Edexcel GCSE Geography B (1GB0) — Development Dynamics
You might assume that wealthier countries have the largest families, but the exact opposite is true across the globe. helps geographers understand how a country's population size, growth, and structure change as its economy develops.
Lower-Income Countries (LICs) typically have a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita below $1,035, while High-Income Countries (HICs) earn above $12,535. These economic differences heavily influence a country's . In LICs, are high because families rely on children for farm labour, whereas HICs generally have low that fall below the of 2.1.
Demographic development is measured using several key rates. The and show the number of births or deaths per 1,000 people per year. The difference between these two figures is the . As countries develop, improving healthcare and sanitation rapidly increase .
The is often considered a more accurate measure of quality of life than GNI. Because IMR is highly sensitive to the quality of local healthcare, nutrition, and water sanitation, it drops significantly as a country develops.
A developing nation records 14,000 live births in a year. During that same year, 560 infants die before reaching their first birthday. Calculate the Infant Mortality Rate.
Step 1: State the formula.
Step 2: Substitute the values into the equation.
Step 3: Calculate the final answer.
Understanding population growth explains why some nations face overcrowded primary schools while others are closing them down. The is a theoretical framework showing how birth and death rates change over time as a country becomes more economically developed.
A single graph can reveal a country's past wars, current healthcare quality, and future economic struggles. A is a bar chart showing the age and sex distribution of a population, usually grouped into five-year cohorts.
In LICs, the pyramid has a wide base (showing high birth rates) and concave sides (showing high death rates across all ages), tapering to a narrow apex. In NEEs, the shape turns into a "beehive" or barrel; the base narrows as birth rates fall, and the sides become convex because improved healthcare helps middle cohorts survive.
HICs feature an "inverted" or column-like pyramid with a narrow base and a wide top, reflecting a high proportion of elderly people. Pyramids can also highlight anomalies, such as the UAE's massive bulge of working-age males caused by economic migration for the oil and construction industries.
Even within a single HIC like the UK, structures vary. Urban cores (like London) have younger average populations, while rural peripheries (like coastal retirement towns) feature much older populations.
Every time a worker receives their pay, a portion of their taxes goes towards supporting those who cannot work. This economic pressure is measured by the , which calculates the burden placed on the productive population.
Populations are divided into three groups: (aged 0–14), the (aged 15–64), and (aged 65+). LICs face severe youthful dependency, straining educational resources and immunisation programmes. HICs face heavy old-age dependency, meaning fewer workers must pay higher taxes to fund increasing pension and geriatric care costs.
NEEs often benefit from a "demographic dividend". As their birth rates fall, youthful dependency shrinks while the population remains very large, providing a massive boost to the workforce.
A country's population data shows that 32% of people are under 15 years old, 14% are over 65 years old, and 54% are between 15 and 64 years old. Calculate the .
Step 1: State the formula.
Step 2: Substitute the percentage values into the equation.
Step 3: Perform the addition on the top line.
Step 4: Calculate the final ratio.
Students often state that LICs have 'no' elderly people. This is incorrect; they just have a very small proportion of elderly people compared to their total population.
When tackling the command word 'Analyse' for demographic data, you must explicitly link the statistics to their underlying causes, such as explaining how a falling birth rate is driven by increased female education.
Always check the horizontal axis of a population pyramid in the exam resource booklet to see whether it is showing raw numbers (e.g., millions) or percentages (%) before you quote data.
Do NOT confuse the Demographic 'Dependency Ratio' (which measures age cohorts) with Frank's economic 'Dependency Theory' (which explains how core countries exploit peripheral countries).
In dependency ratio calculations, showing the correct addition of the two dependent groups often earns you 1 mark, even if your final division goes wrong.
Demographic Data
Information about population characteristics, such as size, growth, density, and distribution.
Fertility Rate
The average number of children born to a woman during her lifetime.
Replacement Level
The fertility rate required to maintain a stable population size without migration, typically generally 2.1 children per woman.
Birth Rate (BR)
The number of live births per 1,000 people in a population per year.
Death Rate (DR)
The number of deaths per 1,000 people in a population per year.
Natural Increase/Decrease
The difference between the birth rate and the death rate, showing whether a population is naturally growing or shrinking.
Life Expectancy
The average number of years a person is expected to live from birth.
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)
The number of children who die before their first birthday, per 1,000 live births per year.
Demographic Transition Model (DTM)
A theoretical framework showing how birth and death rates change over time as a country develops economically.
Population Pyramid
An age-sex graph showing the distribution of a population across different age cohorts.
Dependency Ratio
The ratio between the non-working dependent population and the economically active working-age population.
Young Dependents
The segment of the population aged 0 to 14 years old who rely on the working population for support.
Economically Active
The working-age segment of the population, typically defined as those aged 15 to 64 years old.
Old Dependents
The segment of the population aged 65 and over who are typically retired and rely on pensions or the working population for support.
Put your knowledge into practice — try past paper questions for Geography B
Demographic Data
Information about population characteristics, such as size, growth, density, and distribution.
Fertility Rate
The average number of children born to a woman during her lifetime.
Replacement Level
The fertility rate required to maintain a stable population size without migration, typically generally 2.1 children per woman.
Birth Rate (BR)
The number of live births per 1,000 people in a population per year.
Death Rate (DR)
The number of deaths per 1,000 people in a population per year.
Natural Increase/Decrease
The difference between the birth rate and the death rate, showing whether a population is naturally growing or shrinking.
Life Expectancy
The average number of years a person is expected to live from birth.
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)
The number of children who die before their first birthday, per 1,000 live births per year.
Demographic Transition Model (DTM)
A theoretical framework showing how birth and death rates change over time as a country develops economically.
Population Pyramid
An age-sex graph showing the distribution of a population across different age cohorts.
Dependency Ratio
The ratio between the non-working dependent population and the economically active working-age population.
Young Dependents
The segment of the population aged 0 to 14 years old who rely on the working population for support.
Economically Active
The working-age segment of the population, typically defined as those aged 15 to 64 years old.
Old Dependents
The segment of the population aged 65 and over who are typically retired and rely on pensions or the working population for support.
