IGCSE CASE STUDIES 2020

POPULATION DYNAMICS
• A COUNTRY WHICH IS OVERPOPULATED: BANGLADESH.
• Location and background:
With a total population of 164.7 million to its area of 147,570 km2 , Bangladesh is the
world’s 8th most overpopulated country. It has around 1,300 people per km2 .
Its population is equally spread throughout the country.
• Reasons for overpopulation:
Human reasons: The average monthly earning for somebody living in Bangladesh is $150
compared to $3,500 for the people living in the United States.
Most people cannot afford to move out of the country.
Physical reasons: Bangladesh has the world’s best agricultural land. People working in the
farming industry profit a lot from it.
• Effects: food shortages, traffic congestion, unemployment, health problem and
environmental problems.
• Solutions:
The government introduced birth control solutions in the 1980s, ever since, there is some
slowdown in birth rate.
The fertility rate dropped from 6.4 In 1980 to 2.10 in 2016.

• A COUNTRY WHICH IS UNDERPOPULATED: AUSTRALIA.

• Location and background:
With a total population of only 24.6 million people, a country size of 7.69 million km2 and a
population distribution of 3.1 people per km2 , Australia is the 7th most underpopulated
country in the world.
It is a very rich country in resources; it has a large reserve of iron ore, coal, gold, copper,
natural gas and uranium.
The population mostly live towards the coasts of the island, mainly South West and South
East.
• Causes for underpopulation:
Most of the island is made up of a desert, with a maximum temperature of 48.8 °C, and not
all people are suited for this kind of weather.
Not many people have migrated to Australia since its independence in 1901.
• Effects:
Shortage of food and its production o Shortage of labours
Not possible to exploit all the resources in the country
Less people paying tax
Schools and hospitals might close because there are not enough people supporting them
Public transport links might be closed because there are not enough customers o Hard to
defend country
• Solutions:
Government had made it easier for migrants to come into the country and get the
nationality.
Improved healthcare.
• A COUNTRY WITH A HIGH RATE OF NATURAL POPULATION GROWTH: CHINA (PRO-
NATALIST).
• Location and Background:
In 1979, the population of China was 1 billion. It was estimated that by 2025, the
population will reach 1.8 billion.
 Traditionally in rural China, couples had large numbers of children to help on farmland and
look after them when they are older.
Worry over the lack of resources to support large population
As a solution, China introduced the “One Child Policy” in hopes that the population would be
limited to 1.2 billion in 2025 instead of 1.8 billion.
• Solutions:
Fines were introduced, and in worse case scenarios, forced abortions and sterilization took
place. Incentives included pensions, healthcare and priority housing.
• Incentives:
Traditionally, boys were more valued than girls. Couples aborted or abandoned female
babies, so they could try again for a boy. There is an uneven gender balance. This means not
all the males will find a Chinese bride.
Girls traditionally looked after the elderly. Less girls being born with more girls going to work
means the elderly are sometimes neglected.
This led to the policy allowing couples to try again if their first baby turned out to be a girl. •
Has it worked?
While China’s population is now rising more slowly, it still has a very large total population
(1.3 billion in 2008) and China faces new problems, including: falling birth rate – leading to a
rise in the relative number of elderly people.

• A COUNTRY WITH A LOW RATE OF POPULATION GROWTH (OR POPULATION DECLINE):

JAPAN (ANTI-NATALIST)
• Location and background:
Japan is located in East Asia. o Japan has the largest proportion of over 65s of any other
country (23%) and this is expected to rise to 30% by 2030. This is causing difficulties as the
number of working people declines.
• Causes:
Japan has a good healthcare provision leading to people living longer. o Women getting
married later causing a lower birthrate.
It is very expensive to bring up children in Japan (e.g. university fees).
• Problems:
Difficult to fund people’s pensions.
Healthcare provisions are becoming stressed due to the number of elderly people.
Will not be enough working populationto fill all the jobs available.
• Solutions:
The government is considering providing tax incentives to families and providing more
childcare facilities.
A promotion on social and cultural change to make motherhood more attractive. o Labour
shortage could be solved by migrant workers.
Japan is investing heavily in robotics to solve its labour shortages. 1.2 Migration

• AN INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION: MEXICO TO THE USA

• Location and background:
There is a 2000 km border between USA and Mexico.
Over 1 million Mexicans migrate to the USA every year. As a result, the US Border Patrol
guards the border and tries to stop illegal immigrants. In 2006, 850,000 were caught and
deported back to Mexico.
• Push Factors:
Poor medical facilities with 1800 patients per doctor.
Low paid jobs (GNP is $3750)
The adult literacy rates are only 55% - poor education prospects.
 Life expectancy is 72 years.
40% of Mexicans are unemployed
• Pull factors:
Excellent medical facilities with 400 patients per doctor.
Well paid jobs (GNP is $24,750).
Adult literacy rates are 99% - good education prospects.
Life expectancy is 76 years.
Many jobs available for low paid workers such as Mexicans.
• Effects on USA:
Illegal migration costs the USA millions of dollars for border patrols and prisons.
Mexicans are seen as a drain on the USA economy
Businesses give migrant workers low wages which affects Americans that might in return
receive lower wages.
They cause problems in cities due to cultural and racial issues.
• Effects on Mexico:
The Mexican countryside has a shortage of economically active people.
Young people tend to migrate leaving the old and very young.
Legal and illegal immigrants together send $6 billion a year back to Mexico which can go
through taxes. 1.3 Population structure

• A COUNTRY WITH A HIGH DEPENDENT POPULATION: UGANDA

• Location and background:
Uganda is located in East Africa, with a land area of 197,100 km2 and a population of 42.86
million.
It has the world’s youngest population with over 78% of its population below the age of 30.
• Causes:
The birth rate in Uganda is very high as parents are having more children.
Parents have more children to use as economic producers / help in their jobs (agriculture) o
The infant mortality rate in Uganda is high (45.1 in 2012) so parents have more just in case. o
There is a lack of contraception that helps protect against pregnancy.
• Effects:
A lot of money has to be spent on healthcare as there are more births, more vaccinations
used and children being ill.
The GDP will increase as there would be a larger workforce in the long term and no laws on
child labour.
As there are more kids, more of them would need to be educated, there would be more
money spent on education.
Population density and distribution
• A DENSELY POPULATED COUNTRY OR AREA (AT ANY SCALE FROM LOCAL TO REGIONAL):
JAPAN
• Location and background:
Japan is located in East Asia. o It had a population of 130 million and a population density of
336 people per km2 in 2015
• Causes:
Sparsely populated rural areas: Very few people live on the mountainous slopes in the
centre of Honshu island and the south of Shikoku island, mainly because of the lack of flat
land, acidic soils and extreme climate.
Densely populated rural areas: many people live on the flat valleys and gentle slopes of
Honshu and Kyushu islands because they have flat land with mild winters, good service
provisions such as universities and technologically advanced hospitals and healthcare
facilities.
• Effects: o Lack of jobs in areas due to the dense of population.
Some people are forced to move out of their city / area.
• A SPARSELY POPULATED COUNTRY OR AREA (AT ANY SCALE FROM LOCAL TO
REGIONAL): CANADA
• Location and background:
It is located in the northern part of North America.
It has a population of 37 million in 2018 compared to its land area of 9.985 million km2
It has a population density of 2.7 per km2 in 2011 which makes it a sparsely populated
country.
• Causes:
Many mountainous areas e.g. Canadian Rockies close to the west coast
Permafrost in the northern areas (high altitudes) so land is too cold for work or agriculture.
Snow and ice make transport difficult especially in less developed areas (e.g. the inner
provinces of Canada).
Most of the population of Canada is clustered in the southern areas because the cold arctic
climate makes cultivation impossible and better to live in cooler areas.
Also, people live in the Eastern areas since the West has mountainous areas that are too
steep to farm on easily and challenging for construction and transport.
• Effects:
Areas with lower population are not economically active / do not have recent technology. o
People in the areas with high population eventually have to move out of the country / area
due to job unavailability.

SETTLEMENTS (RURAL AND URBAN) AND SERVICE PROVISION

• SETTLEMENT AND SERVICE PROVISION IN AN AREA: BRAUNSCHWEIG, GERMANY
• location and background:
Braunschweig is a city in north-central Germany.
It is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany.
It has a population of around 250,000 inhabitants. The majority living in city of
Braunschweig (urban).
Braunschweig has a land area of 192.1 km2 , with a population density of 10.5 people per
km2 compared to Germany’s 3.7 people per km2
• Causes:
It has the best provision of services:
▪ More than 20 schools ▪ 5 hospitals
▪ Dense network of public transport which includes busses, trains and trams.
▪ In contrast to Querum which is a village also of the district of Braunschweig, which has a
population of around 6,000 with only 1 surgery doctor and 1 primary school, as it does not
have the threshold population to support higher order services.
• Effects:
This has led to more migrants to Braunschweig as there is easier transport and good
universities / education for children, which could lead to higher population density.

URBAN SETTLEMENTS
• AN URBAN AREA OR URBAN AREAS: CONGESTION IN LONDON
• Causes:
Increased car ownership o Expensive public transport
Roads designed not for cars but for people e.g. walking lanes.
Population growth and rural-urban migration
• Effects:
 Social: Increased respiratory problems, more cars on roads increase frequency of accidents,
more traffic jams increase road rage phenomena.
Environmental: More vehicles on roads increase all sorts of pollution which could harm the
plants and animals around.
Economic problems: The government has to think and invest in new road plans which could
cost them millions
• Solutions:
The government had made a charge for drivers at a fixed rate of £11.50 when driving into
Central Londonwhich can slow and limit the number of cars travelling across cities / areas 1.
Urbanisation
• A RAPIDLY GROWING URBAN AREA IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY AND MIGRATION TO IT:
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
• location and background:
Rio is in the south-east coast of Brazil.
It had a population of 6.9 million in 1960 but it now stands at 13.4 million in 2019
• Push factors:
High infant mortality due to lack of clean water, electricity, sewerage and medical care o
Housing in rural areas is even worse than in the city.
Lack of schools, shops, etc.
• Pull factors:
Better job prospects and higher wages in the city.
More schools, doctors and other services in the city.
Successful migrants encourage people to join large corporations located in city.
• Effect of urbanisation:
Housing pressure have caused growth of Favelas e.g. Rocinha.
Transport problems – congestion and pollution o Sanitation and Health (sewage, waste
disposal, disease)
Increased demand for services (schools and hospitals)
Social problems (crime: Rio murder capital of the world)
Shanty towns are built on unstable land of poor materials – risk of landslides & fires
• Management:
Within the Favelas, the government has assisted people in improving their homes. Breeze
blocks and other materials were given as long as people updated their homes.
The government also moved a lot of people out of shanty towns into low coast, basic
housing estates with plumbing, electricity and transport links.
However, the waiting list for these properties was huge.
Community policing has been encouraged with greater links between the police and the
local communities and businesses, but drug gangs still pose a huge problem.

FOOD PRODUCTION
• A FARM OR AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM: RICE FARMING AT DAMBULLA, SRI LANKA
• Inputs:
Small land of 2 hectares.
Flat land due to being on the River Mahaweli.
Uses oxen manure as fertiliser.
No machinery or physical labour from children as they go to school unlike neighbouring
farmers in other industries.
Rich clay / loam soils.
Rainfall (about 1,000mm)
Temperature (about 28 °C)
• Processes: o
Ploughing of the oxen.
Picking bananas e.g. in the Jathika forest.
Planting rice, sweet potatoes, manioc, chillies and cabbages.
Rice is grown in flooded fields
• Outputs: Cabbage , Chillies ,Bananas , Sweet potatoes ,Rice and Manioc
• Income is made by hiring out oxen for £1 a day and selling fruits made (20 bananas for
25p).
• A COUNTRY OR REGION SUFFERING FROM FOOD SHORTAGES: SOUTH SUDAN
• Location and background:
Landlocked country in East-Central Africa. The country split from Sudan in 2011.
Has a population of 12.6 million and a population density of 22 per km2 .
• Seriousness of the food shortage:
4 million (40% of the population) short of food.
70,000 died from hunger and diseases during the civil war.
Aid workers stopped WFA assistance as it was too dangerous.
• Physical factors i.e. Drought and soil degradation:
Long-term decline of rainfall.
Increased use of marginal land leading to degradation.
Drought is the main reason as it lies 15° North of the equator.
Pests and bad weather failed crops.
Diseased water - cholera and typhoid contracted
Prolonged drought means poor ground, with inflation of food prices.
• Social factors i.e. poor health and population growth:
High population growth – 3% a year worsens marginal land.
High population can lead to overgrazing and land erosion.
Female illiteracy of 65%
• Economic factors: o Imports from Uganda that is expensive.
High military spending of $1 billion.
Limited access to buy food or infrastructure to distribute it due to the 50-year civil war.
High dependency on farming for income (70% of the workforce).
• Solutions to the food shortage:
UN food programme delivers food.
Red cross Emergency relief air drops food.
FAO Project that rehabilitates those flooded on the malarial river and improves watermelon
growth along the river Nile. It also holds camps teaching women fish preservation even using
bones to create soup.

INDUSTRY
• AN INDUSTRIAL ZONE OR FACTORY: INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS ZONE,
BENGALURU, INDIA.
• Location and background: o Located in the South-East of India
Has a wet season monsoon with tropical savannah climate.
Generally flat land, especially at west at the Mysore Plateau.
Temperatures are between 16 °C in the winter and 36°C in the summer.
Population of 9.6 million, increased four times in the last 30 years.
• How factors have influenced location:
It is close to the airport (51 km). o Only 1 km away from a train station.
500 nearby ICT companies such as Siemens.
• How factors have influenced scale of production:
Very flat land o Received large-scale foreign investment in high technology when Texas
Instruments chose the city. O
Cheaper labour means quick expansion was enabled from foreign outsourcing companies.
• Benefits of the growth of Bengaluru’s industry:
Increasing employing rate (10% annually) in these technological centres as India is attractive
due to cheap labour and tax breaks.
More jobs are being created due to outsourcing improving wealth (13.6% increase yearly).
Built new skyscrapers e.g. UB Tower 120m tall, that led to an increase in demand in
apartments.
• Negatives of the growth of Bengaluru’s industry:
60% population increase in the last decade mainly from countryside to the city.
5 million vehicles block roads and cause traffic jams due to its poorly laid roads.
Large garbage problem – generates 3,000 tonnes of solid waste but only a third is
composted and recycled.
Clean sanitation water isn’t completely in place as 43% live in multidimensional poverty.

TOURISM • AN AREA WHERE TOURISM IS IMPORTANT: JAMAICA

• Location and background:
Jamaica is a Caribbean island nation
3 rd largest island in the Caribbean o Has a population of 2.89 million.
Population density of 266.9 people per km2 .
• Attraction to tourists: o Climate: hot, average of 25 °C, 7 hours a day and an average of 10
hours of sunlight a day.
Accessibility: Plenty of airport airline flights from around the world.
Diving and a 7-mile-long beach (Negril Bay)
Cockpit caves o The large biodiversity
Blue Mountains in the East of Jamaica
• Economic impacts from tourism in Jamaica:
GDP: 24% relies on the income of the total GDP. Tourists spend $2.2 billion a year.
Employment: Creates new jobs in the tourism industry; employment of 90,000 people.
Infrastructure and services where local farms sell products such as coffee, sugar, citrus and
coconuts. Allows funding of social projects e.g. education. Helps develop roads and
telecommunications.
• Disadvantages of tourism in Jamaica:
Social: Inappropriate behaviour of tourists e.g. littering. Heavy use of resources by tourists.
Loss of heritage and tradition.
Economic: Heavy consumption by tourists. Locals have low-paid jobs whereas managers
have high-paid ones but are expats.
• Management of tourism:
Building national parks and museums with entry fees for profit e.g. the Negril Marine Park.
Ecotourism such as landscaping in Montego Bay to make it more attractive.