international migrants of the world, labour migration offers advantages to both the host country and the migrant themselves. Most MEDCs have benefited from attracting skilled migrants to fill labour shortages.
Firstly, migration generally results from a combination of push and pull factors. The urbanisation (rural to urban migration) relies on the hardship pushing people out of the countries side into cities they believe will offer greater prospects.
Migration can be internal or international. People are more likely to migrate internally as the organisational and cultural barriers are not as great. People who migrate internationally often move to countries with similar cultures (such as a common language or religion) or to countries where they can rely on family ties.
Migration can be forced or voluntary. Forced migrations have been common in history. The world's 60 million refugees and internally displaced people have been forced from their homes. There are also more slaves today, then throughout the entire 400 years of transatlantic slave trading. Forced migration is more common in LEDCs, but trafficked people are increasingly arriving in MEDCs.
For the voluntary international migrants of the world, labour migration offers advantages to both the host country and the migrant themselves. Most MEDCs have benefited from attracting skilled migrants to fill labour shortages.
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Issues arising from the world's changing population
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Population growth is resulting in many challenges for the world.
The ecological pressures arise from land clearing required for food, fibre and space required. Thomas Malthus postulated that rising populations would eventually reach a limit as food and resources became exhausted. Neo Malthusian arguments remain popular. Migration, although very beneficial, produces challenges for social cohesion. Although, this effect is widely reported on in MEDCs it can be more challenges in LEDCs where resources are scarcer. The rapid growth and great inequality of global populations accounts for many of the challenges seen globally. Mega cities experience challenges with slums, water, energy and air pollution. Transient populations moving into Megacities with high urban inequality creates challenges with crime, cohesion and disease. In World Cities, urban village dynamics work to create so-called "ethnic enclaves". |
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