Unit 6
Population Distribution & Growth
Population Density
• Refers to the number of people in a certain area of
land
• A ratio can be calculated by:
Population ÷ land area = number of people per unit of land
Using NL for example:
• 551,792 (Population) ÷ 405,720 km2 (Land Area) = 1.36
• There is 1.36 people/km2
Population Density
• What is the population density of:
Bangladesh
– Population 127,117,967
– Land Area 133,910 km2
POPULATION DENSITY = 949 people/ km2
Brazil
– Population 171,853,126
– Land Area 8,456,510 km2
POPULATION DENSITY = 20 people/ km2
How populated?
• Densely populated =
More than 100 people/
km2
• Sparsely populated =
Less than 100 people/
km2
Bangladesh?
• 949 people/ km2
• Densely populated
Brazil?
• 20 people/ km2
• Sparsely populated
NL?
• 1.36 people/ km2
• Sparsely populated
Population Density NOT a good
indicator of Population Distribution
Why not?
•
•
•
•
Assumes people are equally/evenly spread out.
For example:
A country can have a low population density, but
Cities within that country can have a very high
population density.
• Country of Spain = 78.43 people/ km2
• City of Barcelona, Spain = 3404 people/ km2
Population Distribution
• Describes how people are spread out.
• Where people live!
• When combined with population density gives a
more accurate picture of the population.
• Where are the heavier concentrations of people
versus the sparsely populated areas.
Identify global patterns of population distribution
• Use MAP ( figure 18.5) on page 304
• Make reference to density AND locations
North America
– Sparsely populated in north
– Densely populated along North eastern U.S. and south
western U.S.
– WHY?
South America
–
–
–
–
Sparsely populated in Center
Densely populated along Western Coast
But most dense south eastern Brazil.
WHY?
Europe
– Sparsely populated in Extreme North
– Densely populated throughout.
– WHY?
Asia
– Sparsely populated in North & center
– Densely populated in South East
– WHY?
Africa
– Sparsely populated in Sahara
– Densely in North & Sub Sahara
– WHY?
Factors affecting Population Density
and Distribution
• Climate:
– Warmer comfortable climates attract people.
– Most people live in a moderate climate region.
• Economics:
– Population distribution has changed over time.
– No longer are dense populations around primary
resources.
– Urbanization and the move to the industrial and now the
information ages have changed population distribution.
• Transportation:
– Coastal regions attracted business and people because of
ocean transportation.
– It was true for initial settlement and is still true today.
– Most major cities are located on the coast.