RBSE Class 12 Geography Notes Chapter 3 Population: Distribution, Density and Growth

Rajasthan Board RBSE Class 12 Geography Notes Chapter 3 Population: Distribution, Density and Growth

Introduction :

  • Population is not equally distributed on the earth. The analysis of population distribution and density has become an important subject in human geography.
  • The analysis of distribution of population and its patterns of density is the base of demographic characteristics of any area.
  • Distribution of population means the spread of humans in a particular area.

Human : As a Resource :

  • Human has a central role in human geography, because human is the only resource which utilities the natural and cultural environments.
  • Human utilities the natural resources and develops social organisation, political management and culture. .
  • In the process of using these natural resources, human itself is also being used, that is why he becomes human resource.
    Distribution of Population and Density
  • Population distribution and its density are two different concepts. In population distribution, more emphasis is placed on spatial distribution, whereas in population density, more emphasis is given on the proportional relationships between population size and region.
  • Population density means proportion of the population and the area. Population density is a measure of the amount of spread of population, which is expressed in the form of the number of persons in per unit region.
  • Distribution of population on the earth is uneven. 80% of the population of the world is distributed only on 20% of the land area and 20% of the population is distributed on over 80% of the land area.
  • In 2013, the world population was 714 crore, which is distributed unequally on 13.6 crore sq. km. of the earth.
  • 85% of the world’s population is found in the northern hemisphere and 15% of the world population is, found in the southern hemisphere.
  • World’s three – fourth population lives in Asia and Europe continents. The Asian continent has the maximum 60% population of the world and Oceania continent has only half a per cent of world population.
  • Approximately 80% of the world’s population is found between 20° to 60° north latitudes. About 75% of the world’s population is settled around the edges of the continents and around 80% of the world’s population is settled in regions situated at 500 metre altitude from the sea level.

RBSE Class 12 Geography Notes Chapter 3 Population: Distribution, Density and Growth

Distribution of World Population :

  • In the total population of the world (714 crore according to 2013), 430 crore people live in Asia, 110 crore people live in African continent, 74 crore people live in Europe, 55.7 crore people live in North America, 40.1 crore people live in South America and 3.8 crore people live in Oceania (Australia-New Zealand) continent.
  • China is the largest populated country in the world after which India’s place comes.
  • From the population point of view, China, India, United States of America, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Russia, Bangladesh, Japan and Nigeria are the top ten countries.
  • In terms of population distribution, the world is divided into densely populated regions, average populated regions, sparsely populated regions; and very less populated regions.

Factors affecting Distribution of Population :

  • Among the factors affecting the distribution of population, worldwide factors, regional factors, cultural factors, social factors are the important ones.
  • World-wide factors include location, climate, surface pattern, altitude from sea level, and in regional factors, structure of land, water supply, soil, vegetation, minerals, and power resources are included.
  • Cultural factors include economic system, transportation, trade, psychological traits, level of advancement and political status, and in periodical factors, adaptation to the environment, religion, mutual, dependence, social beliefs and social structure are included.

Agglomeration of Population :

  • Areas constituting large population are called agglomeration. There are currently four agglomeration in the world : Asia, Europe, America and Africa.
  • Asia has the largest population in the world which is scattered across India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Japan and Korea.
  • From the point of view of study, the Asian group is divided into three sub regions – Eastern Asia, South-Eastern Asia and Southern Asia.
  • Asian agglomeration is settled between 10° to 40° northern latitudes. It exhibits maximum density 45° – 55° northern latitude.
  • European agglomeration is the second largest agglomeration of the world. This agglomeration is spread between 40° to 60° northern latitudes. It exhibits maximum density between 45°-55° northern latitude.
  • Due to industrial revolution, the industry and the cities are developed immensely in this agglomeration. 70% of this population stays in the cities.

RBSE Class 12 Geography Notes Chapter 3 Population: Distribution, Density and Growth

Population Density :

  • The density of population is the ratio of the number of people residing in a region to the surface area of that region.
  • There are different types of population density such as mathematical density, economic density, agricultural density, nutritional density, working density.
  • Distribution of Population Density in World:
  • Distribution of population density across the world is unequal and heterogeneous. Somewhere density is found to be high and somewhere it is very low. Average density of the entire world is 47 persons per sq. km. (according to 2015).
  • The population density of Asia is 116, Europe 32, Africa 27, North America 16, South America 20 and Oceania 3 persons per sq. km.
  • From the population density point of view the world is divided into five categories – 1. Very highly density regions, high density regions, normal density regions, low density regions and very low density regions.

Factors Affecting Population Density :

  • Physical factors and economic factors are the major factors that affect the population density.
  • Location, water availability, climate and soils are included in physical factors, and minerals, urbanization, industrialization and social-cultural factors are included in economic factors.

Population Growth :

  • The change in the size of population of a particular area in a fixed time period is known as growth of population.
  • The population growth is expressed by both absolute number or percentage.
  • Total or absolute population growth is calculated by subtracting the population of the current census from the population of the  previous census.

World Population Growth :

  • Population has been continuously growing along with spatial conjugation. World population was 50 lakh in 10000 BCE which increased to 20 crore by 1 BCE. In 1000 CE it increased to 30 crore, in 1750 to 80 crore, in 1850 to 100 crore, in 1930 to 200 crore, in 1962 to 300 crore, in 1975 to 406 crore, in 1987 to 500 crore, in 1999 to 600 crore, in 2010 to 710 crore and it increased in 2015 to 720 crore.
  • With study point of view, the chronology of population growth is divided into prehistoric period, ancient period, medieval period and modem period.

Cause of Population Growth :

  • Among the major causes of population growth, decrease in death rate, ensured food availability, industrialization, scientific development technical progress, peace and security and migration, etc. are included.

Population Problem and Solution :

  • Major problems of population are : rapid growth in population, limited resources, focused distribution, discontent in unsettled areas, and natural and human prohibition.
  • Solution of population problem are – growth in economic production. Industrialization, expanse in education, technical training, use of marine resources, late marriage, family planning, limited number of children, etc.

RBSE Class 12 Geography Notes Chapter 3 Population: Distribution, Density and Growth

Demographic Transition Theory :

  • The Demographic Transition Model attempts to show how population changes as a country develops.
  • Demographic transition is a process of transforming uneducated, rural, agricultural population into educated, urban and industrial population.
  • Demographic Transition has five stages :
  • Stage 1 : In stage 1, the growth is very slow.
  • Stage 2 : In stage 2, birth and death growth rate is high.
  • Stage 3 : In stage 3, birth rate high and death rate is medium.
  • Stage 4 : In stage 4, birth rate is medium and death rate is lower.
  • Stage 5 : In stage 5, birth rate is lower and death rate is also lower.
  • The Demographic Transition Model does not take into account migration.

Glossary :

  1. Population : All the inhabitants of a particular place.
  2. Population Distribution : It means local distribution of group of people. It shows the human settlement on the earth.
  3. Population Density : It means the ratio between population and land. Normally, number of people living in per sq. km. region.
  4. Growth of Population : The changes in the population of a particular area in a fixed time period is known as growth of population.
  5. Earth : A unique planet of the solar system which supports life. In context to the distance from the sun, it is at the third place and is at the fifth place in context to size.
  6. Resources : Any type of element useful for mankind is called a resource.
  7. Minerals : Minerals are naturally-occurring inorganic substances with a definite and predictable chemical composition and
    physical properties.
  8. Vegetation : Plants considered collectively, especially those found in a particular area or habitat.
  9. Agriculture : The art or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for growing of crops and rearing of animals.
  10. Ranching : Ranching is the activity of running a large farm, especially one used for raising cattle, horses, or sheep.
  11. Industries : Economic activity concerned with the processing of raw materials and manufacturing of goods in factories.
  12. Trade : The action of buying and selling of goods and services.
  13. Transport : To take or carry people or goods from one place to another place by modes of a vehicle, aircraft, or ship and other mode.
  14. Continent : Amy of the world’s main continuous expanses of land (Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, Australia, Antarctica).
  15. Latitude : The angular distance of a place north or south of the earth’s equator, or of the equator of a celestial object, usually expressed in degrees and minutes.
  16. Adaptation : The action or process of changing or adjusting to the environment.
  17. Climate Change : A long – term change in the earth’s season, especially a change due to an increase in the average atmospheric conditions.
  18. Desert : Desert is an area where, due to lack of moisture, vegetation is not possible. Though special types of plants can be found here and there.
  19. Tribe : Tribe is a group of people who are strongly related in their social and cultural ways. This generally depicts the backward classes.
  20. Migration : Movement of people to a new area or country in order to find work or better living conditions.
  21. Birth Rate : The number of live births per thousand of population per year in a particular area.
  22. Death Rate : The ratio of deaths to the population of a particular area or during a particular period of time, usually calculated as the number of deaths per thousand people per year.
  23. Immigrants : A person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.
  24. Asiatic Agglomeration : The largest group of world lives in Asiatic co-agglomeration. It extends from Pakistan in west to India, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, etc. in east.
  25. European Agglomeration : The second largest community after Asia in the world is European community. ‘
  26. American Agglomeration : The main extension of American community is in the north eastern part of the northern America in which north – east part of USA lies.
  27. Economic Density : The productive capacity of resources of land and number of people living on that land is considered in economic density.
  28. Agricultural Density : Area of land used for fanning and number of people living in that area is considered in it.
  29. Nutritional Density : The area of land producing food crops and total population of that land is considered in it.
  30. Temperate Zone : Each of the two belts of latitude between the torrid zone and the northern ’ and southern frigid zones.
  31. Intensive Agriculture : Intensive farming or intensive agriculture involves various types of agriculture with higher levels of input and output per cubic unit of agricultural land area.
  32. Urbanization : Population shift from rural to urban areas – the process of urban settlement. Secondary and tertiary activities develop due to this. The word urbanization is mostly used in different meanings and context as per the subject. The ratio of urban population in total population is known as urbanization.
  33. Industrialization : The process of development of manufacturing industries through technical development and mechanization due to which secondary and tertiary sectors develop more rapidly as compared to the primary sector.
  34. Sub Continent : A large distinguishable part of a continent, which exhibits extreme variations just like continents. This is a unique region.
  35. Flood : An overflow of large amount of water beyond its normal limits, especially over what is normally dry land.
  36. Drought : A period of abnormal climatic condition in which there is complete lack of rainfall.
  37. Epidemic : A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.
  38. Irrigation : The supply of water to land or crops to help growth in dry period typically by modes of irrigation.
  39. Family Planning : The practice of controlling the number of children one has and the intervals between their births, particularly by means of contraception or voluntary sterilization.
  40. Literacy : In India, such percentage of population out of the population of those 7 years or more, who can read, write and have the capability of performing numerical calculation along with understanding.

RBSE Class 12 Geography Notes Chapter 3 Population: Distribution, Density and Growth

RBSE Class 12 Geography Notes