japan- can be applied
to population change
or differences in
longevity
general facts
japan has the lowest
birth an fertility
rate
birth rate = the total
number of live births per
100 of a pop per year
fertility rate = the average number
of children born per woman if all
woman live throught their child
bearing age.
in 2014 the pop = 127.9
million and a pop density of
337 per km2
physical
environment - it
influence on the
pop size and
distribution
japan = surrounded by mountains that
consist of many islands, such as
HONSHU, HOKKAIDO and KYUSHU -
island contain lots of fertile soils and
costal plains = most of the pop is
concentrated here
70% of the land =
mountains = urban
areas are v densely
populated
relief is early overcome by
terracing the land
has mainly a temperate climate
ranges from cold long winters in
HOKKAIDO to subtropical
(mean temp of 17 degrees) in
OKINAWA
Has 4 seasons, mild winters and hot humid summers
- typhoons hit the country every year during late
summer.
japan lies on many continental plates so
experiences lost of hazards e.g
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
the volcanic activist combined with the temperate
climate = allows intensive agriculture = pop grew
and thrived despite the hazards
the archipelagic nature of japan = allows a
fishing industry = food for the pop
has few fossil fuel reserves - relied on other
countries e.g korea to support the growing
pop and industry
triggered the second world
war
demography and culture
culture
tradition and paternalistic -
expects loyalty and hard working
people
largest economy in the world -
rose national income of
us$48,324 per year
stereotyped that men
are the main money
earners, but post
industrial well
educated females =
very important
potential lead to the
decrease in both rates
because the appeal of
children decreased.
has a natural decrease and only
stabilised due to migration - stage 5
of DTM, estimated to decrease by
30% by 2050
ageing population!!!
average life expectancy =
83, over 65s = 23.9% of the
pop
dependancy ratio = 60, the
% of economically active =
62.6%
its estimated that the
population will
experience a
'demographic time
bomb' = pop decline =
not enough young
people to replace the
older people
reason for ageing population
improved health
care = people are
looked after = living
longer
low fat diets = japan has one of
the lowest rates of obesity =
generally have better health
woman receive better
education = children are
less wanted
contraception is more
widely used = fewer
religious and social
taboos
prices on schooling have increased =
many can only afford to send one
child to school thus only have one
child
socia and economic
impacts of ageing
pop
25% of the govs money =
spent on pensions
40& pf all gov spending is
on the elderly
working pop is decreasing =
the economy is decreasing -
affect production and
consumption
families have to pay to
put elderly in family =
may have to give up
their jobs and just care
for their family
this could lead to stress and social
deprivation; they're not pursuing what
they enjoy ad having to spend a lot of
money but not ale tpowork
elderly are generally a more ill age
group = need more health workers
and services
increasing pressure on
NGOS to provide the care/
the funding
its estimated that 3.8mill of the
pop live with no family, increase
numbers on elderly living on the
street/ in poor housing,
increasing numbers of dementia
more are having t go
back to work for an
income; their
peinsion isn't
enough
positives
the manufacturing
industry = v
successful due to
globalisation, large
income from toyota
and sony etc
increase in the
number of
private hospitals -
specialising in
healthcare for
the elderly
increase demand for leisure
activities and tourism in the
affluent areas - boosts the
economy
SPECIFIC TO JAPAN = the new robot
technology - build partner robots to help the
elderly, bionic limbs to carry items and aid
mobility - being developed by some of the
larger TNCS such as honda = very expensive so
more for the affluent people
gov responses
gov has to tackle the problems for a sustainable future -
has to be careful that the policies don't alienate the elderly
raising taxes - rising
consumption taxes by 10% to
maintain revenue. raising the
retirement age to 70,
pro-natal policies =
encourages people tp have
more children with tax
breaks ad child allowance
support. encourage robot
technology to help the
elderly and encoring the
immigration of skilled
workers to boots the
economy and they also and to
be at child bearing age too.
there are some problems with encoring the
immigration though - the lang = hard to learn - have
to do a set with is very easy to fail. also challenging
for outsiders due to the culture - can be very hard
to be accepted - employers look for very hard
woking people - but does have a migration pop of
about 2.2 million