What you'll learn
How populations change and how settlements grow.
Population change
- Birth rate and death rate (per 1,000 per year); natural increase = birth rate − death rate.
- The Demographic Transition Model (DTM) shows how rates change with development across five stages.
- Population pyramids show age–sex structure; the dependency ratio compares dependants with the working population.
- Causes and impacts of over- and under-population and ageing populations.
Migration and settlement
- Migration: push and pull factors; internal vs international; impacts on source and host areas.
- Settlement: site and situation factors; hierarchy and sphere of influence.
- Urbanisation and the growth of informal settlements in LEDCs.
Exam tips
- Use case studies (a named country) with specific figures.
- Learn the DTM stages and what each shows.
Common mistakes
- Confusing birth/death rate with total numbers.
- Vague answers with no named example.