This document discusses factors that influence human population distribution and density. It explains that population is not evenly distributed globally, as people tend to settle near valuable resources like fresh water, arable land, and in areas with temperate climates and good economic opportunities. Population density is highest along coastlines, river valleys, and in cities that offer jobs, transportation, and were established historically. Government policies also impact population distribution through initiatives like China's one-child policy.

3. Population Density and
Distribution

4. Human Population
In the last lesson you learned how
to be a demographer. A
demographer looks statistically at
how people are distributed spatially
and by age, gender, occupation,
and so on.

5. Population Distribution
Population distribution refers to
where people live around the
world. For instance, in the United
States most people live on the
coasts or near major waterways.
Population is not evenly
distributed around the earth’s
surface.

7. Natural Resources
People live closer to valuable
resources such as oil, arable land,
and fresh water. Most people in
the world live near the coast or
along a major waterway and they
live on flat ground that is easy to
farm.

8. Climate
There are parts of the earth
where people cannot live or it is
very difficult to live because it is
too cold. People don’t live in
Antarctica and very few people
live in the arctic.

9. Climate
Wet climates can also be a problem
such as tropical rainforests. The
Amazon rainforest is sparsely
populated because the soil is not
very fertile.

10. Economic Development
People don’t live in areas where
there are no jobs. This is one
reason why people migrate to
other countries or to cities. We
will discuss this in a later lesson.

11. Government Policy
In the United States people are
free to live wherever they want,
however, in countries such as
China or the former Soviet Union
the government forced people to
live in certain areas.

12. Rural/Urban Settlement
The location of cities affects
population distribution. Think
about the United States. Most of
the major cities are on the coasts
or near the Great Lakes. These
are also the most heavily
populated areas.

13. Capital Resources
Areas that have good
transportation networks such as
roads, trains, subways, or busses
are more heavily populated.

14. Conflicts
Wars have a major impact on
population distribution because
people flee areas that have
conflicts. Some examples are the
Sudan, Rwanda, and the Former
Yugoslavia.

15. Population Density
Population density is the number
of people occupying an area of
land. In this course we will use
the number of people who live per
square mile or kilometer.
However, there are other ways of
computing population density.

16. Population Growth
China is the most populated
country in the world.
In the next 50 years India will
have more people than China.
Asia has over 1/3 of the earth’s
population.

17. Population Growth
 The factors that influence population
growth are:
A. Modern medicine and hygiene
B. Education
C. Industrialization and urbanization
D. Economic development
E. Government policy
F. Role of women in society

18. Education
 Population will decrease in countries
with many educated people because:
A. More people have careers so they
decide not to have as many children
B. Fewer people are farming so they
don’t want children

19. Industrialization
Population growth will decrease as a
country becomes more developed.
Countries that are highly industrialized
have low population growth rates.

20. Government Policy
The government of China has a one
child policy. Families can only have
one child otherwise the population
would grow too rapidly. If a family has
more than one child they must pay a
fine.

21. Role of Women in Society
A. Countries with low population growth
rates have more women working in
the labor force.
B. Countries where women are expected
to stay at home and be housewives
will have high population growth
rates.