ZIMSEC A Level · Geography · Form 5
Population change
Natural change = births − deaths; total change also includes net migration. Measures: crude birth and death rates, fertility rate, infant mortality, life expectancy, dependency ratio.
The demographic transition model (DTM)
Stage 1 (high, fluctuating), stage 2 (falling death rate, rapid growth), stage 3 (falling birth rate), stage 4 (low rates), stage 5 (possible decline). Zimbabwe shows features of stages 2–3, with HIV/AIDS affecting mortality from the 1990s.
Population pyramids
Wide bases indicate high fertility; narrowing tops indicate lower life expectancy. Pyramids show dependency and future needs for schools, jobs and health care.
Population theories
Malthus (population outstrips food supply), Boserup (population pressure drives innovation), and the concept of optimum population.
Migration
- Types: internal (rural–urban), international, voluntary and forced (refugees).
- Lee's model: push and pull factors and intervening obstacles.
- Zimbabwe: large emigration to South Africa, Botswana and the UK; remittances support households but brain drain reduces skills in health and education.
Population policies
Family planning (the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council), education of women, and health care.
Check yourself
- Define the dependency ratio.
- State one difference between the views of Malthus and Boserup.
- Give one positive and one negative effect of emigration on Zimbabwe.
Show answers
- (Population aged 0–14 + 65 and over) ÷ population aged 15–64 × 100.
- Malthus saw population outgrowing food leading to crisis; Boserup argued pressure leads to agricultural innovation.
- Positive: remittances; negative: loss of skilled workers (brain drain).
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