What is the main reason the human population grew so fast?

The death rate fell while the birth rate stayed high.

How has better medicine increased population growth?

Vaccines and antibiotics mean fewer people die from disease, so more survive to adulthood.

How has better food supply increased population growth?

Improved farming gives more food, so fewer people die from starvation.

Why does clean water help the population grow?

It reduces the spread of waterborne diseases, so the death rate falls.

Name four resources that a growing population uses more of.

Food, water, energy (fuels) and raw materials.

What is a non-renewable resource?

A resource that will run out because it cannot be replaced quickly, e.g. coal.

Why does a growing population need more land?

For housing, farming, industry and roads.

What is deforestation?

The clearing of forests, usually for farming or building.

What is a result of habitat loss?

Reduced biodiversity, as wildlife loses its home.

Name three types of waste produced by people.

Household waste, sewage and industrial waste (also plastics).

Why is untreated sewage a problem?

It can pollute rivers and seas and spread disease.

Human population growthIB MYP Biology: Flashcards

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When does a population grow?

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When does a population grow?: When births (and immigration) exceed deaths (and emigration).
What is the main reason the human population grew so fast?: The death rate fell while the birth rate stayed high.
How has better medicine increased population growth?: Vaccines and antibiotics mean fewer people die from disease, so more survive to adulthood.
How has better food supply increased population growth?: Improved farming gives more food, so fewer people die from starvation.
Why does clean water help the population grow?: It reduces the spread of waterborne diseases, so the death rate falls.
Name four resources that a growing population uses more of.: Food, water, energy (fuels) and raw materials.
What is a non-renewable resource?: A resource that will run out because it cannot be replaced quickly, e.g. coal.
Why does a growing population need more land?: For housing, farming, industry and roads.
What is deforestation?: The clearing of forests, usually for farming or building.
What is a result of habitat loss?: Reduced biodiversity, as wildlife loses its home.
Name three types of waste produced by people.: Household waste, sewage and industrial waste (also plastics).
Why is untreated sewage a problem?: It can pollute rivers and seas and spread disease.

Exam questions on Human population growth

A country in South-East Asia introduced free vaccination for children, clean piped water and better farming methods in the 1960s. Its death rate fell quickly, but its birth rate stayed high for several decades. The population doubled in about 40 years.
Explain how the vaccination programme helped the population to grow.2 marks
A coastal city in Vietnam grew from 1 million to 4 million people in 40 years. Mangrove forests and farmland around the city were cleared to build housing and factories. The city now produces much more household waste and uses far more water from the local river.
Explain why the growing population puts pressure on the city's water supply.2 marks
Demographers estimate that the world's human population was about 1 billion in 1800, about 2.5 billion in 1950 and about 8 billion in 2022.
Describe how the rate of growth of the world's human population has changed.3 marks

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Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).