Lesson View
Lesson
Title: Population Density and Distribution
Summary: World Geography, Module 3, Lesson 1 - Given a world population density map, students will identify
the locations of the world’s major population clusters and will summarize their findings.
World Population - A Brief Introduction
You are about to watch a short video on World Population. This video shows how population has increased over time,
and where in the world it has increased. While watching the video, answer the following questions:
http://youtu.be/8myUp2We2Lw
Source: Human Geography Population, MsAAllsop, You Tube
Compare your answers to the possible answers below to make sure that you have a good understanding of
population.
1.
What did you observe in the video?
Possible Answers:
o
o
o
o
o
2.
Important years impacting population growth or decline
Dots represent population
Major events occurred that impacted population
The heartbeat
The various locations of the dots
Were there any specific periods/events in history when the dots decreased?
Possible Answers:
o
o
o
3.
Byzantium
The Plague
The Civil War
Were there any specific periods/events in history when the dots increased?
Possible Answers:
o
o
o
o
o
o
Spread of Islam
Roman Empire
Exploration Period of Vikings; New World Exploration
Period of Liberty
Industrial periods
Electricity and Modern Medicine
4. What does the heartbeat symbolize and why does it get faster?
Answer: It represents population growth and the rate of the heartbeat increases as the world's population increases.
Population Distribution - Understanding Where People Live
Across this earth, people live in many different places. People live in cities, on islands, or in mountainous regions. This
is called population distribution. World population distribution varies from place to place. There are some areas where
the climate or terrain makes it difficult for people to live (example: Antarctica, remote jungles in Belize, or desert
corridor of Asia.) These places are sparsely populated since few people live there. Other places have better conditions,
such as a more temperate climate and more abundant resources, for people to live. These places are densely
populated since they contain many people in a given area (examples: New York City, China, and Europe).
World Population Distribution, 1998
Source: World Population Distribution Map, eHow
The map above is an example of a World Population Distribution Map. In this map, each dot represents
100,000 people. The more dots there are, the more people that live in the area. The opposite is also true: the fewer
dots there are, the fewer people that live in the area.
Based on this map, which continent had the most sparse population distribution?
You are correct if you said, Antarctica! Notice on this map there are no dots on Antarctica.
Which continent had the most dense population distribution?
This answer was a little tougher; Asia has the world's highest population. Although there are sparsely populated areas
in Asia, such as Russia, other countries such as China and India have higher populations.
Understanding Population Distribution
Activity:
completes it on the right.
Match the term or statement on the left and drag it to the term or statement that
Projected World Population Distribution by Region (percentage)
Source: Projected World Population Distribution by Region, World Bank Blog.
Look at the graph above. Are there any patterns that you can find? What regions seem to be increasing in their
percentage of world population? What regions seem to be decreasing in their percentage of the world's population? By
2050, what region is projected to have the highest percentage of the world's population?
Possible Answers: The population of Africa and Asia will continue to increase while Europe and North America will decrease. Latin
America and the Caribbean will decrease slightly and Oceania will remain stable. By 2050, the highest percentage of the world's
population will still exist in Asia.
Population Density - A Measurement of Where We Live
Population density refers to measurement of the number of people in a given area. Population density is
calculated by dividing the number of people by area. Population density is usually shown as the number of
people per square mile or square kilometer. The map below illustrates population density. (Helpful hint:
The darker the color, the greater the population density.)
World Population Density
Source: World Population Distribution Map, eHow
The map above shows that world population distribution is uneven. Some areas have a high population
density (many people living within a particular area) while others have a low population density (fewer
people live within a particular area). Areas of high population density tend to be located between 20° and
60°N. This area contains a large land area and a relatively temperate climate, making it easier for people
to live. On the map, the areas of high population density are represented by the dark areas.
The areas with low population density are sometimes areas with uninhabitable climates or undeveloped
(uninhabitable) land; these factors make it difficult for people to live in these areas. The lighter shaded
areas on the map represent the areas of low population density.
World Density Map
Source: World Density Map, Map Sharing
It is helpful to compare various types of world density maps. The map above uses various colors to
illustrate the differences. Again the lighter colors, the yellows, illustrate low density while the darker
colors, the deep purples represent the more densely populated areas.
Analyze the World Density Map above, which two continents have a majority of nations that are densely
populated?
Answer: Europe and Asia
Understanding Population Density
Activity: Match the term or statement on the left and drag it to the term or statement that
completes it on the right.
Density or Distribution-You Decide
Examine the following maps and decide whether it illustrates population distribution
or population density. Think carefully about what you have learned about each term and
select the best answer choice.
2009 United States Population Estimates United States by State
Source: 2009 United States Population Estimates United States by State, U.S. Census
If you said Population Density: Incorrect…Try again! This map does not illustrate how many people live within square
miles; instead it is based on how many people live within an area.
If you said Population Distribution: Correct! This map shows how many people live within a state and how the
population is distributed throughout the United States.
2009 United States Population Estimates - Persons per Square Mile
Source: 2009 United States Population Estimates- Persons per Square Mile, U.S. Census
If you chose Population Density: Correct! This map illustrates the number of people per square mile. Notice that the
states with the highest population density are in the northeastern portion of the United States. Wow… the states are
smaller in size!
If you chose Population Distribution: Incorrect…try again! This map does not illustrate the number of people that live
in an area; instead it shows how many live per square mile.
Note the difference between the two maps above.
Within the same area, density and distribution can look very different.