Social Studies: Population Geography and Demographics Worksheet

Question 1

Define population density and explain what it tells geographers about a place.

Accepted Answer

Population density is the number of people living in a given area, usually measured per square mile or per square kilometer. It helps geographers understand how crowded or spread out a population is and how people are distributed across land.

Question 2

A country has 12 million people living in 300,000 square kilometers. Calculate its population density.

Accepted Answer

The population density is 40 people per square kilometer because 12,000,000 divided by 300,000 equals 40.

Question 3

Explain the difference between birth rate, death rate, and rate of natural increase.

Accepted Answer

The birth rate is the number of live births per 1,000 people in a year. The death rate is the number of deaths per 1,000 people in a year. The rate of natural increase is the population growth rate found by subtracting the death rate from the birth rate, not including migration.

Question 4

A region has a birth rate of 18 per 1,000 and a death rate of 7 per 1,000. What is the rate of natural increase?

Accepted Answer

The rate of natural increase is 11 per 1,000 because 18 minus 7 equals 11. This means births exceed deaths by 11 people per 1,000 population.

Question 5

Describe one push factor and one pull factor that can influence migration.

Accepted Answer

A push factor is a condition that causes people to leave a place, such as war, unemployment, or drought. A pull factor is a condition that attracts people to a place, such as job opportunities, safety, or better education.

Question 6

What is the difference between immigration and emigration?

Accepted Answer

Immigration is moving into a country or region to live there. Emigration is leaving a country or region to live somewhere else.

Question 7

A city has 500,000 residents at the start of the year. During the year, 20,000 people move in and 8,000 move out. What is the net migration for the city?

Accepted Answer

The net migration is 12,000 people because 20,000 moving in minus 8,000 moving out equals 12,000. This means the city gained 12,000 people through migration.

Question 8

Why do many geographers use population pyramids when studying a country?

Accepted Answer

Geographers use population pyramids to see the age and sex structure of a population. These graphs help show whether a population is growing quickly, growing slowly, or aging, and they can suggest future needs for schools, jobs, and health care.

Question 9

A population pyramid has a very wide base and a narrow top. What does this usually suggest about the population?

Accepted Answer

A wide base and narrow top usually suggest that the population has many young people, high birth rates, and shorter life expectancy. It often indicates rapid population growth.

Question 10

What is the demographic transition model, and what does it help explain?

Accepted Answer

The demographic transition model is a framework that shows how population patterns change as a country develops economically. It helps explain how birth rates, death rates, and population growth tend to shift over time from high rates to lower rates.

Question 11

Compare a country in an early stage of the demographic transition model with a country in a later stage.

Accepted Answer

A country in an early stage usually has higher birth rates, possibly falling death rates, and faster population growth. A country in a later stage usually has low birth rates, low death rates, and slower growth or even population decline.

Question 12

Explain how access to health care and education can affect demographic patterns in a country.

Accepted Answer

Access to health care can lower death rates and increase life expectancy by preventing and treating disease. Access to education, especially for girls and women, often leads to lower birth rates, later family formation, and slower population growth. Together, these factors can change age structure, life expectancy, and overall population trends.

Social Studies: Population Geography and Demographics

Social Studies: Population Geography and Demographics

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