1.4 Population density and distribution Flashcards
Population density
The avarage number of people per square kilometre in a country or region
Population distribution
The way that the population is spread out over a given area, from a small region to the Earth as a whole
Densely population
Area with high population density
Sparsely populated
Areas with a low population density
Population density in less developed country’s on avarage..higher or lower than developed?
2.5x more dense than developed
Which places have the lowest population densitys in the world
North America
Oceania
Where do most distributions of population occur
Where there is little variation in the physical and human environments
What factors effect population
Water supply Hostility of environment such as mountains, polar regions, deserts and rainforests Fertility of soil Supply of water Mineral resources
Why is stating “Population density does not change” wrong
Population density can cuvage considerably over time. Population density is increasing most in regions and countries with the fastest rates of population growth
CASE STUDY: Sparsely and densely populated areas in North America.
North Canada sparsely populated:
Located 55* N
less than one person per km2
mean Jan temp of -20*
Most of region is effected by permafrost to a depth of 300 metres
Very little economic activities, no agriculture but there is tourism and exploitation of raw materials.
Transport is very limited, air travel is only link to the outside world.
The northeast of the USA : densely populated region
Most populated region is Northeast.
Region stretches from Boston and Washington to Chicago and St. louis.
New York is a “global” city with a population of 18.9 million.
Avarage density of 100 per km2
Rural parts of region are intensely farmed and generally fertile.
Highly developed transport.
