- Population Distribution refers to how people are spaced over the Earth's surface.
- 90% of the world's population lives in about 10% of the land area.
- The 10 most populous countries contribute about 60% of the world's population, with 6 of these 10 countries located in Asia. These countries are China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Japan.
The ratio between the number of people and the size of the land they live on.
Unit of Measurement: Typically measured in persons per square kilometre (sq km).
Calculation: Density of Population = Population / Area
- Area of Region X = 100 sq km
- Population of Region X = 150,000 people
- Density of Population in Region X = 150,000 / 100 = 1,500 people/sq km
Interpretation of Density
- High Density: Areas with more than 200 people per sq km (e.g., North-Eastern USA, North-Western Europe, South, South-East, and East Asia).
- Low Density: Areas with less than 1 person per sq km (e.g., near the North and South Poles, hot and cold deserts, high rainfall zones near the equator).
- Medium Density: Areas with 11 to 50 people per sq km (e.g., Western China, Southern India, Norway, Sweden).
Three main categories of factors influence how populations are distributed around the world.
I. Geographical Factors
- Availability of Water: Fresh water is essential for life, so areas with readily available water tend to be more densely populated. This water is used for drinking, sanitation, agriculture, and industry. River valleys are some of the most populated areas for this reason.
- Landforms: Flat plains and gentle slopes are preferred for settlements because they are easier to farm on and build roads and industries upon. Mountainous and hilly areas are less populated due to the challenges of transportation and development. The Ganges plains in India are densely populated, while the Himalayas are sparsely populated.
- Climate: Extreme climates, such as very hot or cold deserts, are uncomfortable for human habitation. Areas with moderate climates and minimal seasonal variations tend to attract more people. Areas with heavy rainfall or harsh climates typically have lower populations. The Mediterranean regions were attractive for settlement due to their pleasant climates.
- Soils: Fertile soils are crucial for agriculture. Areas with rich, loamy soils can support intensive agriculture and therefore have larger populations.
II. Economic Factors
- Minerals: Areas with mineral deposits attract industries, which create jobs and draw skilled and semi-skilled workers. The Katanga copper belt in Zambia is an example of this phenomenon.
- Urbanization: Cities offer a variety of benefits, including job opportunities, education, healthcare, transportation, and entertainment. This attracts people from rural areas, leading to urban migration and megacities. However, city life can also have drawbacks like pollution and overcrowding.
- Industrialization: Industrial belts provide employment opportunities that attract large populations. This includes not only factory workers but also service providers like transportation operators, shopkeepers, and medical professionals. The Kobe-Osaka region of Japan is an example of an area with a high population due to its concentration of industries.
III. Social and Cultural Factors
- Religious and Cultural Significance: Places with religious or cultural significance tend to attract more people. Conversely, social and political unrest can cause people to move away from an area.
- Government Incentives: Sometimes governments offer incentives to encourage people to live in sparsely populated areas or move away from overcrowded areas.
Population growth refers to the change in the number of inhabitants of a territory over a specific period. This change can be positive (increase) or negative (decrease). It can be expressed as an absolute number or a percentage. Population change in an area is an important indicator of economic development, social well-being, and historical and cultural factors.
Key Concepts
- Growth of Population: The change in population in a specific area between two points in time.
- Growth Rate of Population: The population change expressed as a percentage.
- Natural Growth of Population: The increase in population due to the difference between births and deaths in a particular region during a specific period.
- Actual Growth of Population: Births minus deaths, plus in-migration minus out-migration.
- Positive Growth of Population: Occurs when the birth rate is higher than the death rate or when there is net in-migration.
- Negative Growth of Population: Occurs when the population decreases due to a birth rate lower than the death rate or net out-migration.
Three main factors influence population change: births, deaths, and migration.
- Births: Measured by the Crude Birth Rate (CBR), which is the number of live births per thousand people in a year. It is calculated as:
CBR = (Live Births in a Year) / (Mid-Year Population) * 1000
- Deaths: Measured by the Crude Death Rate (CDR), which is the number of deaths per thousand people in a specific year. It is calculated as:
CDR = (Number of Deaths) / (Estimated Mid-Year Population) * 1000
- Migration: The movement of people from one place to another.
- Place of Origin: The place people move from. (Population decreases here.)
- Place of Destination: The place people move to. (Population increases here.)
- Permanent: Moving to a new place to stay long-term.
- Temporary: Moving to a new place for a limited time (e.g., seasonal work).
- Rural to Rural
- Rural to Urban
- Urban to Urban
- Urban to Rural
- Migration Terminology:
- Immigrants: People who move into a new place.
- Emigrants: People who move out of a place.
Factors Influencing Migration
- Push Factors: Reasons that make people want to leave their current location, such as Unemployment, Poor living conditions, Political turmoil, Unpleasant climate, Natural disasters, Epidemics and Socioeconomic backwardness.
- Pull Factors: Reasons that make a new location seem attractive, such as Better job opportunities, Improved living conditions, Peace and stability, Security and a Pleasant climate.
The world's population has grown significantly over the centuries. While it increased slowly for most of history, the rate has accelerated in recent centuries.
- Early humans had a small population size (around 8 million) after the development of agriculture 8,000-12,000 years ago.
- The population remained below 300 million in the first century AD.
- Expanding world trade in the 16th and 17th centuries laid the groundwork for faster population growth.
- The Industrial Revolution in the 18th century further fueled the population explosion.
- Technological advancements have played a complex role, reducing death rates while influencing birth rates.
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Doubling Time of World Population
- Historical Perspective: It took over a million years for the human population to reach one billion. The time to double the population has decreased significantly over time. The table demonstrates the reduction in doubling time as the population has increased.
- Regional Variation: Developed countries take longer to double their population compared to developing countries. Developing regions experience rapid population growth, leading to shorter doubling times.
- Reasons for Rapid Growth in Developing Countries: High birth rates and declining death rates contribute to population explosions. Limited access to family planning and healthcare services in some areas. Cultural and social factors influencing fertility rates and family sizes.
Spatial Pattern of Population Change
- Comparison between Developed and Developing Countries: Developed countries show slower population growth rates. Developing countries experience rapid population growth due to various factors.
- Economic Development and Population Growth: A negative correlation is observed between economic development and population growth. Developing regions with lower economic development tend to have higher population growth rates.
- Impact of Population Growth Rate: Even a seemingly low annual growth rate can lead to substantial population increases due to large populations. Challenges such as infant mortality, maternal mortality, and healthcare impact population dynamics.
Impact of Population Change
- Resource Depletion: Population growth beyond a certain level leads to resource depletion. Depletion of natural resources due to increased demand from a growing population.
- Population Decline: Population decline indicates resource insufficiency to sustain the population. Decline can result from various factors such as emigration, low birth rates, or high death rates.
- Health Challenges: Epidemics like HIV/AIDS impact population growth by increasing death rates and reducing life expectancy. Health crises can lead to demographic shifts and affect population dynamics in regions affected by diseases.
The Demographic Transition Theory is a framework used to describe and predict population changes in a region as it progresses through stages of social and economic development. The theory proposes that populations move through three stages.
Stage 1: High Fluctuating
- High birth rates (CBR) and high death rates (CDR)
- Slow population growth
- Mostly rural, agrarian societies
- Large families are seen as an asset
- Low life expectancy
- Limited technology and literacy
- Example: Most countries 200 years ago
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Stage 2: Expanding
- Initially high birth rates, then decline over time
- Declining death rates due to improved sanitation and healthcare
- Rapid population growth due to the gap between birth and death rates
- Example: Many developing countries today (e.g., Kenya, Peru)
Stage 3: Low Fluctuating
- Low birth rates and death rates
- Stable or slow population growth
- Urbanized societies with high literacy and technical knowledge
- Family planning practices common
This theory demonstrates human adaptability and the ability to adjust fertility rates based on social and economic contexts. Today, different countries are at various stages of the demographic transition.
7. Population Control Measures
- Educational campaigns
- Easy access to contraceptives
- Tax disincentives for large families
Malthusian Theory (1793): Predicted population growth would outpace food supply, leading to famine, disease, and war. Emphasized preventive measures (family planning) and over-reactive responses (famine, disease, war).
Population control is crucial for sustainable resource management in the face of rapid population growth.
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Previous Year Questions
1. India is regarded as a country with “Demographic Dividend’’. This is due to– (upsc 2011) (a) Its high population in the age group below 15 years. (b) Its high population in the age group of 1564 years. (c) Its high population in the age group above 65 years. (d) Its high total population. Answer: B 1. What characteristics can be assigned to monsoon climate that succeeds in feeding more than 50 percent of the world population residing in Monsoon Asia? (upsc 2017)
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