Where Do People Live?

Demographers use the term population distribution to describe the way that people are arranged in a given area. The image below shows how Earth's population is distributed. Only 29% of the world's surface is land; less than half of Earth's land can actually support settlements.

What factors could be affecting the population distribution in Africa?

Population Distribution Patterns

The images below show how to identify different population distribution patterns.

Activity

Use Google Earth to complete the Interpreting Aerial Image worksheet.

Look up the following cities:

Dawson City, Canada
Palmanova, Italy
Jaipur, India
Katori, Japan

Population Density

Population density describes how many people live in a given area.

Calculation: number of people ÷km²

For example, Singapore has a population of 5 469 724 living in an area of 718.3 km² . Mongolia has a population of 2 953 190 living in an area of 1 564 116 km² .

Singapore: 5 469 724 people ÷ 728.3 km² = 7614.8 people per km²

Mongolia: 2 953 190 people ÷ 1 654 116 km² = 1.9 people per km²

Therefore,Singapore has a much higher population density than Mongolia.

How different would life be in Monaco (left) compared to Mongolia (right)?

A population density under 15 people per km²is considered to be low. A population density over 150 km²is considered to be high.

Is Ontario high or low?

Is Waterloo Region high or low?

Choropleth Maps

Use the following worksheets to complete your own choropleth map.

Understanding Population Patterns

Complete the Understanding Population Patterns worksheet with the help of the information provided below.

Map of Waterloo Region (also go on the 3D feature to look for landforms and structures.
Waterloo Region Website (population, etc.)
Other Important Info (Wikipedia)

NEXT: What Influences Where People Build Settlements?

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