1.4 Population density and distribution

Question 1

describe factors influencing the density and distribution of population

Answer 1

Physical:

• Relief
• Climate
• Proximity to sea
• Fertile soil
• Water and resources

Economic:

• Jobs available
• Business and industries
• Good economy

Social:

• Safety, crime
• Religious oppression
• Freedom
• Services and facilities
• Transport/communication
• War

Political:

• Political oppression
• Pro/anti-natalist policies

Question 2

case study

densely populated area

Answer 2

Bangladesh:

1150 people per square km
Temperature over 23°C all year
Over 2000mm of rainfall per year

Dhaka city (overcrowded with slums/poor living conditions)
Ganges (fertile river valley)

Physical

• Very fertile river flood plains and delta (easy to grow crops)
• Regular floods add new nutrients to soil
• Good growing and living climate, hot and wet
• Climate allows for 3 rice harvest per year - food supply can support a large population
• Monsoon rainfall
• Lots of flat land - farming and building
• Plenty of rainfall and meltwater from Himalayas
• Possibility of fishing and aquaculture

Human

• High birth rates and declining death rates - rapid growth
• Good transport link - river
• Intensive agriculture- jobs for many people

Question 3

case study

sparsely populated area

Answer 3

Canada

3.5 people per square km
temp can reach -40 in winter

Northwest sparsely populated
Most people near US border, Montreal, Toronto
Rockies

Physical

• Too cold for human tolerance (-40 in winter), too cold for crops, water freezes
• Large temp range
• Nothing grows in ground of north
• Short growing season in south, on the Praires only chance to grow one crop and mainly machines
• Low sunshine (north 3 hrs only), bad for growing and bad for humans
• Very large mountainous areas (rockies) not good for humans or crops

Human

• Large country, very isolated in north and centre
• Poor transport link in north and centre
• Limited industrial development
• Most people live on the coast, or by great lakes close to US
• It is an MEDC so birth rates are low so growth is low