Population Distribution and Density

Physical and Human Factors Influencing Population Distribution

Ecumene

  • The ecumene refers to areas of the Earth's surface inhabited permanently by humans.

Physical Factors

  • Climate:
    • People prefer moderate temperatures.
    • More people reside in lower latitude areas due to abundant rainfall.
  • Landforms:
    • Habitable areas for growing crops.
    • Sustainable natural resources are crucial for supporting human life.
  • Water Bodies:
    • Access to fresh water is essential for people and agriculture.

Human Factors

  • Culture:
    • People often live among their cultural groups.
  • Economics:
    • Opportunities for making money, bartering, and trade.
    • Significantly influences migration and settlement patterns.
  • History:
    • Historical events like wars and relations with neighboring populations impact settlement.
  • Political Influences:
    • The degree of freedom and type of government affect where people choose to live.

Example: China

  • Population Distribution:
    • Majority of the population lives in the East, from Harbin in the North to Guangzhou in the South.
  • Fertile Soils:
    • Area known as China's breadbasket, supporting intense agriculture.
  • Major Cities:
    • Home to large cities like Shanghai and the capital, Beijing, with populations exceeding 15-20 million people.
  • Economic and Political Centers:
    • Draws people from rural areas (rural to urban migration).
  • Gateway Cities:
    • Cities like Beijing and Shanghai attract migrants from outside of China due to economic opportunities.

Practice Example: Mountains

  • Settlement Factors:
    • High elevations deter most people, but cultural or spiritual factors can attract settlement.
  • Ecuador Example:
    • The peoples of Ecuador view certain areas as sacred, leading to settlement.
    • Otavalo, Ecuador, is located in a sacred valley, attracting indigenous people for ritualistic purposes.
  • Andes Mountains:
    • The Inca and other indigenous groups congregated along the Andes Mountains in the sacred valleys of Ecuador and Peru.
    • Fertile volcanic soils supported agriculture.
  • Otavalo Marketplace:
    • Served as a central market for the Incan Empire.
    • Still functions as one of the most important marketplaces in Ecuador.

Key Takeaways

  • Physical factors, such as climate and geography, influence settlement.
  • Human factors, including culture, also play a crucial role in determining where people live.

Population Density

Density vs. Distribution

  • Density: Number of people in a space.
  • Distribution: Spatial spread of people in a space.

Types of Density

  • Arithmetic Density
  • Physiological Density
  • Agricultural Density

Arithmetic Density

  • Also known as population density or crude population density.
  • Calculated as the number of people per square mile or square kilometer.
    • Arithmetic\ Density = \frac{Total\ Population}{Land\ Area}
  • Highlights spatial differences across regions (e.g., comparing Manhattan to rural Kansas).
    • Growth in areas from rural to urban.

Physiological Density

  • Number of people per unit of arable land (farmable land).
    • Physiological\ Density = \frac{Total\ Population}{Arable\ Land}

Agricultural Density

  • Number of farmers per unit of arable land.
    • Agricultural\ Density = \frac{Number\ of\ Farmers}{Arable\ Land}

Example: Egypt

  • Location: Northern Africa, Sahara Desert.
  • Population Concentration: Majority of the population lives along the Nile River.
  • Density Calculations:
    • Arithmetic Density: 98 people per square mile.
    • Physiological Density: 6,995 people per square mile.
  • Interpretation: High physiological density indicates significant stress on arable land.
  • Government Response:
    • Relieving stress of people along the Nile move to Sinai Peninsula.
    • Creating new cities and moving the capital from Cairo to a new capital.

Practice Question

  • Physiological population density differs from crude population density in that physiological density explains density in terms of people per arable square land unit, while crude density explains density in terms of people per total square land unit.

Key Takeaway

  • Population density helps geographers describe human-environment interaction by examining the distribution of people and their impact on resources.