CLASS-12 ,Human geo- chapter-2

 Patterns of Population Distribution:

 Population Distribution: This refers to how people are spread out across the Earth's surface.
 Population Density: This tells us how many people live in a specific area.

 Population distribution shows how people are spread out over the Earth, with 90% of
people living on just 10% of the land. The 10 most populous countries make up about
60% of the world’s population, and 6 of these countries are in Asia:=  China
India, Indonesia Pakistan Bangladesh, Japan

Density of Population: Population density tells us how many people live in a certain area of
land. It’s calculated by dividing the number of people by the size of the land.

1. How to Calculate:Find the Area: Measure the size of the land (in square kilometers).

2. Find the Population: Count the number of people living in that area.

3. Divide: To get the density, divide the number of people by the area.

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION

 Geographical Factors:-

1. Availability of Water: People like to live where there is plenty of fresh water for
drinking, cooking, and farming. This is why river valleys are often crowded with
people.

2. Landforms: Flat plains and gentle slopes are better for farming, building roads, and
developing industries. Mountainous areas are harder to build on and grow crops, so
they tend to have fewer people. For example, the Ganga plains are densely populated,
while the Himalayan mountains have fewer people.

3. Climate: Extreme climates, like very hot deserts or very cold areas, are less
comfortable for people to live in. Mild and pleasant climates attract more people. For
instance, Mediterranean regions have been inhabited for a long time because of their
nice climate.

4. Soils: Fertile soils are great for farming, so areas with rich, loamy soils tend to have
more people living there due to better agricultural opportunities.

 Economic Factors Influencing Population Distribution:

1. Minerals: Areas rich in minerals attract industries that need these resources. This
creates jobs, drawing skilled and semi-skilled workers to these regions. For example,
the Katanga Copper Belt in Zambia is densely populated because of mining activities.

2. Urbanization: Cities provide better job opportunities, educational and medical

facilities, and improved transport and communication. This attracts people from rural
areas to cities, causing urban areas to grow. Major cities around the world continue to
draw many new residents each year.
3. Industrialization: Regions with many industries offer numerous jobs, not just in
factories but also in related services like transportation, banking, and healthcare. For
instance, the Kobe-Osaka region in Japan is heavily populated due to its many
industries.

 Social and Cultural Factors Influencing Population Distribution:

1. Religious and Cultural Significance: Places with religious or cultural importance

attract more people. For example, cities like Varanasi in India or Mecca in Saudi
Arabia draw many visitors and residents due to their religious significance.

2. Social and Political Unrest: Areas with social or political problems tend to see people
moving away. For example, conflicts or instability in regions like Syria or parts of
Africa can lead to lower population densities as people seek safer places.

3. Government Incentives: Sometimes, governments encourage people to move to less

populated areas or leave overcrowded cities by offering benefits or incentives. For
example, in some countries, there are programs to promote settlement in rural areas by
providing subsidies or improved infrastructure.

 Population Growth:-
 Population Growth: This is how the number of people in a place changes over time.
It can go up (positive growth) or down (negative growth).

 Growth of Population: To find out how much the population has increased, you
subtract the number of people at the start from the number at the end. For example, if
India's population was 102.70 crore in 2001 and 121.02 crore in 2011, the population
grew by 18.15 crore.

 Growth Rate of Population: This is the percentage that shows how much the
population has changed compared to the original number.

 Natural Growth of Population: This is the increase or decrease in population just

from the number of births and deaths. If more people are born than die, the population
grows.

 Actual Growth of Population: This includes both natural growth and the effect of
people moving in or out of the area. It shows the total change in population.

 Positive Growth: This happens when there are more births than deaths or when
people move into the area.

 Negative Growth: This happens when there are more deaths than births or when
people move out of the area.

 Components of Population Change:

1. Births:
 o Crude Birth Rate (CBR): The number of live births in a year per thousand
people.

 Formula: CBR=BP×1000\text{CBR} = \frac{B}{P} \times

1000CBR=PB×1000

 Where: B = live births during the year, P = mid-year population.

2. Deaths:

o Crude Death Rate (CDR): The number of deaths in a year per thousand
people.

 Formula: CDR=DP×1000\text{CDR} = \frac{D}{P} \times

1000CDR=PD×1000

 Where: D = number of deaths, P = mid-year population.

o Mortality rates are influenced by factors like demographic structure, social

advancement, and economic development.

3. Migration:

o Migration: Movement of people from one place to another.

 Place of Origin: The place people move from (population decreases

here).

 Place of Destination: The place people move to (population increases

here).

o Types of Migration:

 Permanent

 Temporary

 Seasonal

o Migration Patterns:

 Rural to rural

 Rural to urban

 Urban to urban

 Urban to rural

o Immigration: Moving into a new place (increasing population there).

 o Emigration: Moving out of a place (decreasing population there).

4. Factors Influencing Migration:

o Push Factors: Reasons that make the place of origin less attractive (e.g.,
unemployment, poor living conditions, political instability, natural disasters).

o Pull Factors: Reasons that make the place of destination more attractive (e.g.,
better job opportunities, improved living conditions, peace and stability).

5. Population Growth Over Time:

o The global population has increased more than ten times in the past 500 years.

o In the twentieth century alone, the population increased four times.

 What is Demographic Transition? Demographic transition theory helps us

understand how the population of a region changes as it develops from a simple,
rural society to a more advanced, urban one. This change happens in several stages,
each with its own characteristics.

The Three Stages of Demographic Transition:

1. First Stage:

o Characteristics: In this stage, both birth rates (how many babies are born) and
death rates (how many people die) are high.

o Why It Happens:

 People have many children because many of them die young due to
diseases and poor food supply.

 Life expectancy (how long people live) is low because healthcare and
sanitation are not advanced.

 Most people work in farming and have large families to help with work.

o Population Growth: The population grows slowly because high birth rates are
balanced by high death rates.

o Society: This was the situation in all countries a couple of centuries ago. People
lived in rural areas, had low literacy rates, and used simple technology.

2. Second Stage:

o Characteristics: Birth rates remain high, but death rates start to fall.

o Why It Happens:
  Improvements in healthcare, sanitation, and technology reduce the
number of deaths.

 Better food supply and medical care mean people live longer.

 As death rates drop, there is a gap between the high birth rates and the
lower death rates.

o Population Growth: Because death rates fall but birth rates stay high, the
population grows quickly.

o Society: People are still largely in rural areas, but they start to experience some
benefits of modernization.

3. Third Stage:

o Characteristics: Both birth rates and death rates decline.

o Why It Happens:

 Improved education, especially for women, and better family planning

lead to fewer births.

 People in urban areas have access to better healthcare and living

conditions.

 As people become more aware of family planning, they choose to have

fewer children.

o Population Growth: The growth slows down because the number of births
decreases and death rates are already low. The population might even stabilize
or grow very slowly.

o Society: People live in cities, are more educated, and use advanced technology.
They deliberately control family size to balance with the quality of life.

 POPULATION CONTROL MEASURES:-

Population control measures are vital for managing human growth and ensuring resource
sustainability. Family planning is a key approach, allowing people to choose the number and
timing of their children, which helps control population growth and enhances women’s
health. Key measures include:

1. Public Awareness: Campaigns to educate people about the benefits of family

planning.

2. Free Contraceptives: Providing birth control methods at no cost to make them

accessible to everyone.
 3. Tax Disincentives: Implementing higher taxes for larger families to encourage
smaller family sizes.

Thomas Malthus’ theory (1798) warned that population would grow faster than food supply,
leading to potential crises like famine, disease, and war. He suggested that preventive
measures, like family planning, are better than facing natural disasters or diseases that reduce
population. Effective population control is crucial for balancing population growth with
resource availability and avoiding severe consequences.

1. Population Distribution

Explanation: Population distribution describes how people are spread across the Earth. Most
people (90%) live on just 10% of the land, meaning some areas are very crowded (like cities
or river valleys), while others, like deserts or mountains, have very few people. This uneven
spread helps us understand where and why people choose to live in certain places.

2. The 10 Most Populous Countries

Explanation: About 60% of the world’s population lives in the 10 most populated countries.
Six of these are in Asia: China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Japan.
These countries have large populations due to factors like fertile land, historical settlement,
and economic opportunities, making Asia a densely populated region.

3. Population Density

Explanation: Population density shows how many people live in a specific area, measured
as people per square kilometer. For example, if 150,000 people live in 100 sq km, the density
is 1,500 people per sq km. High-density areas, like cities, have many people in a small space,
while low-density areas, like rural regions, have fewer.

4. Factors Influencing Population Distribution

a. Geographical Factors

 Water Availability: People need water for drinking, farming, and industries, so they
settle near rivers or lakes. For example, the Ganga plains in India are densely
populated because of water availability.

 Landforms: Flat lands are easier for farming and building, so they attract more
people. Mountainous areas, like the Himalayas, have fewer people due to difficult
terrain.

 Climate: Mild climates, like in Mediterranean regions, attract people because they are
comfortable. Harsh climates, like deserts or very rainy areas, have fewer people.

 Soils: Fertile soils support farming, so areas with good soil, like the Indo-Gangetic
plains, have more people. Poor soils, like in parts of Rajasthan, India, lead to sparse
populations.
b. Economic Factors

 Minerals: Areas with minerals (e.g., copper in Katanga, Zambia) attract industries and
workers, increasing population density.

 Urbanization: Cities offer jobs, schools, and hospitals, pulling people from rural
areas. For example, megacities like Mumbai grow due to migration.

 Industrialization: Industrial areas, like Kobe-Osaka in Japan, create jobs not only in
factories but also in services (e.g., shops, transport), making them densely populated.

c. Social and Cultural Factors

Explanation: Some places attract people due to religious or cultural importance, like Mecca
or Varanasi. People may avoid areas with conflict or unrest. Governments sometimes offer
benefits (e.g., land or money) to encourage people to settle in less crowded areas or move
from overcrowded ones.

5. Population Growth

Explanation: Population growth is the change in the number of people in an area over time.
It can increase (positive growth) or decrease (negative growth). For example, India’s
population grew by 18.15 crore from 2001 to 2011. Growth is measured in actual numbers or
as a percentage and depends on births, deaths, and migration.

Types of Population Growth

 Natural Growth: The difference between births and deaths. More births than deaths
mean population grows.

 Actual Growth: Includes births, deaths, and migration (people moving in or out). For
example, Actual Growth = Births – Deaths + In-Migration – Out-Migration.

 Positive Growth: Happens when births exceed deaths or people move into an area.

 Negative Growth: Occurs when deaths exceed births or people leave an area.

6. Components of Population Change

 Birth Rate: The number of babies born per 1,000 people in a year. A high birth rate
increases population. Calculated as: Crude Birth Rate (CBR) = (Births ÷ Population) ×
1,000.

 Death Rate: The number of deaths per 1,000 people in a year. A lower death rate (due
to better healthcare) increases population. Calculated as: Crude Death Rate (CDR) =
(Deaths ÷ Population) × 1,000.

 Migration: When people move from one place to another. Immigrants move into an
area, increasing its population, while emigrants move out, decreasing it. Push factors
 (e.g., unemployment, disasters) make people leave, while pull factors (e.g., jobs,
safety) attract them to new places.

7. Demographic Transition

Explanation: This theory explains how population changes as a society develops from rural
to urban. It has three stages:

 Stage 1: High births and deaths, so population grows slowly. People are farmers, and
diseases are common. All countries were like this long ago.

 Stage 2: Births stay high, but deaths drop due to better healthcare, so population
grows fast. Many developing countries are in this stage.

 Stage 3: Both births and deaths are low, and population growth slows. People live in
cities, are educated, and plan smaller families. Developed countries like Japan are in
this stage.

8. Population Control Measures

Explanation: To manage fast population growth, governments promote:

 Family Planning: Encouraging smaller families with access to contraceptives and

education.

 Awareness Campaigns: Teaching people about the benefits of smaller families.

 Tax Policies: Charging higher taxes for larger families to discourage having many
children.

 Malthus’ Theory: In 1798, Thomas Malthus warned that if population grows faster
than food supply, it could lead to famine, disease, or war. He suggested controlling
population to protect resources.