- Population Growth – Change in population over time (increase or decrease).
- Natural Growth – Births – Deaths.
- Actual Growth – Births – Deaths + Migration.
- CBR & CDR – Births and deaths per 1000 people per year.
- Migration Factors – Push (poverty, unemployment) and Pull (jobs, better life).
Definitions [1]
Density of Population: The density of population is the number of persons living per unit of an area. It is usually expressed as number of people per square kilometre (sq km).
Formulae [2]
`"Density of population" = "Number of people in a defined area unit"/"Total area in square km of that particular area"`
Formula: Density
\[DensityofPopulation=\frac{Population}{Area}\]
Key Points
Key Points: The World Population
- Uneven Distribution – The world population is unevenly distributed; about 90% of people live on only 10% of the land area.
- Highly Populated Countries – The 10 most populous countries account for about 60% of the world’s population, and 6 of them are in Asia.
- Population Distribution – It refers to the way people are spread over the Earth’s surface.
- Population Density – It is the number of people living per square kilometre of land.
Key Points: Population Growth
Key Points: Factors Influencing The Distribution of Population
- Geographical Factors – Availability of water, fertile soils, flat landforms and favourable climate attract population, while mountains and extreme climates have low population.
- Water Availability – River valleys are densely populated because water is essential for drinking, agriculture, industries and transport.
- Economic Factors – Areas rich in minerals and industries attract workers due to employment opportunities, leading to high population density.
- Urbanisation – Cities provide better jobs, education, medical facilities and transport, so they attract migrants and grow rapidly.
- Social and Cultural Factors – Religious importance, political stability and government policies also influence where people settle or migrate.
Key Points: Demographic Transition
- Demographic Transition Theory – Population changes from high birth & death rates to low birth & death rates as a country develops from rural–agricultural to urban–industrial.
- Stage 1 – High birth rate + high death rate = slow population growth (low literacy, poor health, agrarian economy).
- Stage 2 – High birth rate + declining death rate = rapid population growth (better health and sanitation).
- Stage 3 – Low birth rate + low death rate = stable or slow growth (urban, educated, small families).
- Population Control – Family planning, awareness, contraceptives and small family norms help control population; Malthus warned that unchecked population growth can cause famine and crisis.
Important Questions [4]
- "Broadly 90 percent of the world population lives in about 10 percent of its land area." Examine the statement in context of patterns of population distribution in the world.
- Study the given figure carefully and answer the questions that follow: Name the highest populous country. How many total countries of Asia continent are shown in the figure?
- On the given political outline Map of India, locate and label any five of the following: A State with highest level of population density. State with the highest level of urbanisation.
- Examine any five factors which are responsible for population flow from rural to urban areas in India.
Concepts [10]
- The World Population - Distribution, Density and Growth
- Patterns of Population Distribution in the World
- Density of Population
- Factors Influencing the Distribution of the Population
- Doubling Time of World Population
- Spatial Pattern of Population Change
- Impact of Population Change
- Theories of Population Growth
- Population Control Measures
- Overview of The World Population - Distribution, Density and Growth
