Question

Answer the following question in about 150 words.

Discuss the factors influencing the distribution and density of population in the world.

Answer 1

The factors influencing the distribution and density of the population in the world may be classified into three broad categories, which may again be divided into minor elements. They are enumerated below.

Geographical factors:

• Availability of water: It is the most critical factor in life. People prefer to live in areas where fresh water is readily available. Water is essential for the development of agriculture and for carrying out day-to-day activities.
• Landforms: People prefer to live on flat plains and gentle slopes, as they are favourable for crop production and for building roads and industries. The mountainous and uneven terrain poses obstacles to infrastructure development, hampering human development and, hence, resulting in less population. Eg, Himalayan regions in India.
• Climate: People prefer living in areas that do not have extreme climatic conditions, that is, areas with a low daily and annual temperature range and adequate rainfall. Eg, Mediterranean regions.
• Soils: Fertile soils are essential for agricultural and allied activities. Therefore, areas with fertile loamy soils have more people living in them as these can support intensive agriculture. Eg, Northern plains.

Economic factors:

• Minerals: Areas rich in minerals attract industries. Mining and allied activities generate employment. Skilled and semi-skilled workers move to these areas, making them densely populated. Eg, Katanga, Zambia copper belt in Africa.
• Industrialisation: Industrial belts provide job opportunities and attract large numbers of people. These include factory workers, transport operators, shopkeepers, doctors and other professionals.
  Eg: The Kobe - Osaka industrial region of Japan.
• Urbanisation: Better employment opportunities, educational and medical facilities, and improved transport and communication attract people to cities. It leads to rural-urban migration, and hence cities grow in size.
  E.g., many people move to cities like Delhi and Mumbai, making them densely populated.

Social and cultural factors:

• Some places attract more people because they have religious or cultural significance. In the same way, people tend to move away from areas with social and political unrest.
• For example, the emigration of people from Africa’s civil war-affected areas. The government often incentivises people to live in sparsely populated areas. 
  E.g. Indira Gandhi Canal colonies.