Geography, Population

Outline the changing nature, rate and distribution of the world’s population.

The world population is expected to grow from 6.1 billion in 2000 to 8.9 billion in 2050, increasing therefore by 47 per cent. The changing distribution, rate and nature of the world’s population consider a number of factors which include urbanisation, population of the developing and developed countries. Also how fast or slow the population increases over a specific period of time, and where the distribution is and why.

Population of developing countries and regions like Africa have the greatest proportional increase, 41 per cent of their population is under 15 years old. The life expectancy of those living in the developing countries is very low as to the little knowledge of medical science and public health, nutritional information and a reduced chance to access education. The countries of the Developed population has slowed dramatically, the population currently is 1.2 billion. Most of the growth occurs from the US primarily due to immigration. Asia is the most populous country, their population is greater than the entire developed world at a whopping 1.3 billion. Spatially, most of the rapid population growth rate has occurred in the developing countries of the world, as seen in the diagram below.

The urban population from 2008 more than half of the human population were living urban areas, they are now 3.3 billion urban residents. The average world population density is expected to rise from 44 people per sq km to 66 people per sq km. Here are some of the reasons for population density; climate, location, history, job opportunities, fertility of soil and the Countries economic status. The rate of natural increase is due to the number of births to deaths. The main causes due to population change are the birth rate, death rate and migration. The changing distribution of the world’s population by region. 1800-2050 diagram.

The distribution of the world’s population has a distinct pattern of where people are and will be. In 1800, Europe had 21 per cent of the world’s population and Asia had 65 per cent. By 1900, Europe's share of world population had risen to 25 per cent, caused by the population increase that accompanied the Industrial Revolution. Some of this growth fell over to the Americas population, increasing their portion of the world total. Though, Europe is anticipated to lose its share of the world’s population by the year 2050 down to 7per cent.

Current projections are created on the theory that the fertility rate will drop in countries where they are high today and that life expectancy will rise where rates are low. Every year the world’s population grows by more than 77 million, this is caused by the changing nature, rate and the distribution of the world’s population.