7 Billion and Counting: How the world’s population has grown.

Part 1: My place in the world.

  1. Complete the, “My place in the world,” worksheet from Geographypods.com using the information from https://population.io/
01 My place in the world
We use census data to calculate the number of people there are in the world. Do you think we know exactly how many people there are?

Part 2: What has caused the population to increase?

The graph below was made in 2009. It illustrates, key events in human history that have impacted on the growth of the world’s population. Which of the events shown on the graph do you think had the greatest impact on future population growth?

  1. Complete the Population benchmarking task below.
02 Population Benchmark Task
03 World population graph

“The history of almost every aspect of our present lifestyle can be linked to the demographic history of the world.”

ZPG Population Education Program World of 6 Billion Activity Guide 2000

Definitions:

  • Birth Rate: number of live births per years per thousand people. It is calculated by dividing the number of births in a country by the total population and then multiplying by 1000.
  • Death Rate: This is the number of deaths per years per thousand people. It is calculated by dividing the number of deaths in a country by the total population and then multiplying by 1000.
  1. Look back at the benchmarks you added to your graphs. Some caused life expectancy to increase, some reduced birth or death rates. Complete the Factors Affecting Birth and Death Rates task below.
04 Factors Affecting Birth and Death Rates
05 Births or Deaths
  1. Now open births and deaths document. Cut the cards out and sort them into factors affecting births or deaths. Once you have done this, add the statements to your worksheet and decide if they are Social, Political, Economic or Cultural.

Part 3: Natural Increase

Excerpt from populationeducation.org
  1. Add the definition of natural increase into your notes.
  1. Look at the map above. It shows natural population growth rates (RNI) for each country. Describe the distribution of countries with high population growth rates. (3% or above)
  1. Name the two countries with the highest population growth rate and the two lowest (negative) population growth rate. Include data in your answer.
  1. Click on the Chart Tab. Describe the change in global in population growth rate since 1950. Include data in your answer.
  1. Drag the slider along to show the predicted data for 2050. What is predicted to happen? What might cause the prediction to be incorrect?
  1. Watch the video below and make notes on the information it gives.