Population

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Population Distribution Density
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Population distribution
The way in which people are spread across a given
area is known as population distribution.
Geographers study population distribution
patterns at different scales local, regional,
national, and global.
Patterns of population distribution tend to be
uneven. For example, in the UK there are more
people living in the south-east of England and
London than in Wales. It follows that populations
are more or less sparse or dense in different
locations, regions and countries.
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Population density
Population density Population density is the
average number of people per square kilometre. It
is a way of measuring population distribution. It
shows whether an area is sparsely or densely
populated.
Like population distribution, population density
can be calculated at a local, regional, national
or global scale. The graphic shows patterns of
population density on a global scale. Note that

• areas of high and low population density are
  unevenly spread across the world, but that
• the majority of places with high population
  densities are found in the northern hemisphere -
  that is, north of Equator.

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Reasons for distribution The reasons for the
uneven distribution of population can be divided
into two categories- Physical and Human

Physical factors
Relief (shape of the land)
High density
Flat areas are easier to build homes, industry
for jobs and communications on (roads and
railways). The soil is usually deeper and more
fertile so more food can be grown for the people
living there. Eg Ganges valley, India.
Low density
Areas that are high and steep experience a
colder, wetter climate, making it more difficult
to grow crops. The steepness makes it hard to
build on or grow crops because the soil is easily
washed to the bottom of the slope. These areas
are also remote. Eg the Himalayas.
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Reasons for distribution The reasons for the
uneven distribution of population can be divided
into two categories- Physical and Human

Physical factors
Relief (shape of the land)
High density
Ganges valley, India.
Low density
the Himalayas.
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Reasons for distribution The reasons for the
uneven distribution of population can be divided
into two categories- Physical and Human

Physical factors
Climate
High density
These areas have a climate which is not too wet
or dry, not too cold or too hot. The climate is
moderate enough to allow food to be grown and and
pleasant to live in. Eg the UK.
Low density
Some areas are too dry for soils to exist, so no
food can be grown (deserts), or too wet so that a
soils nutrients are washed out of it
(rainforest). Extreme cold can also mean a
permafrost layer limits what can be grown there,
and also make transport and building difficult
(tundra). Eg the Sahara or Alaska.
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Reasons for distribution The reasons for the
uneven distribution of population can be divided
into two categories- Physical and Human

Physical factors
Climate
High density
UK.
Low density
Sahara or Alaska.
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Reasons for distribution The reasons for the
uneven distribution of population can be divided
into two categories- Physical and Human

Physical factors
Soil fertility
High density
Areas that have soils with plenty of nutrients
will be able to grow plenty of food and be able
to support a high population. Eg the Netherlands.
Low density
Areas with poorer soils either because there is
too much rain, or too little or it is too cold
will have problems growing food and so much fewer
people will be able to live there. Eg Amazonia.
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Reasons for distribution The reasons for the
uneven distribution of population can be divided
into two categories- Physical and Human

Physical factors
Soil fertility
High density
Netherlands.
Low density
Amazonia.
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Reasons for distribution The reasons for the
uneven distribution of population can be divided
into two categories- Physical and Human

Physical factors
Water supply
High density
Places with a moderate climate which receives
good amounts of rainfall will have enough water
for all the needs of humans drinking, cleaning,
cooking, transport. Eg East coast of China.
Low density
Much drier areas will have problems since soils
are more easily blown away, and are left useless.
Similarly, areas that have too much rain also
have poor soils because the nutrients are washed
out of them (leaching). Eg Arabian peninsula.
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Reasons for distribution The reasons for the
uneven distribution of population can be divided
into two categories- Physical and Human

Physical factors
Water supply
High density
East coast of China.
Low density
Arabian peninsula.
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Reasons for distribution The reasons for the
uneven distribution of population can be divided
into two categories- Physical and Human

Human factors
Resources
High density
If an area has plenty of natural resources eg
coal or iron ore, then this will attract people
to go to that place for work in industry.
Low density
Areas that dont have resources will not attract
so many people as there is less chance of making
a living there, and consequently population
density will remain low.
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Reasons for distribution The reasons for the
uneven distribution of population can be divided
into two categories- Physical and Human

Human factors
Resources
High density
Europe
Low density
Sahara
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Reasons for distribution The reasons for the
uneven distribution of population can be divided
into two categories- Physical and Human

Human factors
Political
High density
Countries with stable governments tend to have a
high population density and this encourages
further growth e.g. Singapore
Low density
Unstable countries tend to have lower population
densities as people migrate, and this hinders
further growth e.g. Afghanistan.
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Reasons for distribution The reasons for the
uneven distribution of population can be divided
into two categories- Physical and Human

Human factors
Political
High density
Singapore
Low density
Afghanistan
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End
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• Reasons for distribution
• The reasons for the uneven distribution of
  population can be divided into two categories-
  Physical and Human
• Physical
• Human
• Industry - Manufacturing/Tourism
• Political Policies - Encourage/Discourage growth
• These factors can have a positive or a negative
  effect on population density.

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• People do not live evenly spread through the
  world. For example large parts of Australia are
  very sparsely populated (low population density),
  whereas areas in the south-east and around Perth
  are crowded (high population density). The spread
  of people around a country is known its
  population distribution The factors that tend to
  produce low population densities are
• The factors that can produce a high population
  density are
• Fertile farming land - many, small farms able to
  support a large population
• Mineral resources - mines produce jobs, and
  provide raw materials for other industries
• Wealthier areas - people will move to where the
  jobs and money are found

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Population distribution
population distribution is
Patterns of population
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Population density
Population density is
Reasons for differences in density The reasons
for the uneven distribution of population can be
divided into two categories-