World Population Distribution

POPULATION DISTRIBUTION

(WORLD POPULATION)

(A) THE GROWTH OF POPULATION Until quite recently systematic study of population has been largely neglected by geographers, in contrast with other fields of Human Geography. However, in recent years there has been a growing awareness of the importance of population studies within the broad framework of human geography.

Population geography is concerned with the study of demographic processes and their consequences in an environmental context. The study of population is called demography, and it is important for the human geographer, to know, for any country or area he may he studying the following facts: :

(a) The size or numbers of the population..

(b) The density and distribution of the population.

(c)The growth during recent times.

(d) The current rate Of growth and movements..

(e) The age structure of the population.

(f) The balance between males and females.

(g) The standard and ratio of literacy.

These are matters of considerable consequence to the state government for they have economic and social even politico military implications

Around 5000 BC It is possible that the total world population was only of the order of some 10 millions By the time of Christ it has been estimated that the Earths peoples totaled about 100 millions By AD 1600 world population was probably around 400 millions If we look at the history of growth of population of the world, we shall find that the population has increased very rapidly over a particular period of time. During three centuries, between 1650 and 1950 the population of the world increased five fold, i.e. from 500 millions to about 2,500 millions. We are living in a period of Un paralleled population growths. In 1980 the estimated world population was more than 4.332 millions, In (Mid-1996) the world population was estimated 5,771 millions, and apparently increasing by over 8000 each hour, every day there are an additional 300,000 mouths to be fed. At the current rate of growth there wilt be at least 5000 million, and double the present world population by 2000. This expansion has been so great during recent generations that we have come to speak of a “Population explosion

THE PATTERN OF

(B) WORLD POPULATION DISTRIBUTION.

Apart from their rapid rate of increase, human beings are also very unevenly distributed, which leads to the problem of over population. Various geographical and other factors were mentioned which affected the distribution and density of population on this earth. In brief, it can be said that population wilt concentrate iii those parts of the earth where natural and cultural environmental conditions are most favorable for human settlement and economic activities.

The general pattern of world’s population can be studied under the following heads.

1. HIGH DENSITY AREAS: Areas with a population of more than 125 persons per square mile are termed as Densely Populated regions. Sonic areas are very densely populated e.g. Singapore Island has an average density of nearly 9000 people per square miles. In fact, 80% the total population occupies less than 20% of the land surface. South East Asia, Europe and north-eastern North America are recognized as outstanding favorable spots for human concentration. These three regions alone account for 70%. of the total world population only in South East Asia move then 50% of the world’s population live on as little as 10% of the world’s land area; in Europe 12% of the world’s population occupy less than 5% of the land area; while a further 4% occupy the Atlantic fringe of North America.

Besides, here and there, there are some other smaller areas having high density of population via Java in Indonesia, Nile Valley in Egypt South-eastern Brazil in South America and Sydney in Australia

In the north-east of the USA and North West Europe, and in Japan the concentration of population-is mainly due to

(1) Manufacturing activity which has been possible primarily because of large supplies of minerals - coal and iron

(2) Large amounts of capital investments

(3) An advanced stage of science and technology

(4) Lies entirely within the temperate zone

(5) Men have the greatest capacity for Work

(6) Developed countries.

(7) Developed trade relations with other parts of the world

(8) Large scale production of the products machinery

(9) High standard of living

(10) Use of machines in agriculture, and

(11) Fertile agricultural lands.

Agricultural Monsoon Asia :This is the largest area of continuous population density. It includes populous countries China. Japan India. Indonesia, (Java particularly), Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka :. coastal plains and deltaic regions of continental and insular

South East Asia, and all these regions are densely populated because of.

(1) The fertile alluvial soils of the Hawang-Ho, Yangtzekiang and SiKilang of China The indo-Gangetic Plain of lndo Pakistan.

(2) The rice bowls of the Irrawady delta, the Mekong and Mekong and Minam deltas.

(3) Together with the rich volcanic soils of Java, Philippines and Deccan Plateaus of India

(4) Japan, as a very important industrial power in the world.

(5) Due to the great suitability -of environmental conditions for the growth of agricultural crops. (rice, wheat, tea, rubber, jute, cotton, sugarcane).

(6) In these lands because of the importance of manufacturing industries, the mineral areas also are becoming centers of dense population. (e.g. fields of oil producing countries)

(7) Rice, fish are the main cause of fertility in the women.

(8)In no part of the world the