LESSON 2 - The global distribution of population
1. What about…
- Population distribution?
Population distribution is a spatial term which describes the arrangement or spread of the population over
an area. World population distribution is uneven. Places which are sparsely populated contain few people.
Places which are densely populated contain many people. Sparsely populated places tend to be difficult
places to live. These are usually places with hostile environments e.g. Antarctica. Places which are
densely populated are habitable environments e.g. Europe.
-
Population Density?
Population Density is a value which indicates the number of people living in a given area of land. It is an
average number. Population density is calculated by dividing the number of people by area. Population
density is usually shown as the number of people per square kilometer.
2. World population distribution: describe and analyze
- ¤Q1:
¤ What’s the kind of the document? The document is a map.
¤ What is the space represented? This map represents the world.
¤ What is the map about? This map is about world population distribution.
¤ What is the scale of the map? The scale is: 2 centimeters on the map equal 2,500
kilometers in real.
¤ What items does the map gives in its key? The cities of more than 8 million people and a
black dot for each 500,000 people located at the same place are drawn on the map.
-
Q 2: how can you qualify the world population distribution?
=> The world population distribution is very uneven (irregular). Some places are densely populated
and some sparsely populated.
E.G. : Almost 2 of every 5 people live in China and India whereas these two countries account for less
than 10 per cent of the world’s land area.
-
Q 3: where are the areas of high population, which are densely populated?
=> The major densely populated areas are in Asia, especially India and China, but also Indonesia,
and the Southeast Asia. Europe is an area of high population too. These three areas are the main
population concentrations in the world. Secondary population concentrations are located in the major
cities of American, European and African countries, most of the time on their littoral. E.G. : NewYork, Sao Paulo, Lagos.
-
Q 4: where are the areas of low population, which are sparsely populated?
=> The areas of low population are the north of America, the center of South America, the center of
North Africa, Siberia, the center of Asia, and Australia. These areas are sparsely populated and the
density of population is there very low.
-
Q 5: what can explain the uneven distribution of the world population?
=> Many reasons can explain the uneven distribution of the world population:
¤ the influence of physical factors such as climate, relief, vegetation, presence of water or
fertile soils.
¤ the influence of human factors such as economic activities, human resources, natural
resources or historical factors.
Unit 2 Lesson 1: The global distribution of population
3. The influence of physical and human factors in global population distribution
Favourable
Physical factors
Unfavourable
Climate
¤ In humid, tropical areas such as
South and Southeast Asia, high
temperatures and high precipitation
make it possible to grow two or three
crops a year. Wet rice cultivation
supports the highest rural population
densities in the world.
¤ Other regions with favourable
climates for agriculture (Western
Europe, the Mediterranean, central
and eastern USA, eastern China, and
the seasonally wet tropical areas of
Africa and Latin America)
Relief
Within the tropics, mountainous areas
often have more favourable climates
for agriculture than the lowlands. In
contrast to the scorched lowland,
there is enough precipitation to allow
cultivation. Also, the highlands have
fewer insect-borne diseases such as
malaria and yellow fever.
Soil
Fertile soils and water irrigation
encourage high population densities.
The highest rural densities in the
world are found on the rich alluvial
soils of the Nile, GangesBrahmaputra, Mekong and other
deltas.
Vegetation
¤ Large parts of continents are too dry
to support many people. The world’s
hot deserts have insufficient
precipitation for cultivation.
¤ In high latitudes low temperatures
rather than lack of rainfall deter
settlement. No one lives permanently in
icy areas like Antarctica or Greenland.
¤ The climates of the tundra and
coniferous forest in Alaska, Canada and
Siberia are less extreme than the polar
regions. None-the-less, population
densities are sparse. Low temperatures
and a short growing season make
cultivation impossible. Only small
groups of hunters and nomadic herders
have adapted to these conditions.
Outside the tropics mountain ranges
such as the Himalayas, Rockies and
Alps are too cold to attract large
populations. Even here temperatures
are high enough for farming; steep
slopes and poor soils often make
cultivation impossible.
Infertile soils like those of the tropical
rainforest attract few settlers. Shifting
cultivation, which supports population
densities of just one or two people
square kilometer, is the only sustainable
agriculture in rainforest.
Inaccessible rainforest and tropical
diseases account for the very low
densities in Amazonia, the Zaire Basin
and much of Indo-Malaysia.
Human factors
Economic activities
Human resources
¤ Agriculture usually results in moderate to low population densities
because it uses large areas of land as a resource to support farming
community.
¤ Industry, services and trade can result in great concentrations of
population. They use land for location, not production, relying
materials, energy and trade brought in from elsewhere.
¤ MEDCs can support high density, urban populations. They make use
of high technology and are rich in human resources (an educated,
Unit 2 Lesson 1: The global distribution of population
Natural resources
Historical factors
highly-skilled workforce). MEDCs include countries such as Japan,
Singapore and Taiwan as well as western Europe and the USA.
¤ In contrast, LEDC’s populations are mainly rural and have much
lower densities. They depend on low technology and have poorlyeducated, under-skilled workforces.
Natural resources such as energy, timber and minerals often have only
localized effect on population densities. Primary activities such as
mining, quarrying, forestry, etc, employ relatively few people. Many
LEDCs (Brazil, Congo) with immense natural resources, often lack the
necessary money, skills, and technology to exploit them.
The regions of highest density tend to be those that have been longest
settled. The high densities in much of India, eastern China and Europe
reflect civilizations which go back thousands of years. Compare this
with North and South America, Africa and Oceania, which until a few
hundred years ago had only small populations.
1. In
humid, tropical areas such as South and Southeast Asia, high temperatures and high
precipitation make it possible to grow two or three crops a year. Wet rice cultivation
supports the highest rural population densities in the world.
2. Other regions with favourable climates for agriculture (Western Europe, the
Mediterranean, central and eastern USA, eastern China, and the seasonally wet tropical
areas of Africa and Latin America)
3. Large parts of continents are too dry to support many people. The world’s hot deserts
have insufficient precipitation for cultivation.
4. In high latitudes low temperatures rather than lack of rainfall deter settlement. No one
lives permanently in icy areas like Antarctica or Greenland.
5. The climates of the tundra and coniferous forest in Alaska, Canada and Siberia are
less extreme than the polar regions. None-the-less, population densities are sparse. Low
temperatures and a short growing season make cultivation impossible. Only small
groups of hunters and nomadic herders have adapted to these conditions.
6. Within the tropics, mountainous areas often have more favourable climates for
agriculture than the lowlands. In contrast to the scorched lowland, there is enough
precipitation to allow cultivation. Also, the highlands have fewer insect-borne diseases
such as malaria and yellow fever.
7. Outside the tropics mountain ranges such as the Himalayas, Rockies and Alps are too
cold to attract large populations. Even here temperatures are high enough for farming;
steep slopes and poor soils often make cultivation impossible.
8. Fertile soils and water irrigation encourage high population densities. The highest
rural densities in the world are found on the rich alluvial soils of the Nile, GangesUnit 2 Lesson 1: The global distribution of population
Brahmaputra, Mekong and other deltas. Infertile soils like those of the tropical
rainforest attract few settlers. Shifting cultivation, which supports population densities
of just one or two people square kilometer, is the only sustainable agriculture in
rainforest.
9. Inaccessible rainforest and tropical diseases account for the very low densities in
Amazonia, the Zaire Basin and much of Indo-Malaysia.
10. Agriculture usually results in moderate to low population densities because it uses
large areas of land as a resource to support farming community.
11. Industry, services and trade can result in great concentrations of population. They
use land for location, not production, relying materials, energy and trade brought in
from elsewhere
12. MEDCs can support high density, urban populations. They madke use of high
technology and are rich in human resources (an educated, highly-skilled workforce).
MEDCs include countries such as Japan, Singapor and Taïwan as well as western
Europe and the USA.
13. In contrast, LEDC’s populations are mainly rural and have much lower densities.
They depend on low technology and have poorly-educated, under-skilled workforces.
14. Natural resources such as energy, timber and minerals often have only localized
effect on population densities. Primary activities such as mining, quarrying, forestry,
etc, employ relatively few people. Many LEDCs (Brazil, Congo) with immense natural
resources, often lack the necessary money, skills, and technology to exploit them.
15. The regions of highest density tend to be those that have been longest settled. The
high densities in much of India, eastern China and Europe reflect civilizations which go
back thousands of years. Compare this with North and South America, Africa and
Oceania, which until a few hundred years ago had only small populations.
Unit 2 Lesson 1: The global distribution of population
LESSON 2 - The global distribution of population : describe and analyze the document
A. Observe the map enclosed and answer the questions:
Q 1 : What’s the kind of the document? What is the space represented? What is the map about? What is the scale of the
map? What items does the map gives in its key?
Q 2: how can you qualify the world population distribution?
Q 3: where are the areas of high population, which are densely populated?
Q 4: where are the areas of low population, which are sparsely populated?
Q 5 : what can explain the uneven distribution of the world population?
B. Read the paragraph, underline the important words and ideas.
You will have to explain what this paragraph is about and which kind of factor it highlights.
Word box :
uneven : not following a regular pattern; not having a regular size and shape
dense : containing a lot of people, things, plants, etc. with little space between them /
densily
sparse : only present in small amounts or numbers and often spread over a large area /
sparsely
crop : the amount of grain, fruit, etc. that is grown in one season / syn : harvest
lack (of sth) : the state of not having sth or not having enough of sth
to deter : to make sb decide not to do sth or continue doing sth especially by making
them understand the difficulties and unpleasant results of their actions
settlement : a place where people have come to live and make their homes, especially
where few or no people lived before ; the process of people making their homes in a
place / to settle
herder / herds-man : a man whose job is to take care of a group of animals
lowland : an area of land that is fairly flat and not very high above sea level
scorched : burned
-borne : carried by (insect-borne disease ; waterborne disease)
steep (of a slope, hill, etc.) : rising or falling quickly, not gradually
fertile/ infertile : that plants grow well in / not able to produce good crops
skill : the ability to do sth well
skilled at/in : having enough ability, experience and knowledge to be able to do sth well
timber : trees that are grown to be used in building or for making things
quarry : a place where large amounts of stone, etc. are dug out of the ground
MEDC : More Economically Developed Countries
LEDC : Less Economically Developed Countries
Unit 2 Lesson 1: The global distribution of population