Transcript Can you explain it

Haiti Case study
Where is Haiti?
Haiti. A Caribbean
developing nation
What is Haiti like?
• Poorest country in
Western hemisphere
• 80% population live in
absolute poverty
• 2/3 depend on
agricultural economy
largely subsistence
• GDP per capita =
$1,300
• Suffers from
Hurricanes, flooding
and earthquakes
Haiti and its population
• Population = 9.8 million
• Growth rate = 2.2% so
double in less than 50
years
• TFR rate = 5.2 children
per women
• Fits early stage 3 of the
DTM
• Shows real evidence of
population pressure /
overpopulation
• The population density
is 295 people-persquare-kilometre
Analysing Haiti’s population pyramid
Sharp drop in
population
numbers partly
due to AIDS (6%
adults)
Narrow top
indicating low
life expectancy.
63 years ave.
Wide base =
youthful
population
Why do you think
people have large
families in Haiti?
Wide base
indicates high
birth rate
Can you make the link??
Now click on the hyperlink to find out more http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Tropical/Atlantic/1998/Mitch_10/TRCmitch299G_G8.jpg
What trends do you notice about food production in Haiti over this
20 year period???
1982
1987
Year
1992
1997
2002
-------------------------Production (metric tons)----------------------
Cereals
390,900
461,806
451,796
490,000
363,000
Roots and Tubers
740,000
755,000
794,043
727,000
755,000
Pulses
85,900
100,711
106,523
88,000
70,500
Vegetables&Melons
292,060
309,350
235,760
213,825
198,870
Fruits
1,027,040
1,077,782
889,305
908,360
968,800
Sugar Cane
3,000,000
1,800,000
1,429,280
1,100,000
1,008,100
Coffee, Green
32,250
30,088
27,355
27,000
28,000
Impacts of rapid population growth
/ overpopulation Haiti
Rapid population growth (1.9%
year)
Poverty leads to high birth
rate TFR 5.4
High unemployment (70%) and
underemployment (informal
sector)
Slum growth – e.g. Cite Soleil
slum population 300,000
Deforestation of steep (20
degrees) slopes for fuel
Loss of binding root systems
and canopy interception
Vicious
downward circle
of decline linked
to
overpopulation
Increased overland flow
Extensive soil erosion
during tropical storms and
hurricanes
Rural-urban migration of 1.5
million to Port au Prince
Loss of soil fertility
Increased Rural poverty
Reduced food production (refer to
table)
Effects of population pressure on
the human environment
• Haiti - highest incidence of HIV/Aids in
Latin America and the Caribbean, with
300,000 cases
• Diseases like TB and Cholera spreading.
• Poor health care infrastructure
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?
NewsID=32001&Cr=haiti&Cr1=
9 September 2009 – Haiti has “a
remarkable opportunity” to overcome
decades of misrule and neglect, but major
hurdles remain and the international
community must step up its support to
ensure the Caribbean country can
consolidate its gains, the United Nations
Special Envoy and former United States
president Bill Clinton said today.
Test yourself
Exam questions
• Look at the population pyramid below. Explain which stage of
the DTM this country would be found in. Justify your answer.
• Examine the impact of Haiti’s population
structure on the balance between population
and resources. (15)