Population and settlement

Topics

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Sample objectives

What this unit covers

• Population dynamics: Students should be able to explain and justify the reasons behind the rapid growth of the global population, as well as the effects of over-population and under-population. They must understand how factors such as birth rates, death rates, and migration influence a country's population changes. Additionally, students should identify the primary reasons for shifts in population size and assess the social, economic, and other influences (including government policies and health issues like HIV/AIDS) on birth and death rates. They are also required to describe and assess various population policies. Case studies should include examples of a country experiencing over-population, a country facing under-population, a country with a high natural population growth rate, and a country with a low growth rate or population decline.
• Migration: Students should be able to explain and provide reasons for population migration, including internal movements like rural-urban migration and international migrations, whether voluntary or involuntary. They must also demonstrate an understanding of the effects of migration, both positive and negative, on the destination and origin of migrants, as well as on the migrants themselves. A case study on international migration is required.
• Population structure: Students should be able to identify and explain the significance of age/sex pyramids for countries at various stages of economic development, including the implications of having a high dependent population. A case study is required for this objective.
• Population density and distribution: Students should be able to explain the various factors that affect how population density and distribution are determined, including physical, economic, social, and political influences. Case studies should include examples of both densely and sparsely populated regions, which can be examined at any scale from local to regional.
• Settlements (rural and urban) and service provision: Students should be able to explain the different patterns of settlement, including dispersed, linear, and nucleated types. They should describe and analyze the factors that can affect the location, development, and roles of settlements, considering both physical factors (such as relief, soil, and water supply) and other influences (like accessibility and resources). Additionally, students must provide reasons for the hierarchy of settlements and services, including high, middle, and low-order types, as well as understand concepts like sphere of influence and threshold population. A case study on settlement and service provision in a specific area is required.
• Urban settlements: Students should be able to describe and explain the features and transformations of land use in urban environments, including the Central Business District (CBD), residential zones, industrial sectors, and the rural-urban fringe, across various economic contexts. They should also discuss the impacts of land use changes and rapid urbanization, such as urban sprawl, and identify the challenges faced by urban areas, including different pollution types (air, noise, water, visual), social inequality, housing problems, traffic congestion, and disputes regarding land use changes. A case study of an urban area or areas is required.
• Urbanisation: Students should be able to identify and propose reasons for the swift growth of urban areas, considering physical, economic, and social factors that lead to rural population decline and the migration of individuals to large cities. They should describe the effects of urban expansion on both rural and urban environments, as well as potential solutions to mitigate negative impacts. Additionally, they should understand the features of informal settlements and strategies to lessen the adverse effects of urbanisation. A case study is required focusing on a rapidly expanding urban area in a developing nation and the migration patterns associated with it.