Practice 8.1 Human population dynamics with authentic IB Environmental systems and societies (ESS - Old) exam questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank mirrors Paper 1, 2 structure, covering key topics like ecosystems, human impact, and sustainability. Get instant solutions, detailed explanations, and build exam confidence with questions in the style of IB examiners.
Paper
Level
Question 1
SLPaper 2
Current and projected total fertility rates by region
1.[1]
Using Figure 3 identify the region with the highest fertility rate in the period 2005–2010.
2.[2]
Outline two possible reasons for the projected change in total fertility rate in Sub-Saharan Africa in the period 2045–2050.
3.[2]
Identify two reasons for the projected increase in total fertility rate in Europe by the period 2045–2050.
Question 2
SLPaper 2
Figure 1: Demographic transition model
Source: https://populationeducation.org/what-demographic-transition-model/
1.[1]
Costa Rica has a crude birth rate (CBR) of 15.3 and a crude death rate (CDR) of 4.8. Identify the stage in which Costa Rica would be placed on the demographic transition model shown in Figure 1.
2.[1]
Costa Rica has a crude birth rate (CBR) of 15.3 and a crude death rate (CDR) of 4.8.Calculate the natural increase rate (NIR) for Costa Rica.
3.[1]
Costa Rica has a crude birth rate (CBR) of 15.3 and a crude death rate (CDR) of 4.8. Calculate the doubling time for Costa Rica.
4.[2]
Outline one strength and one limitation of the demographic transition model.
5.[3]
Outline the socioeconomic factors that may cause a society to move from Stage 2 to Stage 3 on the demographic transition model.
Question 3
SL & HLPaper 2
The UN population division produced the World Population Prospectus in 2012, which was revised in 2015. Figure 1 shows the population projections based on their studies. Line graph with population projections for high, medium, and low scenarios, showing years along x-axis and population in billions along y-axis.
Figure 1. Population projections according to the United Nations
1.[1]
Estimate the difference between the high and low population projections in 2050.
2.[2]
State two possible assumptions that the UN based these projections on.
3.[2]
List two reasons for rising mortality rates in More Economically Developed Countries (MEDCs).
4.[2]
Explain two reasons for the higher birth rates in LEDCs.
5.[3]
Outline three policies that governments may use to reduce population growth.
Question 4
SLPaper 2
1.[4]
Outline how a positive feedback loop can impact an ecosystem.
2.[7]
Compare and contrast the impact of two named food production systems on climate change.
3.[9]
To what extent does the development of different societies impact their mitigation and adaptation strategies for climate change?
Question 5
SL & HLPaper 2
1.[4]
Using named examples, outline the difference between natural and anthropogenic atmospheric primary pollutants.
2.[7]
Discuss reasons for high human population density within urban systems.
3.[9]
Evaluate a range of pollution management strategies that can be used to reduce urban air pollution.
Question 6
SLPaper 1
Figure 1: Demographic data for 2018
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Population (estimated) | 5 million (including 104,000 Indigenous people) |
| Natural increase rate | 1.05% |
| Crude birth rate | 15.3/1000 |
| Crude death rate | 4.8/1000 |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.9 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.89 (Note: In 1973, the total fertility rate was 5.6) |
Figure 2: Age–gender pyramid for Costa Rica in 1990
Source: https://www.populationpyramid.net/costa-rica/1990/
Figure 3: Age–gender pyramid for Costa Rica in 2020
Source: https://www.populationpyramid.net/costa-rica/2020/
Figure 4: Projected age–gender pyramid for Costa Rica in 2060
Source: https://www.populationpyramid.net/costa-rica/2060/
1.[3]
With reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, suggest three possible reasons for the changes between the age–gender pyramid for 1990 and that projected for 2060.
Question 7
SL & HLPaper 2
Refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2.
Figure 1. Demographic transition model (DTM)
*Figure 2. Population pyramids
Source: https://pressbooks.nebraska.edu/humanenvironmentgeographylabmanual/chapter/lab-8/
1.[2]
Explain why the population is stable in Stage 1 of the DTM.
2.[2]
Outline two main causes of a decline in the crude death rate (CDR) in Stage 2 of the DTM.
3.
[4]
Copy and complete the table below. Using Figures 1 and 2, state the population pyramid that corresponds to each stage of the DTM.
| Stages of DTM | Which population pyramid represents this stage? |
|---|---|
| 1. High stationary | |
| 2. Early expanding | |
| 3. Late expanding | |
| 4. Low stationary |
4.[4]
Justify your answers to question 3 in the table.
Question 8
SLPaper 2
Figure 1: World population figures 1950–2019 and predictions 2020–2100
Source: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/world-population-8-billion-humans-earth
Figure 2: Countries and regions where population decreased by at least one per cent between 2010 and 2019
1.[1]
Using Figure 1, identify the year in which the median prediction of the world population will reach 10 billion.
2.[1]
Outline one reason for the uncertainty in predicting the world’s population in Figure 1.
3.[1]
Using Figure 2, identify the region that has the most countries with a decrease in the percentage change in population between 2010 and 2019.
4.[2]
Outline two factors that could contribute to a reduction in population in the countries in Figure 2.
5.[4]
Discuss how a country’s stage in the demographic transition model (DTM) might influence its national population policy.
Question 9
SLPaper 1
The resource booklet provides information on Brazil. Use the resource booklet and your own studies to answer the following.
Figure 5(a): Fact file on population
- Brazil’s population is approximately 204 million (July 2015).
- Approximately 86 % of the population live in urban areas.
- 240 indigenous tribes make up 0.4 % of the population.
- Over 70 % of the total country population live in the Atlantic Rainforest region.
- São Paulo is the largest city with a population of about 21 million, followed by Rio de Janeiro with apopulation of about 13 million.
- Brasilia, the capital city, is located in the Cerrado region and has a population of about 4 million.
- Birth rate: 14.46 births/1000 population (2015 estimate).
- Death rate: 6.58 death/1000 population (2015 estimate).
- Median age of population: 31.1 years.
1.[1]
Using data from Figure 5(a) in the resource booklet, calculate the natural increase rate for Brazil in 2015.
2.[1]
Identify one reason why the natural increase rate, calculated in part (a), is different from the actual growth rate of the population, which was 0.63% in 2015.
Question 10
SLPaper 1
Figure 1: Three world population projections from 2015 - 2100
1.[1]
Calculate the range between the highest and lowest projected population size for 2100.
2.[2]
Identify two factors that may explain the variation in projected world population growth.
3.[1]
Outline one economic implication of the highest world population projection being manifested.
4.[1]
Outline one environmental implication of the highest world population projection being manifested.
5.[1]
Outline one benefit to modeling human population growth.
6.[1]
Outline one drawback of modelling future human population growth.