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examBoard: Cambridge
examType: IGCSE
lessonTitle: Global Population Density Patterns
Humans aren't spread evenly across Earth. Some places are packed with people while others are nearly empty. Understanding where people live and why is crucial for managing resources, planning cities and protecting the environment.
Key Definitions:
Distribution shows where people live - the pattern of settlement across an area.
Density tells us how many people live in a specific area - it's a measurement.
Think of distribution as a map showing where houses are, while density tells you how crowded those houses are.
World population: 8 billion people (2023)
Average global density: 59 people per km²
Most densely populated country: Monaco (26,337 people per km²)
Least densely populated country: Mongolia (2 people per km²)
About 90% of the world's population lives in just 10% of the land area. The major population clusters include:
China, Japan and Korea contain over 1.5 billion people, with extremely dense populations along coastal plains and river valleys like the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers.
The Indo-Gangetic Plain across India, Pakistan and Bangladesh houses nearly 1 billion people in fertile river valleys of the Ganges and Indus.
From the UK through central Europe to Russia, this region has moderate to high density, particularly in urban areas like the Rhine-Ruhr region.
Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam have high densities on islands and coastal areas, with Java being one of the world's most densely populated islands.
Concentrated in coastal regions and the Great Lakes area, with the northeast corridor from Boston to Washington DC forming a megalopolis.
The Nile Valley, West African coast and parts of East Africa have high densities, while population is growing faster here than anywhere else.
Some areas have very few people living in them. These include:
Natural features of the landscape that affect where people choose to live:
People tend to avoid extreme climates. Areas with moderate temperatures and adequate rainfall are preferred. Few people live in very hot deserts or freezing polar regions.
Example: The temperate climate of Europe supports high population densities, while the harsh Sahara Desert remains nearly empty.
Flat or gently rolling land is easier to build on and farm than steep mountains or rugged terrain.
Example: The North European Plain supports dense populations, while the Alps have much lower densities.
Access to fresh water is essential for drinking, farming and industry. Most major cities are located near rivers, lakes, or aquifers.
Example: The Nile River Valley has supported dense populations for thousands of years in an otherwise desert region.
Fertile soils support agriculture, which historically determined where people could settle.
Example: The rich alluvial soils of the Ganges Delta support some of the highest rural population densities in the world.
Social, economic and historical factors that influence where people live:
People move to areas with jobs, resources and trade opportunities. Industrial regions and commercial centres attract large populations.
Example: The Pearl River Delta in China has transformed from agricultural land to one of the world's most densely populated manufacturing hubs.
Patterns of colonisation, migration and historical development influence where people live today.
Example: European colonisation dramatically altered population patterns in the Americas, with coastal areas being settled first.
Good transportation networks allow people to access resources, jobs and markets, supporting higher population densities.
Example: Major population centres often develop at transport hubs like river crossings, natural harbours, or along railway lines.
Government policies, borders and conflicts can dramatically affect where people live.
Example: Singapore's planning policies have created one of the world's most densely populated yet liveable countries.
Bangladesh is one of the world's most densely populated countries, with 1,265 people per km². Despite being roughly the size of England and Wales combined, it houses 170 million people.
Why so dense?
Challenges:
Bangladesh demonstrates how physical geography (fertile delta) combined with human factors (agricultural history) creates distinctive population patterns.
Australia has one of the world's lowest population densities at just 3.3 people per km². Despite being similar in size to the continental United States, it has only 25 million people.
Why so sparse?
Distribution pattern:
Australia shows how physical factors (especially climate and water availability) can create extremely uneven population distributions even in developed nations.
Population density maps use colours to show how many people live in different areas. Typically:
When examining these maps, look for:
Looking at global population patterns, we can observe several key trends:
Understanding these patterns helps us plan for sustainable development, manage resources and address environmental challenges as our global population continues to grow and shift.
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