2.

Distribution of Population &Population Growth

• 1.Density & Population Distribution

• 2.Concept of Over & Under Population
• 3.Methods of Population growth
Population & Characterisics

• A population is the complete set group of

individuals, whether that group comprises
a nation or a group of people with a
common characteristic.
Characteristics
• 1. Population Density:
• Population density is population size in relation
to some unit of space and time.
• Numerical density (Number of individuals per
unit area or volume).
• 2. Natality (Birth Rate):
• Production of new individuals of any organism is known
as natality.
• 3. Mortality (Death Rate):
• Mortality may be defined as the number of individuals
those die in a population in a given period of time. It
relates to the death of individuals.
• 4. Age Structure:
• In a population, there are individuals of different age
groups. The relative proportion of individuals pertaining
to different age groups of population is called age
structure of age distribution. 
• 5. Biotic Potential:
• The constant percent growth rate of a population
under optimum environmental condition is
known as its biotic or reproductive potential.
• Biotic potential = Maximum natality-Maximum
mortality.
• [maximum reproductive capacity of an organism under
optimum environmental conditions.]
• 6. Population Dispersion:
• The movement of individuals in or out of
the habitat is known as population
dispersion.
• (i) Emigration:
• It may be defined as one way outward move­ment of
individuals in order to lower overcrowding of the
population of an area.
• (ii) Immigration:
• It may be defined as one way inward move­ment.
Optimum Theory of population
• By optimum population mean the ideal number
of population that a country should have
considering its resources.
• The optimum size of population is which along
with the existing natural resources and a given
state of technology, yields the highest income
per capita in a country.
• The optimum theory of population was
propounded by Edwin Cannan in his book
Wealth published in 1924 and popularized
by Robbins, Dalton and Carr-Saunders.
• It is also called modern theory of
population. 
Statement

• The founders of the theory state it as

“Given the natural resources, stock of
capital and the state of technical
knowledge, there will be a definite size of
population with the per capita income. The
population which has the highest per capita
income is known as optimum population”.
• Optimum population is that at which
standard of living is maximum.
• Optimum population: At which per capita
income is the highest
• Level of population changes with changes
in resources & technology
• Example:
• United States of America, Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and
parts of Russia
Under population
• The population is below
than the area of a
country

• Prairies of
NorthAmerica, Canada,
parts of Australia and
New Zealand, Russia,
and Namibia
Over population
• Level of population
where per capita income
falls with rise in
population
• Leads to food shortage,
unemployment poverty
& low standard of living
Assumptions
• The natural resources of a country are given at a
point of time, but they change over time.
• There is no change in techniques of production.
• The stock of capital remains constant.
• The habits and taste of the people do not
change.
• The ratio of the working population to total
population remains constant even with the
growth of population.
• Working hours of labour do not change.
• Modes of business organisation are constant.
Criticism

 No practical value
 Not an index of Economic development
 Quality of people ignored
 Other factors ignores
 Constant changes
Population Density

• It means calculation of population each

unit area or unit volume
• Measurement of number of people in an
area
• Calculates by Dividing the number of
people by area
• It is usually shown as the number of
people per square kilometer
• The current population density of India in
2022 is 431.11 people per square
kilometer, a 0.68% increase from 2021.
The population density of India in 2021
was 428.19 people per square kilometer, a
0.8% increase from 2020.

• Population Density = Total population /

Total land area in km
Measures of Population Density

• The types of population density are as

follows:
• 1. Arithmetical Density/ Crude Density:
• The number of people residing in per square
kilometer area is called Arithmetical Density.
• It is expressed as a ratio of total population and
total area.
• Arithmetical Density = Total population of the
state/ Total area of the State
• Nutritional Density:
• It represents the ratio of the total population of a
state and the area under food crops cultivation
of that state.
• Calculating Land & man ratio
• Nutritional Density = Total Population / Total
cultivated Area
• Urban Density: The population living in the
urban area can be found out.
• Urban Density = Population Peopling a
Metropolitan Region / Overall area of
Metropolitan Region
• Residential Density : The residential ability of
particular area is based on the population living
in that area & the available place for constructing
house.
• Residential Density = Population Inhabiting a
metropolitan region/ Area of housing space
• Agricultural Density: The agricultural density of a
state represents the ratio of the total agricultural
population of that state and the total agricultural
land. Farmers, agricultural workers and
members of their families are included in
agricultural population

• Agriculture Density = Total population involved in

agriculture / Total agriculture or cuitivable land
• Economic Density :
• The ratio between the requirements of
population & the resources are made
available to it by population in the areas it
occupies.

• Economic Density = Index of Population/

Index of Productivity * 100
• Room Density:
• It is most commonly used in urban studies.
• It is the average number of people per
room in a given area
Factors affecting Population Density

• 1. Geographical Factor
• a. Climate
• People prefer staying in places with mild, equable
climate. Places with both extreme heat or extreme cold
are much less populated in comparison.
• b.Topography
• More people live on plains than plateaus and mountains.
This is because plains are better suited for agriculture.
• c.Water
• Water is another essential natural resource and people
are more likely to live in areas where freshwater is easily
available. This is another reason why river valleys are
densely populated.
• d. Minerals
• Minerals are the raw materials for any form of industries.
Thus Places with significant mineral deposits are places
where industries grow, leading to an increase in the
population around such areas.
• e.Soil
• Agriculture being one of the oldest and most
common occupations in most parts of the world,
places with fertile soils have a greater population
• 2. Social Factor
• Population is higher in places with better
housing, health facilities, educational institutions
and transport systems etc
• 3. Cultural Factor
• Places which carry cultural or/and religious
significance attract people, leading to a
higher population.
• 4. Economic Factor
Economic factors such as the opportunities
for employment and the cost of living
expenses also influence the population
density of a place.
Population Distribution

• It means the patteren where people live.

World population is uneven.
• Sparsely Populated- Contain few people
• Example - Antarctica- Difficult place to live
• Densely Populated- Contain many people
• Example - Western Europe, East coast of
USA
Reason for uneven poplation distribution

• 1. Avaialbility of Natural Resourses

• 2.Climatic condition
• 3. Quality of land
• 4. Topography
• 5. Means of Transport & Communication
Population Growth
• The annual average rate of change of population
size, for a given country, territory, or geographic
area, during a specified period.
• It expresses the ratio between the annual
increase in the population size and the total
population for that year, usually multiplied by
100.
• Population change in an area is an important
indicator of economic development, social
upliftment
• Expressed in percentage

• Natural Growth = Births - Deaths

• Actual Growth of Population =
• Births - Deaths + In Migration - out
Migration
Causes of Population Growth

• 1. Decline in Death rate

• 2. Better Medical Facilities
• 3. Technological advancement in Fertility
Treatment
• 4. Lack of family Planning
Effects of population Growth

• 1. Depletion of Natural Resources

• 2. Degradation of Environment
• 3. Rise in unemployment
• 4. High cost of living
Methods of Assessment of Population growth

• Same as methods of calculation birth Rate

• Crude Birth Rate
• Corrected Birth Rate
• General Fertility Rate
• Age Specific Fertility
• Total Fertility Rate
• Gross Reproduction Rate
• Net Reproduction Rate
Under Population
• Having a lower density of population than is
normal or desirable.
• Population is below than the area of country
• Canada and Australia are good examples of
countries that are underpopulated.
• Both have surplus amounts of food, energy and
mineral resources that are exported. Their
populations have high incomes, good living
conditions, high levels of technology and
immigration.
Reason

• Reduction in human population size

caused by certain factors like
• pandemics
• war
• disease
• famine
• low fertility rate
• emigration.
Impact

• Both Positive & Negative

• Positive Impacts: Basic amenities like
food, education, shelter, etc are available
for the entire population of such areas.
• Such countries do not experience
congestion.
• A large number of job opportunities are
available to people.
• As people are less in number so there are
fewer industries and thus less waste is
generated which is better for the
environment.
• A high standard of living is practiced in
underpopulated areas.
• Negative Impacts:
• Underutilisation of resources due to less
number of people results in deflation. It
means the price of goods decreases.
• Manpower is not sufficient to set up
industries and thus the production of
goods decreases.
• Problem of Remote Area
OVER POPULATION

• Total capacity of population exceeds than

its area, the situation is over population
• Population is above optimum level
• More people means an increased demand
for food, water, housing, energy,
healthcare, transportation, and more.
Causes of Over Population
• Lack of Education. Lack of education and poverty are
major causes of human overpopulation.
• Lack of Family Planning.
• Poor Contraceptive Usage.
• Child Labour.
• Advanced Medical Facilities.
• Poor Rate of Mortality.
• Immigration.
Impact of Over Population
• 1.Scarcity of Resources
• 2.Deteriorate te standard of living
• 3.Global warming
• 4. Natural disasters.
• 5.Unemployment
• 6.Poverty
• 7.Robbery &more crime due to poverty & unemployment
• 8. Raising health issues
• 9. Declining per capita income
• 10. Insufficient food & water
• 11. Uneven distribution of resources
• 12.Demolishing fertile land because of the
availability of living space
• 13. Demolishing farms for better roads ,
airports,hospitals, schools,colleges in
outside of city