Discusses the concept of population distribution & density & briefly describes the factors affecting them

1. Dr. Meenakshi Prasad
Assistant Professor
P.G. Deptt. of Geography
M.U, Bodh Gaya
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2. Population
The number of human beings that live in a
particular geographical area at a particular
time .
An important aspect of human population is
its distribution & density
Source : google images

3. Distribution & Density
Population Distribution describes how the
individuals are distributed or spread
throughout a given area. It is the spatial
pattern of dispersal of population.
Population Density represents the average
number of individuals per unit of geographical
area. In simple terms it is the ratio between
the population and area.

4. • The concept of population density was first used
by Henry Drury Harness in 1837 in a series of
maps prepared by him considering the railways of
Ireland.
• The density is used to make areal comparison
• It is a useful means of assessing over population
& under population
• It is a measure of the incidence of population
concentration in terms of persons per square
kilometer or per square mile
Contd ……

5. Types of Population Density
•Arithmetic Density
•Agricultural Density
•Physiological Density

6. Arithmetic Density
• Arithmetic density is the simple ratio between
total population & the total area & is
expressed in terms of persons per unit of area
• Arithmetic Density = Total Population
Total Area

7. Agricultural Density
• Agricultural density is the ratio between only
the agricultural population & the total
cultivated area.
• It is expressed in terms of agricultural
population per unit of cultivated area
• An useful index of man-land relationship in
primarily agrarian context
• Agricultural Density = Agricultural Population
Total Cultivated Area

8. Physiological Density
• Ratio between total population & total arable/
cultivable land
• It is expressed in terms of persons per square
kilometer of cultivable land
• Presents the correct picture of human pressure
on land
• A higher physiological density suggests that the
available agricultural land is being used by more
and may reach its output limit sooner than a
country that has a lower physiological density

9. • Physiological Density = Total Population
Total Cultivable Land
Contd…..
Source : google images

10. Factors
Affecting the
Distribution
& Density of
Population
PHYSICAL
DEMOGRAPHIC
HISTORICAL
CULTURAL

11. Physical Factors
• Relief or terrain – Plain areas encourage a higher
concentration & density of population as
compared to mountainous regions as the steep
slope of the mountains restrict the availability of
land for agriculture, development of transport,
industries & other economic activities, while the
plain areas with gentle slope are ideal for the
development of these activities
• Staszewski in his exhaustive analysis of the
vertical distribution of population has shown that
both the

12. number & densities decline with increasing
altitude
• According to him a little more than 56% of the
world’s population lives within 200 m from the
sea level & over 80% within 500 m.
• The Himalayan region which occupies about 13%
of India supports only 1-2% of its population
while the Great Central plains which occupies less
than 1/4th of the country supports more than half
of the country’s population
Contd…….

13. • Climate – Temperature & rainfall play an
important role in determining the population
of an area. Climatic extremes discourage the
concentration of population. Such climates
include the extremely cold climate like we
have in the Himalayas or Extremely dry & hot
climate like we have in the Thar desert.
• A moderate climate is favourable for
population
• The population map of India follows its rainfall
map to a large extent.

14. • Fertility of Soil – Fertile soil supports a higher
population concentration & density while infertile
soil decreases both.
• Alluvial soil of Great Central plains & coastal
plains & black soil of Deccan plateau of India
support a higher population density
• Availability of Water – Water is the basic
necessity for irrigation, industries, transport &
domestic purposes. So its availability encourages
concentration & density of population. This is the
reason why river valleys of India are densely
populated

15. • Availability of Mineral
Resources – Areas rich in
mineral resources tend to have
a large concentration & density
of population as such areas
have great possibilities of
economic development &
employment opportunities
• The higher density of
population in Chhota Nagpur
plateau is one such example
Source : google images

16. Cultural Factors:
• Industrialisation – Population has a magnetic
attraction towards industrial centres & regions as
they provide massive employment opportunities.
Thus, such areas have a high density of
population.
• Industries are capable of supporting more people
as compared to agricultural lands
• Phenomenal growth of industries is one of the
major causes for relatively high population
density West Bengal, Maharashtra & Gujarat

17. • Development of Transport Network – Areas with
good transport network are more accessible and
hence have more population & higher density &
vice-versa
• The northern plains of India have a dense
transport network and is densely populated. The
peninsular plateau has moderate network of
transport & hence is moderately populated. The
Himalayan region lacks in transport facilities and
is therefore scarcely populated with a low density
of population.

18. • Urbanisation – Urban centres act like magnets
for migrant population as the offer a wide
variety of employment opportunities, better
educational & health facilities, security &
promise a better standard of living. Thus, they
have a high concentration of population & a
high to very high population density
• Urban centres in India like Greater Mumbai,
Delhi, Kolkata, etc. have population densities
of over 6000 persons /square km.

19. • Safety & Security – Areas that offer a better
sense of security & safety to the people have a
higher concentration of people & a higher
density & vice-versa.
• The urban centres are densely populated
while the frontier areas of any countries are
sparsely populated
• War torn areas & areas of political unrest of
militant or naxal activities tend to discourage
population concentration

20. • Government Policy – The government policies
may encourage or discourage the growth as
well as settlement of population in a region
there by affecting the population
concentration & its density
• The article 370 in J & K which was in force till
July 2019 was a major reason for low
population density in J & K

21. Historical Factors :
• Duration of human settlement is an important
determinant of the magnitude of population
concentration in any area
• Most of the densely populated areas have a
very long history of human habitation, such as
the river valleys
• However, there may be exceptions to this as in
the case of Mesopotamia

22. Demographic Factors :
• Among the demographic factors fertility rate,
mortality rate & migration are considered
• The difference between fertility rate & mortality
rate decides the natural increase in population. If
this difference is high population grows rapidly in
an area making it densely populated as is the
case with states like Bihar.
• In-migration increases the concentration &
density of population while out-migartion leads
to the opposite, for eg. Urban centres are
exploding with population due to in-migration

23. Conclusion
• In fact the distribution & density of population
is affected by the combination of all the
previously mentioned factors.
• What can be noted is that in most of the areas
of the world both are increasing.

24. References
• Chandana, R.C: Population Geography, Kalyani Publisers, New Delhi,
2017
• Ojha, S.K : Jansankhya evam nagrikaran, Bauddhik Prakashan, 2017
• Khullar, D.R : India – A Comprehensive Geography, Kalyani
Publishers, New Delhi, 2010
• http://epgp.inflibnet.ac.in/epgpdata/uploads/epgp_content/S0004
53PO/P001844/M029745/ET/1525155870PS_MU_23Factors_affect
ing_Distribution_ofPopulationModule23Paper10Ed.pdf
• http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/population-geography/factors-
that-affects-population-distribution/43092
• https://www.jkgeography.com/physical-and-human-factors-
affecting-global-population-distribution.html