The new wider

world

1.Populatio
n

Distribution and density

Distribution describes the way in which people are spread out across the
Earths surface. This distribution is uneven and changes over periods of
time. It is usual to show population distribution by means of a dot
map(picture). Notice how people are concentrated into certain
parts of the world making those places

very crowded. At the

same time , other areas have relatively

few people living there.

These are said to be sparsely populated.

Factors

Physical

Densely
populated

Factors affecting distribution and density of

Examples
Sparsely
Examples
population
populated

Relief

.flat plains and low- .Bangladesh

lying undulating
.Ganges valley
areas.
.Etna , Pinatubo
.broad river valleys
.foothills of active
volcanoes.

climate

.evenly distributed
rainfall with not
temperature
extremes.
. Areas with (i) high
sunshine totals.
(ii)heavy snowfall
for tourism.
.seasonal monsoon
rainfall.

.north west Europe

.(i) Spanish Costas
(ii) Swiss alpine
valleys
.Bangladesh

Vegetation

.grasslands-easy to
clear/farm.

.Paris basin

.high, rugged
mountains.
.worn-down shield
lands

.Andes
.Canadian shield

.forest

.Amazonia ,
Canadian shield.

Continuation of the table

factors

Densely
populated

Examples

Sparsely
populated

Examples

Soil

.deep fertile slit

left by rivers.
.volcanic soils.

.Nile valley and

Delta.
.Etna.

.thin soils in
mountainous or
glaciated areas.
.

.northern
Scandinavia.
.(i) Sahel (ii)
rainforest.

Natural resources

.
minerals,eg.coal,ir
on ore.
.energy supplies
eg.hep

.Pennsylvania ,
Johannesburg .
.Rhne valley.

.lacking minerals
.lacking energy
supplies.

.Ethiopia
.north- east brazil.