Ageing Population: Japan

Statistics: 

• 1/5 of the population is aged over 65, this is set to be 1/3 by 2023
• fertility rate = 1.25
• In 1975 the birth rate was 19 and the death rate was 9.7
• In 2006 the birth rate was 6.3 and the death rate was 9.2
• natural increase = 0.5% 
• pro-natal (paternity leave) 

Advantages: 

More money is spent locally, as elderly tend to buy more in the local community, thus money is put back into the economy. The 'silver business' boom - businesses that are targeted at the elderly demographic boom (e.g. cruises). 

Disadvantages: 

Health costs rise, causing taxation to be higher to handle the higher numbers of people using health services. Some services, like schools and possibly transport services, will be underused and have to close - leaving some people unemployed. Government funded pensions may have to shrink in order to cover everybody, leaving people with less money to spend. 

Why? 

Japan has undergone years of rapid economic development, and the culture shifted quickly. More focus has been put on having a job and good income, so people focus less on having a family. Also, children are seen as economic burdens, rather than assets and these factors lead to lower fertility rates. People are now living considerably longer than before, due to an improvement in the quality of healthcare and the incredibly healthy diet that many adopt in Japan. 

Youthful Population: Uganda

Statistics (these help to boost your mark in the long answer questions): 

• Fertility rate = 6.15 births per woman
• Infant mortality = 65/1000
• Child mortality = 107/1000
• Stage 1 of the Demographic Transition Model 
• 49.1% of the population aged 0-14

Advantages: 

There are advantages to having a youthful population structure. There are fewer elderly to support, so there is less pressure on the economically active in that respect. Additionally, there is a large working force available so there may be a chance to boost business or attract industries due to the large workforce available. 

Disadvantages: 

On the other hand, there are a significant amount of disadvantages. Even though there are fewer elderly dependants, there is a very high young dependancy ratio. The high numbers of younger people cause an increase in demand for facilities and puts pressure on infrastructure. Also, there will be competition for jobs, and if there are not many available there can be high levels of unemployment. Finally, there can be an increase in antisocial problems such as crime. 

Why? 

High fertility rates, largely due to a widespread lack of access and knowledge of contraception. In agricultural and many other communities children are seen as economic assets, rather than burdens, as they are able to work and earn more money for the family. 

1.1 - describe growth of world's population, associated problems and show understanding of causes and consequences of overpopulation and underpopulation

Describe the growth in the world's population and associated problems 

• the world population grew steadily for thousands of years until the 1800s 
• 1820: one billion 
• in 1960 it had reached 3 billion 
• in 1999, less than 40 years later, it doubled to 6 billion 
• global growth rate now at 1 billion every 15 years 

Problems: 

• overcrowding - spread of disease
• not enough resources to cope with number of people 
• pressure on services and infrastructure (schools, hospitals) 

Overpopulation, underpopulation and optimum: 

Optimum: When there are enough resources to meet the needs of a population 

• permits full utilisation of natural resources
• high standard of living 

Overpopulation: too few resources to meet the needs of the population 

consequences:

• low standard of living 
• high unemployment
• shortage of food
• overcrowding in urban areas (leading to spread of disease) 
• crime 
• pressure on infrastructure 
• water and air pollution 

causes: 

• high birth rates (lack of contraception)
• high levels of migration 

Underpopulation: population too small to develop resources effectively 

consequences: 

• shortage of workers and foreign investors to develop resources 
• high cost to import good that cannot be made in the country 

causes: 

• areas made be uninhabitable (e.g. large parts of north Canada) or undesirable to live in 
• areas not developed well, and are thus undesirable to live in 

however, if resources have been developed then the country can benefit from exporting any surplus resources (e.g. Canada)