Population Distribution & Density Notes

2.1 Population Distribution & Density

Objective and Essential Learning

  • 2.1.1 Identify the factors that influence the distribution of population at different scales.
    • A1. Physical features (e.g., climate, landforms, water bodies) and human factors (e.g., culture, economics, history, politics) influence the distribution of population.
    • A2. Factors that illustrate patterns of population distribution vary according to the scale of analysis.
  • 2.1.2 Define and explain the differences between the methods geographers use to calculate population density.
    • B. The three methods for calculating population density are arithmetic, physiological, and agricultural.
    • C. The method used to calculate population density reveals different information about the pressure the population exerts on the land.

Population Distribution

  • Current world population: 7.8 billion.
  • Major population clusters:
    • East Asia
    • South Asia
    • Southeast Asia
    • Western Europe

Factors Influencing Population Distribution

  • People generally avoid settling in areas with extreme conditions (the "5 toos"):
    • Too hot
    • Too cold
    • Too wet
    • Too hilly
    • Too dry
  • People are more likely to settle in areas with:
    • Low elevation
    • Fertile soil
    • Temperate climates
    • Proximity to a body of water
  • Ecumene: Habitable areas of the world

Other Factors Influencing Population Distribution

  • Economic factors: Job opportunities and access to natural resources.
    • Case Study: Norilsk, Siberia - despite harsh weather conditions north of the Arctic Circle, nearly 200,000 people live there due to the world’s largest known deposits of nickel.
  • Social/Cultural factors: Housing availability, safety, access to transportation, a feeling of belonging, and community.
  • Political factors: Housing availability, safety, access to transportation, a feeling of belonging, and community.

Population Density Calculations

  • Arithmetic Density: Total populationLand area (sq. mi)\frac{\text{Total population}}{\text{Land area (sq. mi)}}
  • Physiological Density: Total populationArable Land (sq. mi)\frac{\text{Total population}}{\text{Arable Land (sq. mi)}}
  • Agricultural Density: FarmersArable Land (sq. mi)\frac{\text{Farmers}}{\text{Arable Land (sq. mi)}}

Limitations of Population Density Calculations

  • Does not account for the uneven distribution of population within each country.
  • Provides no information about clustering or dispersal.

Scale of Analysis

  • Understanding of population distribution and density changes when we change the scale of analysis.
  • Example: 94% of China’s population lives in the Eastern region.

Carrying Capacity

  • The maximum population size that can be supported by the available resources without damaging the environment or using natural resources unsustainably.

Physiological Density

  • Example: Egypt
    • Arithmetic Density (2020): 257
    • Physiological Density (2020): 9,182
    • 95% of the population of Egypt live on just 3% of land - along the Nile River.
  • What is the physical environment of Egypt?

Agricultural Density

  • Better indicator of a country's level of economic development rather than population distribution.
  • High Agricultural Density: LDCs (Less Developed Countries)
    • Low level of technology
    • Farming by hand = more farmers
    • Low output
  • Low Agricultural Density: MDCs (More Developed Countries)
    • High levels of mechanization
    • Less farmers but more output.