Geography Que-Ans (Each of 3 Mark)

The population of world is unevenly distributed due to:

• Availability of water like in river valleys
• Land forms e.g. plains are densely populated while hilly areas are sparsely populated. Deserts are also sparsely populated.
• Climate: Hot, cold and dry climates have sparse population e.g. tundra region, desert regions etc. Areas of moderate climate have dense population.
• Fertile soil regions are densely populated for the possibility of agriculture.
• Availability of minerals.
• Industrialisation.

People migrate for a better economic and social life. There are two sets of factors that influence migration. The Push factors make the place of origin seem less attractive for reasons like unemployment, poor living conditions, political turmoil, unpleasant climate, natural disasters, epidemics and social-economic backwards. The Pull factors make the place of destination seem more attractive than the place of origin for reasons like better job opportunities and living conditions, peace and stability, security of life and propery and pleasant climate.

Death rate plays an active role in population change. By and large mortality rates are affected by the region’s demographic structure, social advancement and levels of its economic development.
The following push factors make the place of origin seem less attractive:

• Unemployment
• Poor living conditions
• Unpleasant climate
• Natural disasters
• Epidemics
• Social-economic backwardness :

Population on the earth is more than 6 billion. It has grown to this size over centuries. Population of earth grew slowly in early period. It is during last few hundred years’ population has increased at an alarming rate. The steam engine replaced human and animal energy. They provided mechanized . energy of water and wind. This increased agricultural and industrial production. Inoculation against epidemics and other communicable diseases, improvement in medical facilities and sanitation contributed to a rapid decline in death rates throughout the world.

The ratio between the numbers of people to the size of land is the ‘density of population’. Density of Population = Population /Area.
Geographical factors influencing the distribution of population in the world:

• Availability of Water – People lives where fresh water is easily available. River valleys are among most densely populated areas.
• Land forms – People prefer living on flat plains and gentle slopes. Mountainous areas hinder the development of transport. Hence the Ganga plains are among the most densely populated areas.
• Climate – Areas with moderate climate attract people. Areas with cold and dry climates are uncomfortable for humans. Mediterranean regions were inhabited from early periods in history.
• Soils – Fertile soils are important for agricultural and allied activities. Areas which have loamy soils have more people living on it. The Ganga- Brahmaputra basins are veiy fertile.

The three components of population change are:

• Crude Birth Rate (CBR): It is expressed as number of live births in a year per thousand of population in a particular region.
• Crude Death Rate (CDR): It is the number of deaths in a place per thousand of population in a particular region. CBR and CDR are natural factors of population growth. They result in natural population growth, which is equal to the difference between CBR and CDR.
• Migration: It is the induced factor in population growth. It is the number of people moving in and out of a place due to various social, economic and political reasons. It is taken into account while calculating actual growth of population.

Declining population has the following positive impacts:

• Less pressure on land and on other resources.
• Less pressure on infrastructure and civic amenities.
• High per capita income and better standard of living.

An increasing population if in a desirable proportion, has the following positive impacts:

• Favourable for expanding economy.
• Resources can be utilised in a better way.
• Biodiversity is kept intact.

The areas with high population density across the world have at least one or usually multiple factors favorable for the settlement of population. Wherever people found conducive conditions for living, they have been settling there. With passage of time and growth of population, these areas became regions of thick population density. For example, the regions with availability of water, good climate, presence of minerals and other resources, of religious or cultural significance became regions of thick population. Example: Ganga-Yamuna Doab, Mediterranean regions.