Remember: A country's population can be divided into three groups, old dependants, young dependants and economically active.
Old dependents: Anyone over the age of 65. These people are normally retired.
Young dependents: Anyone under the age of 16. These people are normally being cared for at home or are at school.
Economically active: People between the ages of 16 and 65. These people are normally working and pay taxes.
DOWNLOAD THE WORKSHEET BELOW.
Responses to Low Fertility
- Ageing Population -

Objective: Explain dependency and ageing ratios. Analyse the impacts of ageing populations.
Task 1. You have already worked out a dependency ratio in your work from GATW on population pyramids. However, you will need to know what an ageing ratio is. Make a note of it on your worksheet.
Ageing ratio: The proportion of people over the age of 65 compared the total economically active population. This is given as a figure e.g. 35 and would mean for every 100 people, 35 of them would be over 65 years old.
Ageing Ratio = total proportion of population over 65 / total proportion of economically active population (15-64) x 100.
Task 2 - Download this document (PDF). Read through the information on page 1 to get a feel for the global issues surrounding an ageing population. Then use the worksheet to complete all activities set out here.
For some further information on OEDC - Click here
Task 1. You have already worked out a dependency ratio in your work from GATW on population pyramids. However, you will need to know what an ageing ratio is. Make a note of it on your worksheet.
Ageing ratio: The proportion of people over the age of 65 compared the total economically active population. This is given as a figure e.g. 35 and would mean for every 100 people, 35 of them would be over 65 years old.
Ageing Ratio = total proportion of population over 65 / total proportion of economically active population (15-64) x 100.
Task 2 - Download this document (PDF). Read through the information on page 1 to get a feel for the global issues surrounding an ageing population. Then use the worksheet to complete all activities set out here.
For some further information on OEDC - Click here
China also has an ageing population crisis. Watch the video beneath and make some notes on the impacts of this trend. Here is a piece written for the Guardian Newspaper in March 2012 and here a 2012 update from the BBC news website.
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Turn to page 17 of the IB Revision Guide and make notes on the advantages and disadvantages of an ageing population. Alternatively, visit the Greenfield Geography Wiki to find out more.
Click here to be taken to a report on the weird and wonderful methods that different countries have employed to increase birth rates. Make in depth notes on at least two different examples.
Click here to be taken to a report on the weird and wonderful methods that different countries have employed to increase birth rates. Make in depth notes on at least two different examples.
Pod Cast Homework - Family Planning (35 minutes)
Click on the button below to listen to the Guardian Online 35 minute Pod Cast. Take notes on the key themes under discussion.
Key themes: Family planning is notoriously one of the most politicised and divisive areas in development. Yet in July world leaders will descend on London for a global summit to raise "unprecedented political commitment and resources" to increase access to family planning information, services and supplies in developing countries. How has such a taboo topic become a worldwide priority? What is driving this renaissance of interest in family planning? How do you tackle the practical – and political – challenges of expanding access? And what is at stake in these debates?
Key themes: Family planning is notoriously one of the most politicised and divisive areas in development. Yet in July world leaders will descend on London for a global summit to raise "unprecedented political commitment and resources" to increase access to family planning information, services and supplies in developing countries. How has such a taboo topic become a worldwide priority? What is driving this renaissance of interest in family planning? How do you tackle the practical – and political – challenges of expanding access? And what is at stake in these debates?

Guardian Family Planning Podcast | |
File Size: | 34577 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
Responses to High Fertility
Youthful Population

Objective: To analyse the impacts of youthful populations on different countries at different levels of development
Resources - http://www.gapminder.org/
Task 1 - Go to the Gapminder site and click on Gapminder World on the top tab. This will then take you to the graphing homepage.
Select 'Median Age' as the Y axis and 'Children Per Woman (total fertility) as the X axis.
One by one, select by ticking the following countries from the list on the right hand side:
1. China
2. France
3. India
4. Niger
Task 2 - Start the graph rolling and watch the progress of the each of the highlighted countries. At the end, use the slider bar underneath the list of countries to increase the opacity of the non selected countries. This should leave the trail of each of the four countries clear. Take a screen shot of the final graph, crop and copy it onto a 'Word Document'. Copy and paste the following questions and then answer underneath: (You may want to rewind and pause the animation for clarity)
1. Describe the overall trend both for India and China (2)
2. China experienced a 'Baby Boom' during which period? (1)
3. State the years when the fertility rate went into steep decline in both China and India. (1)
4. During which decade did fertility stabilize in China & India? (1)
5. To what extent has the introduction of the One Child Policy, in China in 1979, had on the
'Fertility Rate' and the overall medican age of the country? Explain your statement. (4)
6. Do you think that India should consider an anti natalist policy (reducing the fertility rate) in the
future to combat its youthful population? Include values from the graph to back-up your claims. (3)
7. Compare and contrast the trends of France and Niger and suggest reasons for the similarities
and differences. Do these countries suffer from a youthful population crisis? (5)
8. Look at the trail left by Niger. Compare 'Fertility Rate' and total number of '0-4 Year Old's' over
this sixty year period and the situation in 2014. How would you summarise the plight of Niger? (5)
Task 3 - Turn to page 17 of the IB Revision Guide and make notes on the advantages and disadvantages of a youthful population on affected countries (or use the table below the video)
Task 4 - Use the embedded map below to find areas of the world that have youthful populations. Note that Niger is highlighted as having a youthful population. Click here to access an article that examines the issues faced by the country. Print out and highlight.
Homework - Click here to access an IB standard essay on youthful and ageing populations. Read and highlight this work carefully and use the IB mark scheme to grade this work out of 15.
Resources - http://www.gapminder.org/
Task 1 - Go to the Gapminder site and click on Gapminder World on the top tab. This will then take you to the graphing homepage.
Select 'Median Age' as the Y axis and 'Children Per Woman (total fertility) as the X axis.
One by one, select by ticking the following countries from the list on the right hand side:
1. China
2. France
3. India
4. Niger
Task 2 - Start the graph rolling and watch the progress of the each of the highlighted countries. At the end, use the slider bar underneath the list of countries to increase the opacity of the non selected countries. This should leave the trail of each of the four countries clear. Take a screen shot of the final graph, crop and copy it onto a 'Word Document'. Copy and paste the following questions and then answer underneath: (You may want to rewind and pause the animation for clarity)
1. Describe the overall trend both for India and China (2)
2. China experienced a 'Baby Boom' during which period? (1)
3. State the years when the fertility rate went into steep decline in both China and India. (1)
4. During which decade did fertility stabilize in China & India? (1)
5. To what extent has the introduction of the One Child Policy, in China in 1979, had on the
'Fertility Rate' and the overall medican age of the country? Explain your statement. (4)
6. Do you think that India should consider an anti natalist policy (reducing the fertility rate) in the
future to combat its youthful population? Include values from the graph to back-up your claims. (3)
7. Compare and contrast the trends of France and Niger and suggest reasons for the similarities
and differences. Do these countries suffer from a youthful population crisis? (5)
8. Look at the trail left by Niger. Compare 'Fertility Rate' and total number of '0-4 Year Old's' over
this sixty year period and the situation in 2014. How would you summarise the plight of Niger? (5)
Task 3 - Turn to page 17 of the IB Revision Guide and make notes on the advantages and disadvantages of a youthful population on affected countries (or use the table below the video)
Task 4 - Use the embedded map below to find areas of the world that have youthful populations. Note that Niger is highlighted as having a youthful population. Click here to access an article that examines the issues faced by the country. Print out and highlight.
Homework - Click here to access an IB standard essay on youthful and ageing populations. Read and highlight this work carefully and use the IB mark scheme to grade this work out of 15.
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Pro Natalist Policy - France
Objective: To evaluate the pro-natalist policy of our country of residence - France.
Definition: Pro Natalist Policy - A policy which aims to encourage more births through the use of incentives. In most developed countries, the decline in fertility and the increase in life length has raised three concerns:
Starter: Read this 2015 Guardian report on the current pro-natalist government policy and its impacts in France. Then complete the questions on this slide. Task 1: Study the embedded presentation to the right. Make comprehensive notes under the following titles: 1. History of pro-natalism in France since 1939 2. Incentives offered by the French government. 3. Problems of temporary baby booming later. 4. Impact of immigration upon the fertility rate. Task 2 - Watch the video to the right & read and then print out and highlight this 2006 article on the French pro-natalist policy. Keep this information with the notes that you have taken above. Task 3 - Find out the most recent figures for the following population indicators: Birth Rate Death Rate Fertility Rate Net Migration Rate Population Growth Rate Task 4 - You are going to complete the 'Report Preparation Exercise' on GATW (subscription required). Click here to be taken to the work and your exam practice worksheet is here. Additional news reports are here |
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IB Examiner Task - Click on the document below to download a copy of an A-level essay on the French pro natalist policy. Use the IB mark scheme here to give the essay a grade out of a maximum of 15 marks.

Pro Natalist Essay - France | |
File Size: | 17 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Anti Natalist Policy - There Can Be Only two!
Anti Natalist Policy - China

Objective: To evaluate the relative successes and limitations of an anti-natalist policy using Brainy Box.
Task 1 - Open a new Brainy Box. Use the what, when, where, why & how format from here (GATW) to add to your Brainy Box as follows:
Side 1 - What & When?
Side 2 - Where & Why? (map needed)
Side 3 - How? (quite a lot to include here a propaganda posters)
Task 2 - Using the weblinks and YouTube videos on the GATW site, bullet point as much information as possible as follows:
Side 4 - Advantages of the OCP
Side 5 - Disadvantages of the OCP (you may want to check out this October 2013 news report from Sky News & this report from BBC in January 2014)
Task 3 - One minute rant. Using the school video cameras, write and then record a 30 second 'rant' on your thoughts on the future of the OCP. You must take one of the following two sides:
a - Pro - Love & Keep the OCP
b - Against - Hate & Ditch the OCP
Structure:
1. "My choice is ...." - Give your chosen opinion
2. "This is the only way because....." - State three good reasons to back up your choice
3. "To worst things about keep/ditch is...." - State four good reasons why the other choice has been bad
4. "To be fair.... " - Choose one disadvantage of your option
5. "So all in all" - Conclude
The more passionate and factual, the better. Please upload your video to your school YouTube account and then embed as follows:
Side 6 - Embedded YouTube Rant Video (with a title explaining your position on the OCP)
Task 4 - Send you embed code to your teacher who will add your OCP Brainy Box to the school website.
The situation in India
“Government attempts to control population growth are ineffective.” Discuss this statement. [15 Marks]
Task 1 - Open a new Brainy Box. Use the what, when, where, why & how format from here (GATW) to add to your Brainy Box as follows:
Side 1 - What & When?
Side 2 - Where & Why? (map needed)
Side 3 - How? (quite a lot to include here a propaganda posters)
Task 2 - Using the weblinks and YouTube videos on the GATW site, bullet point as much information as possible as follows:
Side 4 - Advantages of the OCP
Side 5 - Disadvantages of the OCP (you may want to check out this October 2013 news report from Sky News & this report from BBC in January 2014)
Task 3 - One minute rant. Using the school video cameras, write and then record a 30 second 'rant' on your thoughts on the future of the OCP. You must take one of the following two sides:
a - Pro - Love & Keep the OCP
b - Against - Hate & Ditch the OCP
Structure:
1. "My choice is ...." - Give your chosen opinion
2. "This is the only way because....." - State three good reasons to back up your choice
3. "To worst things about keep/ditch is...." - State four good reasons why the other choice has been bad
4. "To be fair.... " - Choose one disadvantage of your option
5. "So all in all" - Conclude
The more passionate and factual, the better. Please upload your video to your school YouTube account and then embed as follows:
Side 6 - Embedded YouTube Rant Video (with a title explaining your position on the OCP)
Task 4 - Send you embed code to your teacher who will add your OCP Brainy Box to the school website.
The situation in India
- Click here to read a recent BBC news article on an Indian anti-natalist scheme. Print out a copy of this article and use a highlighter pen to pick out the key areas of the scheme
- Click here to study a PowerPoint presentation created by a fellow IB Students.
“Government attempts to control population growth are ineffective.” Discuss this statement. [15 Marks]