AP Human Geography: Population Distribution and Density

Vocabulary terms covering Chapter 3.1 and 3.2 on population distribution, factors of settlement, density calculations, and carrying capacity.

Population Distribution

The pattern of where people live across an area, which affects the cultural, political, environmental, and economical aspects and conditions in any given area.

Economic Factors Impacting Population Distribution

Economic influences determining where people settle, consisting of development, infrastructure, employment opportunities, and the availability of natural resources.

Social Factors Impacting Population Distribution

Societal influences on residential patterns, consisting of crime rates and safety, culture and history, religion, and persecution.

Political Factors Impacting Population Distribution

Governmental and civic factors affecting population settlement, consisting of public services, war and conflict, and government installations.

Environmental Factors Impacting Population Distribution

Physical and ecological conditions that determine where people live, consisting of natural features, climates, and fertile versus infertile land.

Arithmetic Density

A measure of population density calculated as $\frac{\text{Total population}}{\text{Total land area}}$. It is easy to calculate and good for comparing different places, but treats all land as usable and fails to show where people actually concentrate.

Physiological Density

A population density measure calculated by dividing a region's population by the amount of arable land it has. It shows population pressure on farmland and helps assess food/resource pressure, but does not account for differences in land productivity or internal distribution.

Agricultural Density

A population density measure calculated as $\frac{\text{Number of farmers}}{\text{Amount of arable land}}$. It indicates agricultural labor pressure and technology levels (where low density points to mechanized farming), but does not capture total population pressure on farmland.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum number of people an environment can support sustainably with its available resources.