The World Population Distribution, Density and GrowthClass 12 Fundamentals of Human Geography NCERT Solutions
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Q1Exercises
Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.
(i)
Which one of the following continents has the highest growth of population?
(a)
Africa
(b)
South America
(c)
Asia
(d)
North America
(ii)
Which one of the following is not an area of sparse population?
(a)
The Atacama
(b)
South-east Asia
(c)
Equatorial region
(d)
Polar regions
(iii)
Which one of the following is not a push factor ?
(a)
Water shortage
(b)
Medical/educational facilities
(c)
Unemployment
(d)
Epidemics
(iv)
Which one of the following is not a fact ?
(a)
Human population increased more than ten times during the past 500 years.
(b)
Population growth is high in the first stage of demographic transition?
Solution
(i) (a) Africa
(ii) (b) South-east Asia
(iii) (b) Medical/educational facilities
(iv) (b) Population growth is high in the first stage of demographic transition?
Explanation:
- (ii) The Atacama (desert), Equatorial regions (extreme climate), and Polar regions (extreme cold) are areas with harsh conditions that lead to sparse populations. South-east Asia is one of the most densely populated regions in the world.
- (iii) Push factors are negative conditions that compel people to leave a place. Water shortage, unemployment, and epidemics are all push factors. Medical and educational facilities are pull factors that attract people to a new location.
- (iv) The text states that the human population increased more than ten times in the past 500 years, making statement (a) a fact. For statement (b), the text explains that in the first stage of demographic transition, both birth rates and death rates are high, resulting in slow population growth, not high growth. Therefore, statement (b) is not a fact.
Q2Exercises
Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(i)
Name three geographical factors that influence the distribution of population.
(ii)
There are a number of areas with high population density in the world. Why does this happen?
(iii)
What are the three components of population change?
Solution
(i) Three geographical factors that influence the distribution of population are:
- Availability of water: People prefer to live in areas where fresh water is easily available for drinking, agriculture, and industry. River valleys are often densely populated.
- Landforms: Flat plains and gentle slopes are favoured over mountainous and hilly areas because they are better for agriculture, building roads, and industries.
- Climate: Areas with comfortable, moderate climates without much seasonal variation attract more people than regions with extreme hot, cold, or harsh climates.
(ii) Areas with high population density exist because they possess favourable conditions for human settlement. This is due to a combination of factors, including the availability of fresh water, fertile soils for agriculture, pleasant climates, and economic opportunities such as mineral deposits, industrialisation, and urbanisation, which provide employment and better living amenities.
(iii) The three components of population change are:
- Births (Fertility): The number of live births in a population.
- Deaths (Mortality): The number of deaths in a population.
- Migration: The movement of people from one place to another.
Q3Exercises
Distinguish between:
(i)
Birth rate and death rate.
(ii)
Push factors and pull factors of migration.
Solution
(i) Birth Rate and Death Rate
| Basis | Birth Rate | Death Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | It refers to the number of live births per thousand persons in a year in a particular region. | It refers to the number of deaths per thousand persons in a year in a particular region. |
| Indication | A high birth rate generally leads to population growth. | A high death rate generally leads to a population decrease or slower growth. |
| Formula | Crude Birth Rate (CBR) = (Live Births during the year / Mid-year population) × 1000 | Crude Death Rate (CDR) = (Number of deaths / Mid-year population) × 1000 |
(ii) Push Factors and Pull Factors of Migration
| Basis | Push Factors | Pull Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | These are negative conditions and perceptions that induce people to leave their place of origin. | These are positive conditions and perceptions that attract people to a particular destination. |
| Nature | They make the place of origin seem less attractive. | They make the place of destination seem more attractive. |
| Examples | Unemployment, poor living conditions, political turmoil, unpleasant climate, natural disasters, epidemics, and socio-economic backwardness. | Better job opportunities, better living conditions, peace and stability, security of life and property, and a pleasant climate. |
Q4Exercises
Answer the following questions in about 150 words.
(i)
Discuss the factors influencing the distribution and density of population in the world.
(ii)
Discuss the three stages of demographic transition.
Solution
(i) Factors Influencing the Distribution and Density of Population in the World
The distribution and density of the world's population are highly uneven and influenced by a combination of factors, which can be categorised as follows:
1. Geographical Factors:
- Availability of Water: Water is essential for life. River valleys like the Ganga plains are densely populated because water is available for drinking, agriculture, and transport.
- Landforms: People prefer living on flat plains and gentle slopes suitable for agriculture and infrastructure development. Mountainous regions like the Himalayas are sparsely populated due to difficult terrain.
- Climate: Areas with moderate and pleasant climates, such as the Mediterranean regions, attract more people. Extreme climates, like those in hot deserts or polar regions, discourage settlement.
- Soils: Fertile loamy soils support intensive agriculture and thus can sustain a larger population. Areas with poor soils tend to be thinly populated.
2. Economic Factors:
- Minerals: Areas rich in mineral deposits attract industries and mining activities, which generate employment and lead to dense population clusters. The Katanga Zambia copper belt is an example.
- Urbanisation: Cities offer better employment, education, healthcare, and amenities, attracting migrants from rural areas and leading to high population density.
- Industrialisation: Industrial belts provide numerous job opportunities, attracting a large workforce and service providers, resulting in high population densities, such as the Kobe-Osaka region in Japan.
3. Social and Cultural Factors:
- Some places attract people due to their religious or cultural significance.
- Conversely, people tend to move away from areas with social and political unrest.
- Sometimes, governments offer incentives to encourage people to settle in sparsely populated areas or move from overcrowded ones.
(ii) The Three Stages of Demographic Transition
The demographic transition theory describes the change in a region's population from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as it progresses from a rural agrarian to an urban industrial society. The theory outlines three stages:
Stage One: This stage is characterised by high fertility and high mortality. The birth rate is high because people reproduce more to compensate for the high death rate caused by epidemics and unreliable food supplies. Population growth is slow. Society is predominantly engaged in agriculture, where large families are considered an asset. Life expectancy is low, and literacy levels are minimal.
Stage Two: In this stage, fertility remains high initially but begins to decline over time. The most significant change is a rapid decline in the mortality rate due to improvements in sanitation and healthcare. The gap between the high birth rate and the low death rate leads to a very high net addition to the population, often called a 'population explosion'.
Stage Three: This stage is marked by a considerable decline in both fertility and mortality. The birth rate and death rate are both low. As a result, the population is either stable or grows very slowly. The society becomes urbanised, literate, and possesses high technical knowledge, leading to deliberate control over family size. Most developed countries are in this stage.