Population Dynamics and Settlements: A Comprehensive Study

Population Dynamics

Natural Population Change

Natural population change refers to increases and decreases in population produced by biological factors.

Migration

Migration involves a change of residence and job. It can be internal or external.

Population Structure

Population structure is the classification of population based on different criteria.

Population Density

Population density is the relation between the population and the size of the area it occupies.

Natality

Natality is the number of births that take place in a population over a year.

Mortality

Mortality is the number of deaths that take place in a population over a year.

Natural Increase

Natural increase is the number of births minus the number of deaths.

Emigration

Emigration is people leaving their own region or country.

Immigration

Immigration is people arriving from another region or country.

Employment and Unemployment

Employed

Employed people are of working age with a paid job.

Unemployed

Unemployed people are of working age without a paid job but want one.

Retired

Retired people have stopped working, usually because of age or illness.

Commuting

Commuting is regular movement between the place a person lives and their place of work.

Population Metrics

Infant Mortality Rate

Infant mortality rate is the number of deaths of babies under 1 year of age per 1,000 live births.

Population Pyramid

A population pyramid is a graph that shows population structure by age and sex at a given time and place.

Labor Force

The labor force comprises people who are employed or unemployed but are looking for work.

Unemployment Rate

The unemployment rate is the proportion of people who are unemployed and looking for a paid job out of the total population.

Settlement Patterns

Rural Settlement

A rural settlement is a type of settlement in which people live in villages or in isolated houses in the countryside.

Urban Settlement

An urban settlement is a type of settlement in which people live in towns and cities.

Situation

Situation refers to a city's position in relation to other places.

Plan

A plan is a graphic representation of the distribution of built-up areas and open spaces.

Hamlet

A hamlet is a rural settlement smaller than a village.

Linear Village

A linear village has houses located on both sides of a transport line.

Nucleated Village

A nucleated village has houses built around a central point.

Agrotown

An agrotown is a town with more than 10,000 inhabitants.

Dispersed Settlement

In a dispersed settlement, the population lives in separate houses.

Nucleated Settlement

In a nucleated settlement, the population lives in villages.

Interspersed Settlement

An interspersed settlement has isolated buildings between villages.

Metropolitan Area

A metropolitan area is an urban area comprising a main city and other smaller nearby urban nuclei.

Conurbation

A conurbation is a large, almost continuous urban area formed by two or more neighboring cities joining.

Megalopolis

A megalopolis is a very large urban area formed by several conurbations joining.

Urban Characteristics

Outskirts

Outskirts are the parts of the city that are away from the center.

Historic Center

The historic center is the oldest part of a city, generally formed by old buildings and narrow streets.

Industrial Park

An industrial park is an industrial area on the outskirts of a city with factories, mostly for light industry.

Dormitory Town

A dormitory town is mostly inhabited by commuters.

Rush Hour

Rush hour is the time of day with the most traffic.

Caserio

A caserio is an isolated rural home or farm with additional buildings.

Services

Services are economic activities that don't produce goods but provide services to meet the needs of the population.