World Population Distribution - Notes
Population Studies
Population Distribution
Population is defined as the total number of people living in a specific area.
Population distribution refers to the pattern or arrangement of people across the
Earth's surface. The world's population is not evenly distributed; some areas are
densely populated while others are sparsely populated.
Two main categories of factors determine population distribution:
Physical factors – relief, topography, climate, water availability, soil, natural
vegetation
Non-physical factors – economic activities, industrialisation, transportation,
government policies
World Distribution of World Population
A pie chart showing the distribution of world population by region reveals the following
percentages:
Asia: 59.73% — the largest share
Africa: 17.92%
Europe: 9.37%
Latin America and the Caribbean: 8.28%
Northern America: 4.7%
Oceania: 0.56% — the smallest share
The chart shows Asia dominating world population, followed by Africa and Europe.
Physical Factors in Detail
Relief and topography play a crucial role. Most people prefer to live in plains rather
than plateaus or mountains. Plains are well suited for building roads, canals, railways,
and other infrastructure facilities. Plains support more than 90% of the world's
population and cover almost half of the world's land area.
, Plateaus are less populated compared to plains because of rugged terrain and
limited farming potential.
Mountains support a very small portion of the population due to tough living
conditions — steep slopes, poor soil, extreme weather, and difficult transportation.
Climate also strongly influences distribution. People generally avoid extreme climates
— both extremely hot deserts and extremely cold polar regions — because it is
difficult to survive and build permanent settlements there.
Population Density
Population density is defined as the number of people living per unit area of land
(usually per square kilometer). It indicates how crowded or sparse an area is.
High Population Density Areas (2020)
| Country/Territory | Density (persons per km²) |
| ----------------- | ------------------------- |
| Macau | (very high) |
| Monaco | (very high) |
| Singapore | (very high) |
| Hong Kong | (very high) |
| Gibraltar | (very high) |
These are small territories or city-states with concentrated populations and limited
land area.
Moderately Populated Areas
Moderately populated areas are found in regions with moderate development.
Examples include parts of the USA, South Africa, southern Russia, central Ukraine,
Argentina, China, central India (Deccan plateau), and central Europe. These areas
benefit from improved industrialisation, infrastructure, and mineral resources but do
not have the extreme density of major cities.
Underpopulated Areas
Population Studies
Population Distribution
Population is defined as the total number of people living in a specific area.
Population distribution refers to the pattern or arrangement of people across the
Earth's surface. The world's population is not evenly distributed; some areas are
densely populated while others are sparsely populated.
Two main categories of factors determine population distribution:
Physical factors – relief, topography, climate, water availability, soil, natural
vegetation
Non-physical factors – economic activities, industrialisation, transportation,
government policies
World Distribution of World Population
A pie chart showing the distribution of world population by region reveals the following
percentages:
Asia: 59.73% — the largest share
Africa: 17.92%
Europe: 9.37%
Latin America and the Caribbean: 8.28%
Northern America: 4.7%
Oceania: 0.56% — the smallest share
The chart shows Asia dominating world population, followed by Africa and Europe.
Physical Factors in Detail
Relief and topography play a crucial role. Most people prefer to live in plains rather
than plateaus or mountains. Plains are well suited for building roads, canals, railways,
and other infrastructure facilities. Plains support more than 90% of the world's
population and cover almost half of the world's land area.
, Plateaus are less populated compared to plains because of rugged terrain and
limited farming potential.
Mountains support a very small portion of the population due to tough living
conditions — steep slopes, poor soil, extreme weather, and difficult transportation.
Climate also strongly influences distribution. People generally avoid extreme climates
— both extremely hot deserts and extremely cold polar regions — because it is
difficult to survive and build permanent settlements there.
Population Density
Population density is defined as the number of people living per unit area of land
(usually per square kilometer). It indicates how crowded or sparse an area is.
High Population Density Areas (2020)
| Country/Territory | Density (persons per km²) |
| ----------------- | ------------------------- |
| Macau | (very high) |
| Monaco | (very high) |
| Singapore | (very high) |
| Hong Kong | (very high) |
| Gibraltar | (very high) |
These are small territories or city-states with concentrated populations and limited
land area.
Moderately Populated Areas
Moderately populated areas are found in regions with moderate development.
Examples include parts of the USA, South Africa, southern Russia, central Ukraine,
Argentina, China, central India (Deccan plateau), and central Europe. These areas
benefit from improved industrialisation, infrastructure, and mineral resources but do
not have the extreme density of major cities.
Underpopulated Areas
