A summary of Edexcel A-Level Geography's Topic 4B - Diverse Places, utilizing the official 2016 Edexcel A Level Book 1 Geography Textbook 3rd edition, along with diagrams from the Geography for Edexcel A Level Year 1 Textbook and the Pearson Edexcel AS/A-Level Geography Book 1 Textbook. This source...
Population Structure: Cities are URBANISED and very densely populated; countryside’s are sparsely populated in
comparison.
Rural-Urban Continuum (RUC): Population densities generally lower the further away from the city you are,
HOWEVER there are exceptions with small peaks of high population densities in commuter settlements and/ or
villages, markets, and towns.
Population Density Factors:
▪ Physical Environment - Flatter areas are often easier to develop upon, leading to an increase in
development. Flood plains and steep slopes are avoided because properties cost more to build and maintain,
often only used when more space is desperately needed.
▪ Socio-economic Status – Wealthier people live in more expensive housing and will often live away from
places with higher population density for greater privacy or perceived safety, along with more private space
and better air quality.
▪ Dwelling type and household size – High density housing often involves flats to accommodate for limited
space.
▪ Functions – Population density is directly lowered when housing is mixed with non-residential activities, such
as manufacturing.
▪ Planning – Planners control the density of all new residential development. Planners have a significant
impact on surrounding housing density.
Factor Effect on Birth Rate/ Social, Economic Notes
Death Rate or Environmental
Factor
Increase in Birth rate decreases Social ▪ Less births per woman – control of fertility.
artificial Death rate decreases ▪ Reduces spread of STIs – decrease in death rate
contraception (ie HIV & Syphilis).
▪ Fewer deaths in labour.
Emancipation Birth rate decreases Social ▪ Women choose to have less children, and better
of women Death rate decreases educated about contraception.
▪ Women marry later, resulting in fewer children,
less time to look after children.
▪ Fewer deaths in labour.
Legal age of Birth rate decreases Social ▪ Lower rates of young brides dying in labour.
marriage Death rate decreases ▪ Less time to have children.
increases
Education Birth rate decreases Social ▪ Children become economic burdens.
made Death rate decreases Economic ▪ Education about hygiene and contraception.
compulsory ▪ Children not working at a younger age.
Frequent Birth rate decreases Economic ▪ Disasters – widespread destruction, more deaths
Natural Death rate increases Environmental as a result, public services destroyed, and the
Disasters spread of disease.
▪ Fewer children due to lack of resources.
Vaccination Death rate decreases Social ▪ Lower childhood mortality, less children need to
programs Economic be replaced.
, Relatively low Birth rate increases Social ▪ Less education and food, greater spread of
GDP Death rate increases Economic disease, more children born and die to
encourage large families.
▪ Children are economically beneficial to work on
family properties in subsistence societies.
Food supplies Birth rate varies Social ▪ Increase infant mortality, need more workers
are unreliable Death rate increases Economic which further impacts birth rate.
Environmental ▪ Starvation increases spread of disease,
increasing death rate.
Conflict (civil) Birth rate decreases Social ▪ Instability and conflict reduce births, deaths
occurs Death rate increases Economic increase the death rate.
Well-developed Birth rate increases Social ▪ Better conditions result in less deaths.
welfare state Death rate decreases Economic ▪ Birth rate can increase due to less economic
barriers with children. Can also greatly increase
the economic burden of children.
▪ Can decrease birth rate as welfare reduces the
need for children.
Religion Birth rate increases Social ▪ Religious stances on abortion and contraception
Death rate increases increases birth rate and increases the amount of
pregnancy related deaths.
▪ Religion can encourage higher birth rates and
traditional gender roles – resulting in higher
birth rate.
Pronatalist Birth rate increases Social ▪ Providing benefits for big families means people
Policy Death rate decreases are more likely to have children and larger
families in general.
Anti natalist Birth rate decreases Social ▪ Discourages large families by reducing benefit,
policy Death rate decreases decreasing the birth rate.
Population Characteristics:
Before the 1970s:
▪ Birth rate increasing, leading to baby boom.
▪ Death rate falling, improvements in food supply, health, and hygiene.
▪ Results in a population increase. Population has grown from 38 million to 55 million in the UK between
1901 and 1971
Since the 1970s:
▪ Birth rate and death rate at a low rate
▪ Birth rate still increasing SLOWLY – mainly due to migrants.
▪ Family sizes are small, life expectancy rising.
▪ Result: A stabilising population
▪ Results in a slow population increase from 55 million to 61 million between 1971 and 2007.
Counter-urbanisation: When people move away from an urban area.
Census: A census in the UK is a count of all people and households. The latest census in the UK was held on the 27 th
of March 2011
Inequality: The idea that different people experience different standards of living.
Social clustering: People tend to form communities (clusters) with other people with similar ideas, sentiments, and
experiences.
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