The people of a country are its real wealth.

It
is they who make use of the countrys resources
and decide its policies. Ultimately a country is
known by its people.
It is important to know how many women
and men a country has, how many children are
born each year, how many people die and how?
Whether they live in cities or villages, can they
read or write and what work do they do? These
are what you will study about in this unit.
The world at the beginning of 21st century
recorded the presence of over 6 billion
population. We shall discuss the patterns of
their distribution and density here.

Unit-II

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Chapter-2

The World Population

Distribution, Density and
Growth

Why do people prefer to live in certain

regions and not in others?

The population of the world is unevenly

distributed. The remark of George B. Cressey
about the population of Asia that Asia has many
places where people are few and few place where
people are very many is true about the pattern
of population distribution of the world also.

PATTERNS OF POPULATION
DISTRIBUTION IN THE WORLD

Patterns of population distribution and density

help us to understand the demographic
characteristics of any area. The term population
distribution refers to the way people are spaced
over the earths surface. Broadly, 90 per cent of
the world population lives in about 10 per cent
of its land area.
The 10 most populous countries of the
world contribute about 60 per cent of the worlds
population. Of these 10 countries, 6 are located
in Asia. Identify these six countries of Asia.

no

(Wo)men who for truth and

honours sake, stand fast and suffer
long (Wo)men who toil while others
sleep who dare while others flee
they build a nations pillars deep and
lift it to the sky.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Japan

Russian Fed.
Nigeria
Bangladesh

Countries

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Not gold but only (Wo)men can make

a people great and strong.

Pakistan
Brazil
Indonesia
U.S.A.
India
China
0

200

400
600
800
1000
Population in Million

1200

Fig. 2.1: Most Populous Countries

1400

1600

Each unit of land has limited capacity to

support people living on it. Hence, it is
necessary to understand the ratio between the
numbers of people to the size of land. This ratio
is the density of population. It is usually
measured in persons per sq km
Population
Area
For example, area of Region X is 100 sq
km and the population is 1,50,000 persons.
The density of population is calculated as:
Density of Population =

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1,50,000
100
= 1,500 person/sq km
What does this tell you about Region X?
Look at the map given below:
Do you observe that some areas are really
crowded? These are the densely populated
parts of the world with more than 200 persons

on every sq km. These are the North -Eastern

part of U.S.A., North-Western part of Europe,
South, South-East and East Asia.
Other areas like those near the North and
South Poles, the hot and the cold deserts and
high rainfall zones near the Equator have very
low density of population. These are the
sparsely populated regions of the world with
less than 01 person per sq km.
In between these two types are the areas
of medium density. There are 11 to 50 persons
per sq km in these areas. Western China,
Southern India in Asia, Norway, Sweden in
Europe are some examples. Look at the Fig. 2.2
and identify some other areas.

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DENSITY OF POPUL
ATION
POPULA

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE

DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION
I.

Geographical Factors

(i) Availability of water: It is the most

important factor for life. So, people prefer

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Density =

Fig. 2.2: World Density of Population, 2001

The World Population: Distribution, Density and Growth

amenities and the attraction of city life draw

people to the cities. It leads to rural to
urban migration and cities grow in size.
Mega cities of the world continue to attract
large number of migrants every year.

ed

Yet city life can be very taxing. think

of some of the unpleasant aspects of city
life.

(iii) Industrialisation: Industrial belts provide

job opportunities and attract large
numbers of people. These include not just
factory workers but also transport
operators, shopkeepers, bank employees,
doctors, teachers and other service
providers. The Kobe-Osaka region of
Japan is thickly populated because of the
presence of a number of industries.

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to live in areas where fresh water is easily

available. Water is used for drinking,
bathing and cooking and also for cattle,
crops, industries and navigation. It is
because of this that river valleys are among
the most densely populated areas of the
world.
(ii) Landforms: People prefer living on flat
plains and gentle slopes. This is because
such areas are favourable for the
production of crops and to build roads and
industries. The mountainous and hilly
areas hinder the development of transport
network and hence initially do not favour
agricultural and industrial development.
So, these areas tend to be less populated.
The Ganga plains are among the most
densely populated areas of the world while
the mountains zones in the Himalayas are
scarcely populated.
(iii) Climate: An extreme climate such as very
hot or cold deserts are uncomfortable for
human habitation. Areas with a
comfortable climate, where there is not
much seasonal variation attract more
people. Areas with very heavy rainfall or
extreme and harsh climates have low
population. Mediterranean regions were
inhabited from early periods in history due
to their pleasant climate.
(iv) Soils: Fertile soils are important for
agricultural and allied activities. Therefore,
areas which have fertile loamy soils have
more people living on them as these can
support intensive agriculture. Can you
name some areas in India which are thinly
populated due to poor soils?

II.

Economic Factors

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(i) Minerals: Areas with mineral deposits

attract industries. Mining and industrial
activities generate employment. So, skilled
and semiskilled workers move to these
areas and make them densely populated.
Katanga Zambia copper belt in Africa is
one such good example.
(ii) Urbanisation: Cities offer better
employment opportunities, educational
and medical facilities, better means of
transport and communication. Good civic

10

Fundamentals of Human Geography

III. Social and Cultural Factors

Some places attract more people because they

have religious or cultural significance. In the
same way people tend to move away from
places where there is social and political
unrest. Many a times governments offer
incentives to people to live in sparsely
populated areas or move away from
overcrowded places. Can you think of some
examples from your region?

POPULATION GROWTH

The population growth or population change

refers to the change in number of inhabitants of
a territory during a specific period of time. This
change may be positive as well as negative. It
can be expressed either in terms of absolute
numbers or in terms of percentage. Population
change in an area is an important indicator of
economic development, social upliftment and
historical and cultural background of the region.

Some Basic Concepts of

Population Geography
Growth of Population : Change of
population in particular area between two
points of time is known as growth of

population. For example, if we deduct the

population of India 2001 (102.70 crore) from
population of 2011 (121.02 crore) then we
shall get the growth of population (18.15
crores) in actual numbers.

thousand of population in a particular region.

CDR is calculated as:

Growth Rate of Population : This is the

change of population expressed in
percentage.

Here, CDR=Crude Death Rate; D= Number

of deaths; P=Estimated mid-year population of
that year.
By and large mortality rates are affected
by the regions demographic structure, social
advancement and levels of its economic
development.

Natural Growth = Births Deaths

Migration

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Actual Growth of Population : This is

D
1000
P

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Natural Growth of Population: This is the

population increased by difference between
births and deaths in a particular region
between two points of time.

CDR =

Births Deaths + In Migration Out

Migration
Positive Growth of Population: This
happens when the birth rate is more than
the death rate between two points of time
or when people from other countries migrate
permanently to a region.

Negative Growth of Population: If the

population decreases between two points
of time it is known as negative growth of
population. It occurs when the birth rate falls
below the death rate or people migrate to
other countries.

Components of Population Change

There are three components of population

change births, deaths and migration.
The crude birth rate (CBR) is expressed as
number of live births in a year per thousand of
population. It is calculated as:

Bi
1000
P
Here, CBR = Crude Birth Rate; Bi = live
births during the year; P=Mid year population
of the area.
Death rate plays an active role in
population change. Population growth occurs
not only by increasing births rate but also due
to decreasing death rate. Crude Death Rate
(CDR) is a simple method of measuring
mortality of any area. CDR is expressed in terms
of number of deaths in a particular year per

no

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CBR =

Apart from birth and death there is another way

by which the population size changes.
When people move from one place to
another, the place they move from is called the
Place of Origin and the place they move to is
called the Place of Destination. The place of
origin shows a decrease in population while the
population increases in the place of destination.
Migration may be interpreted as a spontaneous
effort to achieve a better balance between
population and resources.
Migration may be permanent, temporary
or seasonal. It may take place from rural to
rural areas, rural to urban areas, urban to
urban areas and urban to rural areas.
Do you realise that the same person is both
an immigrant and an emigrant?
Immigration: Migrants who move into a new
place are called Immigrants.
Emigration: Migrants who move out of a
place are called Emigrants.
Can you think of reasons why people
migrate?

People migrate for a better economic and

social life. There are two sets of factors that
influence migration.
The Push factors make the place of origin
seem less attractive for reasons like
unemployment, poor living conditions, political
turmoil, unpleasant climate, natural disasters,
epidemics and socio-economic backwardness.
The Pull factors make the place of
destination seem more attractive than the place

The World Population: Distribution, Density and Growth

11

ed

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Observe the news items and think of some reasons why certain countries become attractive destinations for migrants.
Migration to cities are traditionally age and sex selective i.e. more men of working age groups move to cities.
Can you think of some reason why 22 per cent of migrants to Mumbai are kids?

of origin for reasons like better job opportunities

and living conditions, peace and stability,
security of life and property and pleasant climate.

TRENDS IN POPULATION GROWTH

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The population on the earth is more than six

billion. It has grown to this size over centuries.
In the early periods population of the world

grew very slowly. It is only during the last few

hundred years that population has increased
at an alarming rate.
Fig. 2.3 tells the story of population
growth. After the evolution and introduction
of agriculture about 8,000 to 12,000 years
ago, the size of population was small roughly
8 million. In the first century A.D. it was below

12

Fig. 2.3: Resource, Technology and Population Growth

Fundamentals of Human Geography

Table 2.1: Doubling Time of World Population

10,000 B.C.
1650 A.D.
1804 A.D.
1927 A.D.
1974 A.D.
2025 A.D.

Population

Time in which
Population Doubles

5 million
500 million
1,000 million
2,000 million
4,000 million
8,000 million projected figure

1,500 years
154 years
123 years
47 years
51 years

Source: Demographic Year Book, 2009 10

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Period

to 6 billion. See the Table 2.1 carefully which

shows that doubling time of world population
is reducing fast.
There is a great variation among regions
in doubling their population. Table 2.2 shows
that developed countries are taking more time
to double their population as compared to
developing countries. Most of the population
growth is taking place in the developing world,
where population is exploding. Why is this so?

How Science and Technology

helped Population Growth?

Table 2.2: Population Growth Rates (%) 1995-2000

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300 million. The expanding world trade during

the sixteenth and seventeenth century, set the
stage for rapid population growth. Around
1750, at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution,
the world population was 550 million. World
population exploded in the eighteenth century
after the Industrial Revolution. Technological
advancement achieved so far helped in the
reduction of birth rate and provided a stage for
accelerated population growth.

The steam engine replaced human and

animal energy and also provided
mechanised energy of water and wind. This
increased agricultural and industrial
production.
Inoculation against epidemics and other
communicable diseases, improvement in
medical facilities and sanitation contributed
to a rapid decline in death rates throughout
the world.

High

Yemen
Liberia*
Somalia*
Saudi Arabia*
Oman*

Low

2.6
8.2
4.2
3.4
3.3

Latvia
Estonia
Russia, Ukraine
Albania, Bulgaria
Croatia
Slovania, Czech Republic
Germany, Portugal
Spain, Italy
Denmark

1.5
1.1
0.6

0.1

* Data pertaining to 1995-2000

Source: Demographic Year Book, 200910.

SPATIAL PATTERN OF POPULATION CHANGE

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Human population increased more than ten times in

the past 500 hundred years.
In the twentieth century itself the population has
increased four times.

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DOUBLING TIME OF WORLD POPULATION

It took more than a million years for the human
population to attain the one billion mark. But
it took only 12 years for it to rise from 5 billion

Population growth in different parts of the world

can be compared. The growth of population is
low in developed countries as compared to
developing countries. There is negative
correlation between economic development and
population growth.
Although the annual rate of population
change (1.4 per cent) seems to be low (Table
2.3), it is actually not so. This is because:

When a small annual rate is applied to a

very large population, it will lead to a large
population change.

The World Population: Distribution, Density and Growth

13

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Fig. 2.4: Population Doubling Time

Even if the growth rate continues to decline,

the total population grows each year. The
infant mortality rate may have increased
as has the death rate during childbirth.

Table 2.3: Growth of Population 2004-05 over 1990-95

Growth Rate

1990-95

2004-05

World
Africa
Europe
North & Central America
South America
Asia
Oceania

1.6
2.4
0.2
1.4
1.7
1.6
1.5

1.4
2.6
0.0
1.1
1.4
1.4
1.3

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Region

(Australia, New Zealand and Fiji)

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Source: Demographic Year Book, 20092010.

IMPACT OF POPULATION CHANGE

A small increase in population is desirable in a
growing economy. However, population growth
14

Fundamentals of Human Geography

beyond a certain level leads to problems. Of

these the depletion of resources is the most
serious. Population decline is also a matter of
concern. It indicates that resources that had
supported a population earlier are now
insufficient to maintain the population.
The deadly HIV/AIDS epidemics in Africa and
some parts of the Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS) and Asia have pushed up death rates
and reduced average life expectancy. This has
slowed down population growth.

Population Growth Rate

The annual population growth rate in India

is 1.64 per cent. Some developed countries
will take 318 years to double their population
whereas some countries still do not show
symptoms of doubling their population.

Demographic transition theory can be used to

describe and predict the future population of
any area. The theory tells us that population of
any region changes from high births and high
deaths to low births and low deaths as society
progresses from rural agrarian and illiterate to
urban industrial and literate society. These
changes occur in stages which are collectively
known as the demographic cycle.

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Demographic Urban,
Rural,
Agrarian
Transition Industrial

engaged in agriculture where large families are

an asset. Life expectancy is low, people are
mostly illiterate and have low levels of
technology. Two hundred years ago all the
countries of the world were in this stage.
Fertility remains high in the beginning of
second stage but it declines with time. This is
accompanied by reduced mortality rate.
Improvements in sanitation and health
conditions lead to decline in mortality. Because
of this gap the net addition to population is
high.
In the last stage, both fertility and mortality
decline considerably. The population is either
stable or grows slowly. The population becomes
urbanised, literate and has high technical knowhow and deliberately controls the family size.
This shows that human beings are
extremely flexible and are able to adjust their
fertility.
In the present day, different countries are
at different stages of demographic transition.

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DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION

The Fig. 2.5 explains the three-staged

model of Demographic Transition Theory:

High Fluctuating
Stage
I

Stage
II

Stage
III

Expanding

BR

POPULATION CONTROL MEASURES

CBR/CDR

35

Natural
Increase in
Population
DR

15

Bangladesh
Present Rainforest
tribes
World
examples

Low Fluctuating

Peru

Sri Lanka
Kenya

Canada
Japan
USA

Time

Fig. 2.5: Demographic Transition Theory

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The first stage has high fertility and high

mortality because people reproduce more to
compensate for the deaths due to epidemics
and variable food supply. The population
growth is slow and most of the people are

Family planning is the spacing or preventing

the birth of children. Access to family planning
services is a significant factor in limiting
population growth and improving womens
health. Propaganda, free availability of
contraceptives and tax disincentives for large
families are some of the measures which can
help population control.
Thomas Malthus in his theory (1793)
stated that the number of people would
increase faster than the food supply. Any
further increase would result in a population
crash caused by famine, disease and war. The
preventive checks are better than the physical
checks. For the sustainability of our resources,
the world will have to control the rapid
population increase

The World Population: Distribution, Density and Growth

15

EXERCISES
Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.
(i)
Which one of the following continents has the highest growth of
population?
(a) Africa
(c)
Asia
(b) South America
(d) North America
(ii)
Which one of the following is not an area of sparse population?
(a) The Atacama
(c)
Equatorial region
(b) South-east Asia
(d) Polar regions
(iii)
Which one of the following is not a push factor ?
(a) Water shortage
(c)
Unemployment
(b) Medical/educational facilities
(d) Epidemics
(iv)
Which one of the following is not a fact ?
(a) Human population increased more than ten times during the past
500 years.
(b) It took 100 years for the population to rise from 5 billion to 6 billion.
(c) Population growth is high in the first stage of demographic transition?

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1.

2.

Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i)
Name three geographical factors that influence the distribution of
population.
(ii)
There are a number of areas with high population density in the world.
Why does this happen?
(iii)
What are the three components of population change?

3.

Distinguish between:
(i)
Birth rate and death rate.
(ii)
Push factors and pull factors of migration.

4.

Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

(i)
Discuss the factors influencing the distribution and density of population
in the world.
(ii)
Discuss the three stages of demographic transition.

Map Skill

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On the outline map of the world, show and name the following.
(i) Countries of Europe and Asia with negative growth rate of population.
(ii) African countries with growth rate of population more than three per
cent. (You may r efer to Appendix 1).

16

(i)

(ii)

Project/Activity

Has someone in your family migrated? Write about her/his place of

destination. What made her/him migrate?
Write a brief report on the distribution and density of population in
your state.

Fundamentals of Human Geography