GEOGRAPHY MYP/GCSE/DP
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Physical and human factors affecting population distribution

The Subject Guide

Physical and human factors affecting population distribution at the global scale.

A. Global population density maps

FIRST READ THIS ARTICLE
Map 1: Choropleth map showing population density by country 2016
​
(from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Population_density_countries_2017_world_map%2C_people_per_sq_km.svg/2000px-Population_density_countries_2017_world_map%2C_people_per_sq_km.svg.png​)
Picture
Map 2: Dot map showing population distribution 2015
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/e4ff248622e19fa303d72e259e0d6201b8ceea9e.gif)
Picture
POPULATION DENSITIES: COUNTRY BY COUNTRY DATA
INTERACTIVE MAP SHOWING CHANGING POPULATION DENSITIES 1CE TO 2050
Activities:
  1. Use the resources above to write a detailed description of the global distribution of population densities. Remember to use the names of countries and continents, to quote data to support your statements and to be specific when speaking of locations.
  2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the two types of maps above?

B. Physical Factors

1. Relief and landforms
Lowland plains, flat river valleys and deltas and volcanic areas with fertile soil tend to have high population densities. Mountainous areas with steep slopes and poor quality soil tend to have low population densities.

2. Weather and climate
Temperate areas which experience few extremes of weather and climate tend to be more attracted than areas which experience extremes. Areas which are very dry, very cold or very wet tend to have sparse populations whereas areas which have a moderate climate with evenly distributed rainfall or with monsoon type climates have denser populations.

3. Soil type and quality 
Areas which have rich, fertile soils allowing successful agriculture tend to have higher population densities than areas which have poor quality soils have sparse populations. Good quality soils may be found in low lying areas such as river flood plains and deltas where silt is deposited; in volcanic areas; in areas which have a high natural humus content. Poor quality soils may be found in areas with steep slopes; areas with very high rainfall throughout the year which tends to leach nutrients fro the soil; cold areas of permafrost; areas experiencing soil degradation through human management e.g. over-grazing/deforestation.

4. Water supply
Water supply is essential for human survival and development and because of this areas which have sufficient water (but not too much) tend to have denser populations than areas which are dry or suffer from regular drought or areas which have excessive rainfall or which may be prone to flooding.

5. Vegetation
Some types of vegetation make the development of settlement more likely, e.g. grasslands. Areas with particularly dense rainforest, coniferous forests or those with little vegetation tend to have sparse populations.

6. Raw materials/natural resources
Areas with a wealth of natural resources such as oil, coal or minerals may have higher population densities than areas which do not. It is important to remember though that natural resources may be found in otherwise harsh environments and that they may be traded and exported/used  in areas other than where they are extracted.

7. Natural threats
These may affect population density as people may try to avoid areas where pests, threatening animals and diseases are particular risks.

C. Human Factors

1) Agriculture 
Areas with well developed farming of crops or animals are often densely populated.

2) Secondary industry
Those areas in which manufacturing has developed tend to be densely populated. It is worth noting that even in old industrial areas in which manufacturing has declined or even closed, population densities may remain high.

3) Accessibility
Areas with well developed transport infrastructure and links through road, rail, shipping, canals and air are likely to be more densely populated than areas which are poorly connected

4) Political decisions
Government policy can have a significant impact upon population densities. This can occur if governments decide to open up previously underdeveloped areas (e.g. Brasilia and the development of the Trans-Amazonian Highway in Brazil; the movement of Han Chinese to Tibet; the development of Abuja as a new capital city in Nigeria). If governments decide not to invest in an area it may also lose large numbers of people leading to reduced population density.

5) Conflict
Wars and conflicts can lead to significant movements of population and a simultaneous decrease in density in some areas while others may increase.

D. Task on factors affecting population density

​Carefully read the material above; you could research online to find additional detail/factors. Use the information to create a clear, visually appealing mind-map showing the physical and human factors affecting population density. The finished mind map should take at least a full page of your book and use colour and images as well as text.

E. Activities

  1. For each of the countries/areas listed below, identify its population density and use the information above and in your additional reading to explain.
    1. Java
    2. Papua
    3. Eastern China
    4. Tibet
    5. Netherlands
    6. California
    7. Siberia
    8. Bangladesh
    9. Siberia
    10. The Sahel
  2. Study the world maps showing population density/distribution and comment on the effects of a) latitude b) altitude. Explain the patterns you identify.
  3. Do you believe that physical or human factors have the greatest effect on population density? Justify your answer with reference to examples.
  • Home
    • Contact
  • MYP
    • Development >
      • An unequal world?
      • Billionaires investigation
      • Africa: the danger of a single story
      • Patterns of development
      • Trade and development
      • Fair Trade
      • Sustainable Development Goals
    • Tectonic Hazards >
      • What is risk?
      • Alfred Wegener and Continental Drift
      • Plate tectonics
      • Distribution of tectonic hazards
      • Measuring earthquakes
      • Why do people die in earthquakes?
      • School earthquake plan
      • Earthquake assessment
      • Volcanoes - what are they? Why are they important?
      • Volcano "Science Fair"
      • Causes of tsunami
    • Population >
      • Why study population?
      • Population distribution
      • Population growth
      • Population pyramids
      • Demographic transition model
      • Migration
      • Migration examples - case studies
      • Refugees in Indonesia
      • Population revision activities
    • Weather and Climate >
      • Weather vs Climate and why is it important?
      • Climate graphs
      • Why does it rain?
      • What affects temperature and why is Jakarta so hot and wet?
      • What causes wind and how do we measure it?
      • Microclimates
  • IGCSE
    • Course information
    • Physical: Hazardous environments >
      • Distribution of tectonic hazards
      • Causes of tsunami
      • Measuring earthquakes
      • Earthquake case study 1: Haiti
      • Earthquake case study 2: Christchurch
      • Why do earthquakes do more damage in LICs than in HICs?
      • How are volcanic eruptions measured?
      • Tropical storms - distribution
      • Causes of tropical cyclones
      • Tropical cyclones - case study
      • Why live in hazardous areas?
    • River Environments >
      • Hydrological cycle
      • River basins
      • Factors affecting river regimes
      • Fluvial processes: erosion
      • Fluvial processes: weathering and mass movement
      • Fluvial processes: transportation and depositon
      • River features and their formation
      • How rivers change from source to mouth
      • Uses of water
      • Water pollution
      • Water supply
  • IBDP
    • Changing population >
      • Global patterns of economic development
      • Physical and human factors affecting global population distribution
      • Case study 1: China
      • Case study 2: Niger
      • Demographic transition
      • Megacity growth
      • Forced migration and internal displacement
      • Ageing populations
      • Pro-natalist and anti-natalist policies
      • Gender equality policies
      • Trafficking policies
      • The Demographic Dividend
    • Global climate vulnerability and resilience >
      • Atmospheric system
      • The energy balance
      • Changes in the energy balance
      • The enhanced greenhouse effect
      • Climate Change and the Hydrosphere, Atmosphere and Biosphere
      • Impacts of climate change on people and places
      • Disparities in exposure to climate change risk and vulnerability
      • Government-led adaptation and mitigation strategies
      • Civil society and corporate strategies
    • Global resource consumption and security >
      • Progress towards poverty reduction
      • Measuring trends in global consumption
      • Global patterns and trends in the availability and consumption of water
      • Global patterns and trends in the availability and consumption of land/food
      • Global patterns and trends in the availability and consumption of energy
      • Water food and energy nexus
      • Recycling and waste
      • Malthus vs Boserup
      • Resource Stewardship strategies
      • Sustainable Development Goals
    • Freshwater - drainage basins >
      • The drainage basin as a system
      • How rivers change from source to mouth
      • River discharge
      • River processes
      • River landforms
      • Factors affecting flood risk
      • Attempts at flood prediction
      • Flood mitigation
      • Flood mitigation case studies
      • Water scarcity
      • Agricultural activities and water quality
      • Pressures on lakes and aquifers
      • Internationally shared water and conflict
      • Water management: participation of local communities
      • Dams as multi-purpose schemes
      • Water management: Integrated Drainage Basin Management (IDBM)
      • Managing wetlands
    • Leisure, Sport and Tourism >
      • Growth and purpose of leisure time
      • Categories of tourism and sport
      • Economic development and participation
      • Factors affecting personal participation
      • Factors affecting growth of tourism hotspots
      • Spheres of influencee
      • Factors affecting a national sports league
      • Festivals
      • Niche national tourism strategies
      • Role of TNCs
      • Tourism as a national development strategy
      • International sporting events
      • Consequences of unsustainable growth
      • Sustainable tourism
      • Future international tourism
      • Political and cultural influences on sport
    • Extended Essay in Geography >
      • Supervisor meetings
    • Skills/concepts >
      • Infographics
      • 4 Ps
      • Mock examination revision and preparation
  • Geography and ToK
  • Theory of Knowledge
    • Knowledge and Technology
    • Knowledge and Language
    • Knowledge and Politics
    • Knowledge and Religion
    • Knowledge and Indigenous Societies