230100 KU Population Sociology (2024S)

Populations are dynamic: the populations of most countries in the world are growing and the world population is growing as well. In 2022, the world population reached 8 billion and the Austrian population reached 9 million. At the same time, the age structure changes: the world population is ageing; Europe is the oldest continent. In this course, we ask how and why populations change and which consequences arise, e.g. for social security systems or the environment. We look at the size and structures (age, sex etc.) of populations and are concerned with the three demographic processes – births, deaths, migration – that are responsible for changes therein. We cover the demographic “tools” that allow us to analyse and understand population change or differences between countries. These include rates (total fertility rate, total divorce rate etc.) or the life table. Period and cohort perspective are presented using the Lexis diagram. Central concepts and theories such as the demographic transition are also part of this course as are projections. We focus on the Austrian population in European and global context.