Jamia Millia Islamia

A CENTRAL UNIVERSITY Human Geography

(NAAC Accredited ‘A++’ Grade)

Presentation
on
Distributional pattern of population
in the world
➢INTRODUCTION
 In demographics, the world population is the total number of humans currently living and was estimated
to have reached 7.95 billion people as of 2022. The existing distributional pattern of the world's
population is characterized by significant variations across regions and countries. Broadly, 90% of the
world’s population lives in about 10% of the earth’s land area.
 The term population distribution refers to the way people are spaced over
the surface of the earth. The distributional pattern of the world's population
is a complex and dynamic phenomenon influenced by various geographic,
historical, social, and economic factors.
 As per Clark, a distinguished University Research Professor in the
Geography Department at the University of California, Los Angeles “A few
regions have human agglomerations while the vast area is the void gone”.
 American geographer George Babcock Cressey “A few areas have many
people and many areas have a few”.
Population distribution in the world can be analyzed from various
perspectives, including hemisphere, latitude, and continent.

Population Distribution

Hemisphere Latitude Continent

According to Hemisphere
❑ Northern Hemisphere : Approximately 90% of the global
population lives in the Northern Hemisphere. This is largely due
to the presence of large landmasses, such as Asia, Europe, and
North America, in this hemisphere. Asia, in particular, is the most
populous continent, with countries like China and India hosting a
significant portion of the global population. The more temperate
climate in many Northern Hemisphere regions also contributes to
higher population densities.
❑ Southern Hemisphere : In contrast, the Southern Hemisphere is less densely populated. This is primarily
because it has a smaller land area, with the majority of its surface covered by oceans. South America and
Africa are the most populous continents in this hemisphere. While they have sizable populations, they are
still less densely populated compared to many Northern Hemisphere regions. Only about 10% of the
world's population resides in the Southern Hemisphere.
 According to Latitude:
▪ Low Latitude: Low latitude regions
near the equator, such as countries in
Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and
parts of South America, tend to have high
population densities. These areas benefit
from fertile soils, tropical climates, and
abundant rainfall, making them suitable
for agriculture and human habitation.
For example, the countries along the
equator, including Indonesia and
Nigeria, have substantial populations.
▪ Mid-Latitude Regions: The most densely populated areas are found in the mid-latitude regions, roughly between 20°N and
40°N, which include countries like India, China, the United States, and parts of Europe. Approximately half of the population
resides in the area between 20-40 degrees north. These areas experience a range of climates from temperate to subarctic and
often have fertile agricultural land. Countries like the United States, Japan, and European nations fall into this category.