<h5 id="patterns-of-population-distribution-in-the-world">PATTERNS OF POPULATION DISTRIBUTION IN THE WORLD</h5> <ul> <li>Population distribution refers to the way people are spaced over the earth’s surface.</li> <li>90% of the world population occupies about 10% of its land area.</li> <li>The 10 most populous countries contribute about 60% of the world’s population.</li> <li>Six of these highly populous countries are located in Asia: China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Japan.</li> <li>The population distribution is a key factor in understanding the demographic characteristics of any area.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="density-of-population">DENSITY OF POPULATION</h5> <ul> <li>The density of population is a ratio of the number of people to the size of land, usually measured in persons per sq km.</li> <li>It is calculated using the formula: Density of Population = Population / Area</li> <li>For example, if the population of a region is 1,50,000 persons and the area is 100 sq km, then the density of population is 1,500 person/sq km.</li> <li>A high density of population indicates a larger number of people living in a smaller area.</li> <li>Asia has the highest density of population, which could be due to a variety of factors such as high population rates and limited land availability.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="factors-influencing-the-distribution-of-population">FACTORS INFLUENCING THE DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION</h5> <ul> <li>The distribution of population is influenced by various factors.</li> <li>Physical factors include landforms, climate, and vegetation.</li> <li>Economic factors include employment opportunities, income levels, and industrialization.</li> <li>Social factors include culture, religion, and language.</li> <li>Political factors include government policies, boundaries, and conflicts.</li> <li>Technological factors like advancements in transportation and communication also influence population distribution.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="i-geographical-factors">I. Geographical Factors</h5> <ul> <li>The availability of fresh water is a crucial geographical factor for human habitation, with river valleys being among the most densely populated areas due to water’s use in daily life and various industries.</li> <li>People generally prefer to live on flat plains and gentle slopes as these areas are more conducive to agricultural activities, road and infrastructure development, and industrial growth.</li> <li>Climate plays a significant role in human habitation, with areas of comfortable, moderate temperatures and minimal seasonal variation attracting more people compared to extreme deserts, harsh climates, or areas with heavy rainfall.</li> <li>Fertile soils are essential for agricultural and allied activities, making loamy soil regions more densely populated due to their support for intensive agriculture.</li> <li>In India, regions with poor soils and less fertility tend to be thinly populated.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="ii-economic-factors">II. Economic Factors</h5> <ul> <li>Minerals deposits attract industries and mining activities, leading to employment generation and population growth in those areas. (Example: Katanga Zambia copper belt in Africa)</li> <li>Urbanization, driven by better job opportunities, facilities, and amenities, results in rural-to-urban migration and growth of cities. Mega cities attract large number of migrants each year.</li> <li>Industrial belts offer job opportunities, attracting various types of workers, leading to population concentration. (Example: Kobe-Osaka region of Japan)</li> <li>Population growth in industrial areas is due to the presence of various job opportunities, including factory workers, transport operators, shopkeepers, bank employees, doctors, teachers, and other service providers.</li> <li>City life can have its drawbacks, such as unpleasant aspects, despite the attractions of urbanization and industrialization.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="iii-social-and-cultural-factors">III. Social and Cultural Factors</h5> <ul> <li>Places can attract or deter population based on social and cultural factors.</li> <li>Religious and cultural significance can draw people to certain locations.</li> <li>Social and political unrest can cause population to decrease in specific areas.</li> <li>Government incentives are sometimes provided to encourage population growth in sparsely populated regions or to reduce overcrowding.</li> <li>Examples of these phenomena can be found in various local and regional contexts.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="population-growth">POPULATION GROWTH</h5> <ul> <li>Population growth refers to the change in number of inhabitants of a territory during a specific period of time, which can be positive or negative, and expressed in absolute numbers or percentage.</li> <li>Growth of population is the change of population in a particular area between two points of time.</li> <li>Growth rate of population is the change of population expressed in percentage.</li> <li>Natural growth of population is the population increased by the difference between births and deaths in a particular region between two points of time (Natural Growth = Births - Deaths).</li> <li>Actual growth of population is Births - Deaths + In Migration - Out Migration.</li> <li>Positive growth of population occurs when the birth rate is more than the death rate between two points of time or when people from other countries migrate permanently to a region, while negative growth of population occurs when the population decreases between two points of time due to the birth rate falling below the death rate or people migrating to other countries.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="components-of-population-change">Components of Population Change</h5> <ul> <li>The components of population change are births, deaths, and migration.</li> <li>Crude Birth Rate (CBR) is the number of live births in a year per thousand of the population, calculated as: CBR = (Bi/P) x 1000, where Bi = live births during the year and P = mid-year population of the area.</li> <li>Crude Death Rate (CDR) is a simple method of measuring mortality of any area, expressed in terms of number of deaths in a particular year per thousand of population in a particular region, calculated as: CDR = (D/P) x 1000, where D = Number of deaths and P = estimated mid-year population of that year.</li> <li>Mortality rates are influenced by the region’s demographic structure, social advancement, and levels of economic development.</li> <li>Population growth occurs not only by increasing birth rates but also due to decreasing death rates.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="migration">Migration</h5> <ul> <li>Migration is the movement of people from one place to another, leading to a decrease in population in the place of origin and an increase in the place of destination.</li> <li>It can be of three types: permanent, temporary, or seasonal, and can occur between rural and urban areas.</li> <li>People migrate for better economic and social opportunities, driven by “push” factors that make their current location less attractive (e.g., unemployment, poor living conditions) and “pull” factors that make the destination more attractive (e.g., better job opportunities, living conditions).</li> <li>Migrants moving into a new place are called immigrants, while those moving out are called emigrants.</li> <li>Reasons for migration include factors like political turmoil, unpleasant climate, natural disasters, epidemics, socio-economic backwardness, and better job opportunities and living conditions.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="demographic-transition">DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION</h5> <ul> <li>Demographic transition theory describes and predicts population changes in a region, from high births and high deaths to low births and low deaths as society progresses.</li> <li>The theory involves a three-staged model: <ol> <li>High fertility and high mortality due to epidemics and variable food supply, resulting in slow population growth.</li> <li>Fertility remains high, but mortality declines due to improved sanitation and health conditions, leading to a high net addition to the population.</li> <li>Both fertility and mortality decline considerably, with a stable or slowly growing, urbanized, literate, and highly skilled population.</li> </ol> </li> <li>The transition occurs in stages called the demographic cycle, with different countries currently at various stages of this cycle.</li> <li>This theory highlights human adaptability, particularly in adjusting fertility rates.</li> </ul> <p>======</p> <h5 id="population-control-measures">POPULATION CONTROL MEASURES</h5> <ul> <li>Family planning involves spacing or preventing the birth of children.</li> <li>Access to family planning services can limit population growth and improve women’s health.</li> <li>Measures for population control include propaganda, free availability of contraceptives, and tax disincentives for large families.</li> <li>Thomas Malthus predicted a population crash due to faster population growth than food supply; preventive checks are better than physical checks.</li> <li>Population control is necessary for the sustainability of resources, as the world is facing a rapid population increase.</li> </ul> <p>======</p>