POPULATION DISTRIBUTION & DENSITY

PAPER 1
iGCSE Geography
Miss Vardy
SYLLABUS CONTENT
HOW DO POPULATIONS VARY?
Are populations the same in every country? In every region? In every city?
Why do population densities vary between different locations?
1. POPULATION DISTRIBUTION
Population distribution means the pattern of
where people live. World population
distribution is uneven.

Places which are sparsely populated contain
few people. Places which are densely
populated contain many people.

Sparsely populated places tend to be difficult
places to live. These are usually places with
hostile environments e.g. Antarctica. Places
which are densely populated are habitable
environments e.g. Europe.

Population distribution is usually shown by
a DOT map.

Places with a high
concentration of people
= densely populated.
Places with a low
concentration of people
= sparsely populated.
POPULATION DISTRIBUTION
Distribution can be shown as a dot distribution map. These show population
concentrations well but can give the impression some areas have no people.
2. POPULATION DENSITY
is a measurement of the number of
people in an area. It is an average
number.

Population density is calculated by
dividing the number of people by area.

Population density is usually shown as
the number of people per square
kilometer.

Kenya = 47 people/km
2

Singapore = 6389 people/km
2

Shown by a CHOROPLETH map
darker = more dense population

lighter = less dense population
Places with a high concentration of
people = high population density.
Places with a low concentration of
people = low population density.
POPULATION DENSITY
Density can be shown on a choropleth map which shows the average density across
regions. This is easy to read but disguises major population concentrations.
POPULATION DENSITY
I LOVE MAPS
How accurately do these
maps represent population
data?

What are the advantages of
showing demographic
information like this? What
are the disadvantages?
WHAT FACTORS AFFECT POPULATION DENSITY & DISTRIBUTION?
BBC CLASS CLIP
Global population distribution
BBC CLASS CLIP
Britain from above
Amazon Basin
Coniferous Forest Canada
Eismitte
Tokyo
Jakarta, Java
Timbuktu, Mali
Lhasa Tibet
Haverhill East Anglia
FACTORS AFFECTING POPULATION DENSITY &
DISTRIBUTION
TASK:

1) cut out the factors which affect population density from your
sheet
2) Look at each factor in turn, decide whether it is a reason why
an area would be sparsely populated or densely populated,
before sticking it in the appropriate column
3) Decide whether they are human or physical factors, shade or
highlight the physical factors in one colour, shade/ highlight
the human factors in a second colour
PHYSICAL FACTORS
RELIEF
DP = Flat plain and low lying areas (e.g Bangladesh), broad river
valleys (e.g. Ganges)
SP = high, rugged mountains (e.g. Andes)
CLIMATE
DP = evenly distributed rainfall, no extremes of temperatures, areas
with high sunshine or snowfall for tourism, seasonal rainfall for
agriculture
SP = extremely high or low temperatures, high humidity, unreliable
rainfall (e.g. Sahara desert)
VEGETATION
DP = grasslands which are easy to farm (e.g. Nile Valley)
SP = forest (e.g. Amazon)
SOIL
DP deep fertile soil, left by rivers, or near volcanoes
SP = this soils in mountainous areas(e.g.
soils lacking in humus or affected by leaching
NATURAL RESOURCES
DP = minerals, fossil fuels or other energy sources
SP = lacking in minerals, fossil fuels
WATER SUPPLY
DP = reliable sources
SP = unreliable sources
NATURAL ROUTES
DP = confluence of rivers, gaps through mountains
SP = mountain barriers
HUMAN FACTORS
ECONOMIC
DP = ports, good infrastructure (railways,
roads, airports), industrial areas, areas
suitable for tourism, money available for new
high tech industries
SP = limited facilities and poor transport links,
lack of development of both industry and
tourism, lack of money for new investments
POLITICAL
DP = government investment, new town,
reclamation of land
SP = lack of government investment,
depopulation of rural and old industrial areas,
loss of land through deforestation and soil
erosion
SOCIAL
DP= better housing opportunities, education,
health facilities, good entertainment,
retirement areas
SP = poor housing opportunities, limited
education, few health facilities, little
entertainment, poor facilities for retirement

CASE STUDY BRAZIL
CASE STUDY BRAZIL
Lonely Planet
Visit Brazil
Brazil is the giant of South America with nearly half of the continent's area and people
Worldwide it ranks fifth in both area and population, which is as diverse as it is large .

Recent censuses reveal social progress, with lower infant mortality rates and higher literacy
rates. Brazil's growing urbanization rate helps economic development (some 80 percent of
Brazilians live in urban areas), but creates serious social and environmental problems in
cities.
CASE STUDY BRAZIL
CASE STUDY BRAZIL
So Paulo, with some 10.9 million
people, is Brazil's largest cityand one
of the world's largest metropolises.

It is the leading industrial producer and
financial center, but problems with
pollution, overcrowding, and poverty
abound.

The Southeast region of Brazil includes
So Paulo, Belo Horizonte, and Rio de
Janeirothe economic hub of Brazil,
containing more than 40 percent of the
country's population. South of So Paulo
is a rich agricultural regio.
CASE STUDY BRAZIL
Brazil's second most populous region is
the Northeast region, from Maranhao in
the north down to Bahia.

This was once a wealthy area due to the
plantations, but today this is a poor
region subject to devastating droughts.

Millions have left here for jobs in the
Southeast. However, tourism has begun
to boom due to sunny weather, samba
music, and soft sand beaches.
CASE STUDY BRAZIL
The North, dominated by the Amazon, is
the largest region with the fewest
people. The government is making
progress in conserving the tropical rain
forest and protecting the indigenous
people..
POPULATION DENSITY & DISTRIBUTION IN SOUTH AMERICA
TASK
CASE STUDY: BRAZILS POPULATION
You will be compiling a case study on Brazils demography
To start with, we will be looking at the distribution
and density of Brazils population.

On your A3 sheet, which shows an outline map of
Brazil, shade in the areas to show the highest
population densities (your map needs to resemble the
one on Pg 16 of your Wider World text book)

Read through the information on Pg 16-18
Annotate the map to explain why the different regions
are either densely or sparsely populated, using the
information in your text book.
PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
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