• What are

the
problems
for
Population MEDC’s
and
Problems LEDC’s?
 Dependency ratio

• The dependency ratio is a relationship

between those who are and are not working
in an area (usually a country). The active
population are usually those between the
ages of 15-65, even if they are not
employed, people in this category are
called the economically active. Those aged
under 15 and over 65 are the economically
inactive and are called dependants.
Or
• A worked example should make this
clearer. Pakistan, which is a
developing country, has 41% of its
population less than 15, and 4% over
65. This makes 55% (100 - (41+4))
between the ages of 15 and 64.
• New Zealand, a developed country, has
23% of its population less than 15,
and 12% over 65. This makes 65%
between 15 and 64.
Pakistan:
(41 + 4) ÷ 55 = 0.818
0.818 × 100 = 81.8

• So for every 100 people of working

age there were 81.8 people dependent
on them.
 Dependency ratio

• Work it out for the following 2

countries
• Sweden
– Under 15 = 18% of population
– Over 65 = 20% of population
– 15-65 = 62% of population
• Mexico
– Under 15 = 44% of population
– Over 65 = 48% of population
– 15-65 = 8% of population
• Countries that have a high
dependency ratio have more people
who are not of working age, and
fewer who are working and paying
taxes. The higher the number, the
more people that need looking after.
 Youthful Populations: Where/Why?

• High proportion of young people due

to high birth rates and a reduction
in infant mortality.
• This is due to better nutrition,
education and medical care.
• This may create problems since the
children need feeding, housing,
education and eventually a job.
• Medical care and education has to be
paid for by taxing a proportionally
small number of workers.
Youthful Population Structure
(Population Pyramids)

Seen as a wide base on population pyramids that

reflect high birth rates in LEDCs.
 Youthful Population Structure (DTM)

• Stage 2:
• This is where the birth rates are high but the death
rates begin to fall.
• This results in the population increasing.
• Lots of countries in the developing world are at this
stage, due to improved medical care, but poor
education.
 Ageing Populations: Where/Why?

• High proportion of elderly people who

have survived due to advances in
nutrition and medical care.
• This creates problems since these
people do not work and have to be
provided with pensions, medical care,
social support, sheltered housing etc.
from the taxes paid by a proportionally
smaller number of workers.
• In addition, an increasing number of
young people are employed as care
workers for the elderly. This removes
them from more productive jobs within
the economy and harms a country's
 Ageing Population Structure
(Population Pyramids)

• A population pyramid with a narrower shape, broad

at the top, found in MEDCs. This reflects their low
birth rates and the greater proportion of elderly
people.
 Ageing Population Structure (DTM)

• Stage 5:
• Population has begun to decline.
• This leads to an aging population as people are not
dying due to good medical care.
• Babies are also not being born due to good access to
contraception and a stronger desire amongst women
to work.
What impact do lots
of young people or
lots of old people
have on a country?
 Youthful population

• This is when there is a very high

percentage of people under the age
of 15.
• What strain may this put on that
country?
 Where are the main areas
of rapid population?
• - Asia, Africa and Latin America. These
developing areas are moving through the
demographic transition model from stage 2
to stage 3.
• In other words, during the second half of
the 20th century their death rates fell,
whilst the birth rates continued to be
high.
• This was due to improving health care and
sanitary conditions.
• As a result of the BR being so much
higher than the DR, the population of
these areas has exploded.
 The Gambia
Youthful Population
 Problems of a youthful
population
• Pressure on housing - not enough housing,
urban areas will become increasingly
overcrowded. Shanty towns will continue to
grow, and people living there will do so in
very poor sanitary conditions with no running
water or sewage of any kind., which may well
cause outbreaks of devastating diseases.
• Pressure on schooling – illiterate population.
India’s literacy rate is 60%, Cambodia’s
literacy rate is 69%
• Pressure on food supplies - famine, food
distribution difficulties. Natural disasters
accentuate this problem e.g. droughts.
• Pressure on health services – a growth in
diseases being spread around and not being
dealt with adequately to stop the spread.
• - The increasing numbers of people in the cities
will also cause more pollution and traffic
congestion, leading to environmental problems an
possibly diseases, or the increase of respirator
problems, such as asthma.
• - More people will be in need of jobs, and so th
problem of massive unemployment will occur. This
could lead to more people being forced to live i
poverty or turn to a life of crime.
• - Governments may come under increasing pressure
to provide adequate food and services to the
increasing population. This may be beyond the
current capability of many LEDC’s, and may resul
in them borrowing more money from the MEDC’s,
thus increasing their debt problems.
• - There may be an escalation of tensions between
the MEDC’s, who have sufficient resources and th
LEDC’s, who do not. In extreme circumstances thi
may lead to conflicts, as Malthus predicted.
Ageing Populations
Ageing Populations
When the median age of a countries
population rises and there is a rise in
the proportion of a countries population
that is over 65 years old.
 Median age of all countries is
due to rise from 29 now to 38 by
Data At present just under 11%
2050

of the worlds 6.9 billion

By 2050 33% of people are over 60; by
populations in 2050 it will rise to 22% (of
developed countries 9 billion) Every one of the 2 billion
will be over 60 people who will be over 60
by 2050 has already been
born
Over the last two decades, In France it took 100 years for the
consumption by Europe's % of the population over 65 to
over 50s has risen three double from 7% to 14%; in China
times as fast as that of the a similar change is predicted to
rest of the population. take less than 25 years.

By 2040, the number of

When pensions were introduced in the people over 64 in Britain is
early 1900s there were 22 people of expected to grow from 9.5
working age in Britain for every retired million to 15 million.
person. In 2024 there will be less than
three.
Long Life Expectancy in MEDCs
Low Birth Rates in MEDCs
In MEDC's the major problem is that
of an ageing population and the
reduction of the birth rate.
But this will be a global issue...
What are the
spatial patterns of
ageing?
• In 2005, 10% of the population was
over the age of 60. In the
developing world this was 8% of the
population, and in the developed
world 20%. This proportion is
expected to increase to 20% by 2050.
• In 2005, 670 million people were
aged 60 years and over. This is
projected to increase to 1 billion
by 2020 and to 2 billion by 2050.
• Causes increased life expectancy and
the decline in fertility.
• Although ageing of the population
has begun later in the less
economically developed world, it is
progressing at a faster rate than in
the developed world. This is because
the relative rates of decline in
both fertility and mortality are
much greater in developing than in
developed countries.
• The global average for life
expectancy increased from 46
years in 1950 to 64 in 2000. It
is projected to reach 74 years
by 2050.
• During the same time period, the
proportion of children is
projected to fall from 33% to
20%.
• The population aged 80 and over
numbered 72 million in 2005.
This is the fastest-growing
section (4.2% annually) of
global population and is
projected to increase to 394
million by 2050.
• Europe is the 'oldest' region in the
world. Those aged 60 and over in 2000
formed 20% of the population and this
is projected to rise to 35% by 2050.
• The % of old people and their rate of
increase varies among countries. In
2005, those aged 60 and over ranged
from + 25% in Japan, Italy and Germany
to less than 5% in most tropical
African countries and in the oil­rich
countries of the middle east that
attract young worker. By 2050, the
range is expected to be even wider,
from more than 40% in Japan, Slovenia
and N. Korea to even less than 5% in
the African countries of Swaziland and
Liberia.
Describe this area’s population
structure?
 Ageing / Greying Population

• This is when a country has a large

number of people over the age of 65
in their country.
• What are the impacts on the country?
Ageing Populations - UK
Youthful to Ageing - China
• The main areas where there is little
population growth are:
• - The MEDC areas, such as Europe, North
America and the Former Soviet Union.
• Most of these countries have already
reached stage 4 of the demographic
transition model, and in many cases have
almost zero population growth.
• Some, such as France and Sweden may even
be entering a fifth demographic stage
where the DR is higher than the BR,
meaning that the population falls.
Italy's Ageing Population
The main reasons are:
• Higher living standards and better healthcare
has meant that people are living longer
• As most children being born survive until old
age less children are being born
• As women have the same rights as men they are
putting off having children till later in life
• Children cost a great deal of money - The
average cost is estimated at £165,000 from
birth to 18 yrs
• People do not have to rely on children as they
have good pensions and the country provides
lots of services for the old age pensioners
• Many now have access to birth control methods,
are educated and now have the choice of a
career or a materialistic lifestyle.
• At present the average number of children per
couple in Italy, Spain & the UK is 1.3 -
replacement level is 2.1
 The Problem of Ageing Populations in
Western Europe. What are the main facts?
• In the UK the proportion of people
retired will grow from 20% in 2000 to
40% by 2040
• In Italy the country spends 19% of its
GNP on the pensioners who make up 18% of
the population - In 2025 it is estimated
that 25% will be pensioners and 33% of
GNP will have to be spent on them
• Pensioners are costing more money due to
residential homes, health care, social
services (home helps etc), increased
long term illnesses such as Alzheimer's
and they take up a lot more of a
Doctor's financial budget & time
 Problems Facing Ageing
Populations

• - As the percentage of elderly dependants

increases, there will be less people of working
age to support a larger dependant population.
This could cause problems of a lack of sufficient
people to fill available jobs in some areas.
• - Health care resources will have to be increased
to cope with the needs of the increasing elderly
population. This may take money away from other
important areas of society such as education or
transport.
• - The economic impact will be an increased need
for funding for elderly health care, as well as
an increase in the numbers of people getting
pensions, and other economic benefits given to
the elderly.
• Problems Facing the Elderly
• Many have to live alone - especially women
• Most cannot afford the cost of residential homes
and have to sell their homes to fund it
• There are long waits for hospital care
• Those in rural areas have problems getting around
due to being too old to drive and few bus services
• Those living in urban areas are fearful of crime
• What are the possible solutions?
• Increase the birth rate by encouraging families to
have more children as in France
• In a town in Italy each family is given £6000 per
child
• Raise the retirement age - In Italy it is now at
67 instead of 65.
• Those who are in work can pay higher wages
• Abolish state pensions and make all people provide
for their own pensions
• Increase the workforce by encouraging immigration
from poorer countries
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