Population Density + Distribution : Penang

Question 1

Define densely and sparsely populated.

Answer 1

Densely populated : a large number of people per km2

Sparsely populated : a small number of people per km2

Question 2

Define population density.

Answer 2

Population density : the number of people living in an area of land ( people per km2 ), calculated by dividing the total number of people by the total area.

Question 3

Population distribution

Answer 3

• Highest population density is found along the east coast. ( 2700/km2 )
• The highest population density is found on the north east coast in George Town ( state capital )
• The north, north-western, and west, and central parts of the island are sparsely populated. ( 1,600/km2 )
• There is one part south west of the island ( Balik Pulau ) has a medium population density.

Question 4

Causes of high population density :

Location

Answer 4

• East coast is flat land / centre of the island is mountainous. This means that infrastructure + buildings are easier to build on flat land
• East is on the coastline ( coastal area ), and on a sheltered side of the island, and close to the mainland . Protected from the strong winds of the Indian ocean + the tsunamis from the west. Close to the mainland for trade and transport / travel ( bridges )

Question 5

Causes of high population density :

Better facilities

Answer 5

• More police stations on the east coast. Police HQ for the state is in George Town. People want to live in places where they feel safer, and have lower crime rates as a result of the better security.
• More schools on the east coast / better educational opportunities. Dalat / Tenby / Uplands are all in the north east of the island, in Tanjung Bungah. POWIIS in south west ( Balik Pulau ) with medium population density
• All the major hospitals are found on the north east of Penang ( George Town ). Gleneagles / Island / General Hospital. People want to live close to healthcare facilities. Offers a lot of job opportunities ( Doctors, nurses, janitors, pharmacists, etc )

Question 6

Causes of high population density :

Transport systems, power

Answer 6

• Better transport systems + services. Better travel opportunities with the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas ( on the east coast ). Two bridges connecting to the mainland off the east coast ( better trade and travel opportunities )
• Electricity, phone signals, Internet connections
  All of these are better in urban areas, which are on the East Coast

Question 7

Causes of high population density :

Specific to Penang

Answer 7

• Bayan Lepas Free Trade Zone. Penang government offered incentives to transnational companies to set up their companies in Bayan Lepas. They were promised cheap land, and low tax ( e.g. Hewlett Packard, Motorolio, Sony, Braun, Bosch, Dell ). This provided a huge amount of job opportunities, and helped improve the economy dramatically.
• George Town is a UNESCO world heritage site. This has more job opportunities in tourism ( e.g. hotels, restaurants, museums, tour guides, drivers, etc. )

Question 8

Causes of low population density :

Build on, nature

Answer 8

• Central Penang is mountainous + has threats of landslides. The mountainous areas go up to 800m. The steep and hilly ground is hard to build on and therefore people don’t live on them.
• The northwest of Penang is the penang national park. National parks are protected land and therefore people are forbidden from living there by law.
• West coast has mangrove swamps.Swamps have to be filled in before they can be built on. It attracts flies, and the conditions aren’t good for living on. The flies and especially mosquitoes spread disease ( e.g. denghy / malaria )