The World Population - Distribution, Density and Growth.

Question 1

What is the real worth of a country and why?

Answer 1

• The people of a country are its real wealth.
• It is the people who are the actual resources and make use of the country’s other resources and decide its policies.

Question 2

What was the population of the world in the beginning of the 21st century?

Answer 2

Over 6 billion.

Question 3

Who said what about Asia’s population?

Answer 3

George B. Cressey - Asia has many places where people are few and few places were people are many.

Question 4

What are the 10 most populous countries in the world?

Answer 4

India, PRC, USA, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Brazil, Bangladesh, Russia, Ethiopia.

Question 5

What is the density of population and how do you measure it?

Answer 5

• Population density is the measure of the number of people living per unit area/the ratio between the numbers of people to the size of the land.
• Density of Population = Population/Area

Question 6

What are the geographical factors influencing the distribution of population?

Answer 6

1. Availability of water - Water is the most important factor for life. It is used for drinking, bathing, cooking, cattle, crops, etc. So, people prefer to live n areas where fresh water is easily available. This is why river valleys are among the most densely populated areas of the world, and also why some of the earliest civilisations were built near rivers.
2. Landforms - People prefer to live on flat plains and gentle slopes because such areas are favourable for agriculture and to build roads & industries. It is difficult in mountainous and hilly areas to develop transport network + they do not favour agricultural and industrial development. Which is why Ganga Plains are among the most densely populated areas of the world while the mountains zones in the Himalayas are scarcely populated.
3. Climate - Extreme climates are uncomfortable for human habitation. Areas with a comfortable climate and there is not much seasonal variation attract more people. Mediterranean regions were inhabited from early periods in history due to their pleasant climate.
4. Soils - Fertile soils are important for agriculture and allied activities. So, areas which have fertile loamy soils have more people living on them as these can support intensive agriculture.

Question 7

What are the economic factors influencing the distribution of population?

Answer 7

1. Minerals - Areas with mineral deposits attract industries > mining and industrial activities general employment > skilled and semi-skilled workers move here. Eg. Katanga Zambia copper belt in Africa.
2. Urbanisation - Cities = better employment opportunities, education and medical facilities, better means of transport and communication = good civic amenities + attraction of city = migration from rural to urban areas.
3. Industrialisation : Industrial belts = job opportunities (factory workers, transport operators, shopkeepers, bank employees, teachers, doctors, etc). Eg. Kobe-Osaka region of Japan.

Question 8

What are the social and cultural factors influencing the distribution of population?

Answer 8

• Some places attract more people because they have religious or cultural significance.
• People tend to move away from places where there is social and political unrest.
• Govs. offer incentitives to people to live in sparsely populated areas or move away from overcrowded places.

Question 9

What is population growth?

Answer 9

• Population growth refers to the change in number of inhabitants of a territory during a specific period of time.
• Change may be positive as well as negative.