🌍 Welcome to the Global Issues Study Hub!

Hi Geographers! This chapter, Population and Communication, is absolutely vital. It’s all about understanding how the number of people, where they live, why they move, and how they talk to each other shapes our entire planet.
Think of it this way: People are the 'actors' and communication is the 'stage direction' that makes global events happen.
Don't worry if this seems like a huge topic—we're going to break it down into simple, manageable pieces!

Quick Review: Why is this a 'Global Issue'?

  • Large population changes (like rapid growth or decline) affect resources everywhere.
  • Migration links countries economically and socially.
  • Global communication (the internet) creates interdependence, meaning countries rely on each other.

Section 1: Global Population Dynamics and Distribution

1.1 Understanding Population Density and Distribution

Population studies start with understanding where people are and how crowded it is.

Population Distribution: This is how people are spread across the Earth.

  • Most people live in coastal areas, near major rivers, or in fertile plains.
  • Very few people live in harsh areas (like deserts, polar regions, or high mountains).

Population Density: This measures the number of people living in a defined area (usually per square kilometre).

  • Example: A city like Tokyo has a very high density.
  • Example: The Australian Outback has a very low density.

Key Term: Overpopulation
Overpopulation occurs when there are too many people relative to the available resources and technology needed to maintain a good standard of living.
It’s not just about the number of people, but the ability of the land to support them.

1.2 Contrasting Growth Patterns (LEDCs vs. MEDCs)

The world’s population growth isn't even. This difference is a core global issue.

In LEDCs (Low-Income Developing Countries):

  • Growth is often high due to high birth rates (often needed for farm labour, lack of contraception, cultural preference).
  • Death rates have fallen rapidly due to better medicine and sanitation (but may still be higher than MEDCs).
  • This results in a high natural increase.
  • Challenge: Pressure on schools, healthcare, and creating enough jobs for the young population.

In MEDCs (High-Income Developed Countries):

  • Growth is often low, zero, or even negative.
  • Birth rates are low (cost of children, women pursuing careers, contraception widely available).
  • Death rates are very low (excellent healthcare, long life expectancy).
  • Challenge: Ageing population and a shrinking workforce (see Section 2).

Quick Takeaway: Where people live and how fast their numbers change creates massive differences in resource demand and economic needs globally.

Section 2: Population Structure and Challenges

2.1 Understanding Population Structure (Pyramids)

A population pyramid is a graph that shows the distribution of a population by age and sex. Geographers use these to predict future needs.

Shape tells the story:

  • Wide base (Triangle): Many young people (typical of LEDCs). Shows high birth rates and rapid growth.
  • Barrel shape: Equal numbers in most age groups (typical of stable, developed countries).
  • Narrow base/wide top: Many older people (typical of ageing MEDCs). Shows low birth rates.

2.2 The Dependency Ratio

This is a crucial concept for understanding economic burden. The dependency ratio compares the proportion of people working (the economically active) versus those who depend on them.

Who are the dependents?

  1. The young dependents (ages 0-14).
  2. The old dependents (ages 65+).

The Global Challenge of Dependence:

  • LEDCs often have high Young Dependency: Huge pressure on education and basic services.
  • MEDCs often have high Old Dependency: Huge pressure on healthcare, pensions, and social care costs.

Did you know? Japan has one of the highest old dependency ratios in the world, forcing them to develop advanced robotic care systems to support the elderly.

Section 3: Migration: The Global Flow of People

3.1 Causes of Migration: Push and Pull Factors

Migration is the movement of people from one place to another with the intention of settling. This is one of the most visible global issues.

We categorize the reasons people move into two groups:

1. PUSH Factors (Reasons to leave the origin area):

  • Poverty and unemployment.
  • Unstable governments or war (refugees).
  • Scarcity of resources (e.g., drought, famine).
  • Harsh environment (natural disasters).

2. PULL Factors (Reasons to be attracted to the destination area):

  • Better job opportunities and higher wages.
  • Political stability and safety.
  • Better quality of life (healthcare, education).
  • Family and friends already there.

3.2 Consequences of International Migration

Migration affects both the source (origin) and host (destination) countries.

Impacts on the Source Country (Where people leave):

  • Benefit: Reduced pressure on resources and jobs.
  • Benefit: Migrants send money home (remittances), boosting the local economy.
  • Cost: Brain Drain – the loss of skilled, young, and educated workers (doctors, engineers).

Impacts on the Host Country (Where people arrive):

  • Benefit: Fills labour shortages (especially low-wage or highly skilled jobs).
  • Benefit: Cultural enrichment and new ideas.
  • Cost: Increased pressure on local infrastructure (schools, transport).
  • Cost: Potential social conflict or tension between different groups.

Quick Takeaway: Migration is driven by inequality between places (Push vs. Pull) and creates massive global flows of people and money (remittances).

Section 4: Communication and Global Interdependence

4.1 The Communication Revolution

The way people communicate has changed dramatically, largely due to Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

ICT includes the internet, mobile phones, satellite communication, and fiber optic cables. These technologies have fundamentally changed geography by making the world smaller—a process called time-space compression.

How ICT drives Globalisation:

  1. Instantaneous Communication: Businesses in New York can instantly communicate with factories in China.
  2. Global Trade: It is easier to track shipments and manage supply chains across continents.
  3. Financial Flows: Money can move across the world at the touch of a button, enabling global investment.
  4. Cultural Diffusion: Ideas, music, fashion, and social trends spread globally almost instantly via social media.

4.2 The Role of Transnational Corporations (TNCs)

TNCs (like Apple, Coca-Cola, or Toyota) are companies that operate in multiple countries. They are the engines of economic globalisation, relying heavily on modern communication.

TNCs and Communication:

  • TNCs use global communication networks to manage complex operations (e.g., locating manufacturing in LEDCs where labour is cheap, and head offices in MEDCs for management).
  • This creates global interdependence, where the economy of one country (e.g., where the factory is located) is dependent on the decisions made in another country (e.g., where the company headquarters is located).

4.3 The Digital Divide (A Core Global Issue)

Despite the amazing advances in ICT, not everyone has access to it. The Digital Divide is the gap between those who have access to modern communication technology and those who do not.

Where the Divide is Visible:

  • Between Countries: MEDCs have nearly 100% internet access; many rural areas in LEDCs have very little or none.
  • Within Countries: Urban areas usually have faster, cheaper internet than remote rural areas.

Why the Divide Matters:

If a community lacks reliable internet, they struggle to access global markets, online education, and up-to-date health information. This reinforces inequality and prevents many LEDCs from fully benefiting from globalisation.

Chapter Summary: Key Takeaways

Population growth and structure create unique challenges (dependency ratio, need for resources).
Migration moves people and money globally, driven by push and pull factors.
Communication (ICT) links the world into a global system (globalisation) but the lack of access (digital divide) is a critical issue reinforcing global inequality.