Introduction
Importance of Population
- Population refers to the total number of people living in a specific area at a given time.
- People are not just consumers of resources—they are producers, innovators, and contributors to development.
- A well-educated and skilled population acts as a human resource, contributing to economic and social progress.
Overview of World Population in the 21st Century
- As of early 21st century, the global population has crossed 8 billion.
- The growth is not uniform—developing countries like India and Nigeria are growing rapidly, while developed nations have stable or declining populations.
- Asia remains the most populous continent, with China and India alone comprising over one-third of the world’s population.
Patterns of Population Distribution in the World
Definition
- Population distribution refers to the pattern of where people live across the Earth’s surface.
Uneven Distribution
- Population is concentrated in some areas (e.g., river valleys, coastal plains) and sparse in others (e.g., deserts, mountains).
- 90% of the world’s population lives on just 10% of the land surface.
Population Patterns in Asia – George B. Cressey’s Observation
“Asia has many places where people are few and few places where people are many.”
- This reflects dense concentrations in river valleys (e.g., Ganga, Yangtze) and sparse populations in deserts and highlands (e.g., Tibet, Gobi Desert).
Most Populous Countries (as per recent data):
| Rank | Country | Estimated Population (2023) |
| 1 | India | ~1.43 billion |
| 2 | China | ~1.41 billion |
| 3 | USA | ~339 million |
| 4 | Indonesia | ~277 million |
| 5 | Pakistan | ~240 million |
Density of Population
Definition
- Population Density = Number of people per unit area (usually per sq. km).
Example
- If a country has 10 million people and covers 100,000 sq. km:
Significance
- Helps in understanding pressure on resources, infrastructure planning, and land use.
- High population density areas need more health, transport, and housing services.
Factors Influencing the Distribution of Population
I. Geographical Factors
- Availability of Water
- Settlements are concentrated near rivers, lakes, and freshwater sources.
- Example: Dense population in the Ganga, Nile, and Yangtze river valleys.
- Landforms
- Plains are more suitable for agriculture and transport, thus attract dense population.
- Mountains, plateaus, and deserts tend to have sparse population due to difficult terrain.
- Climate
- Moderate and temperate climates support large populations (e.g., Western Europe).
- Extreme climates (hot deserts, freezing polar zones) discourage habitation.
- Soil Fertility
- Fertile soils support agriculture and food production.
- Example: Indo-Gangetic Plain, Nile Delta have high population density due to productive soils.
II. Economic Factors
- Minerals and Industrialization
- Areas rich in minerals attract mining and related industries, leading to labor influx.
- Example: Chota Nagpur Plateau (India), Ruhr Valley (Germany).
- Urbanization
- Urban centers offer better infrastructure, education, health, and entertainment facilities.
- Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Shanghai, and New York have high population densities.
- Employment Opportunities
- Industrial zones, IT hubs, and service sectors provide jobs that pull people from rural and remote areas.
III. Social and Cultural Factors
- Religious and Cultural Importance
- Places of pilgrimage and cultural heritage attract both pilgrims and permanent settlers.
- Example: Varanasi, Mecca, Jerusalem.
- Social and Political Stability
- Stable and peaceful areas are preferred for residence and investment.
- Conflict zones or politically unstable regions see out-migration.
- Government Incentives for Settlement
- Policies like Special Economic Zones (SEZs), housing schemes, and tax benefits encourage migration and settlement in targeted areas.