Population Part 1 — Geography STD 12 Commerce / Arts — Question

Important human factors affecting distribution of population are
(i) Agriculture
(ii) Mining
(iii) Transportation
(iv) Urbanisation
(v) Government policy

(i) Agriculture

• Due to use of fertilizers and irrigation facilities, agricultural production increases and it supports large number of people.
• The method of cultivation, crops grown, types of agriculture and specialisation in particular crop are the other factors that affects the distribution of population.

(ii) Mining

• Minerals are the important raw materials for the development of industries.
• Industries develop in mineral rich areas and generate employment for skilled and unskilled labour. People are attracted in such areas and thus density of population increases.
• For example, richest mineralised zone of India – Chota Nagpur region in India is densely populated.

(iii) Transportation

• Regions having well developed network of transportation facilities are densely populated.
• Transportation network increases accessibility and helps to develop industries and generate employment and increases density of population.
• On the other hand, the areas where transport facilities are not developed, movement of goods and people become difficult and time consuming and therefore density of population is less.

(iv) Urbanisation

• Due to the development of industries, there is growth of towns and cities.
• In cities transportation, trade and other tertiary activities develop on large scale to fulfil the needs of increasing population.
• People are attracted to city areas due to better employment opportunities, educational and medical facilities, development of means of transport and communication and thus population goes on increasing. For e.g. Mumbai, London, Tokyo, New York.

(v) Government policy

• There is direct effect of government policies on density and distribution of population.
• Sometimes the government encourages people to settle in certain areas to reduce the pressure of population in certain cities. The government provides incentives to attract people.
• For example, to reduce overcrowding in Mumbai city, government provided land, water, and power at concessional rate in New Mumbai area.