Factors Affecting Population Density & Distribution (CIE IGCSE Geography)

• Population density varies across the world
• The way in which the global population is spread across the world is the population distribution
• Population density is calculated by dividing the total population by the total area
  • The total area can be on different scales - region, country, continent

Figure 1 - World Population Density

• Monaco has the highest population density in the world - 26,337 people per km² (2022)
• Greenland has the lowest population density in the world - lower than 0.2 people per km² (2022)
• In 2022 the world population density was approximately 59.27 people per km²
• Population is not evenly spread, and some areas are densely populated whilst others are sparsely populated
• The population density is affected by a range of factors both physical and human

Physical Factors	Human Factors
Climate - population density tends to be lower in colder regions and tropical deserts. The extremes of temperature create a harsh living environment where growing crops and accessing water are difficult	Economic - more people live where there are more jobs. The number of jobs is often affected by the infrastructure (transport/communication) and capital (the money available)
Water supply - settlements are usually located near  a water supply for drinking, washing etc... If water is scarce or difficult to obtain, then population density tends to be lower	Political - government investment in an area can improve the infrastructure which increases industry/business and attracts more people
Natural resources - these include minerals such as coal and oil. Areas with large amounts of natural resources tend to have higher population density. This depends on how easily the minerals can be obtained	Social - the better the housing, education and services the more people are likely to be attracted to an area, increasing the population density. The birth and death rates also affect the population density
Relief - mountainous areas tend to have lower population density due to difficulties in building and growing crops. Population densities are higher where the land is flat or gently sloping	Cultural - in some cultures, larger families are valued highly or religious beliefs dictate larger families. This can increase the population density within a country
Soil quality - population densities are highest where the soil fertility and quality is best. This makes it easier to grow crops

• Singapore has a population density of 8,358 people per km²
• As a city-state, it is not the most densely populated city in the world, but it is the third most densely populated country

Population Density in Singapore

Causes of the high-density population

• Singapore is only 716 km² which means the population is living in a limited amount of space
• Singapore has a tropical climate with uniformly high temperatures between 25^oC and 27^oC
• Almost all the land is habitable and either flat or gently sloping with the highest point at only 165m above sea level
• Access to water supplies
• Excellent infrastructure and communication
• Low crime rates
• Stable government
• High immigration rates
• World's busiest port in shipping tonnage

Effects of high-density population

• Housing shortages
• High rents and house prices
• Only 1% of the land is used for agriculture which means most of the food is imported
• Increased pressure on infrastructure such as public transport and services such as schools
• Increased waste
• Increased air and water pollution

• Mongolia has an area of 1,564,000 km²
• The population density is 2 people per km² 

^{Population Density of Mongolia}

Causes of the low population density

• The harsh climate in many areas with very cold winters which can reach -30°C
• High altitudes mostly between 900 -1500m above sea level
• Vast areas of desert and semi-desert 
• A short growing season of only about 90 days 
  • The climate and relief make agriculture very difficult
• Mongolia is a landlocked country which makes trade difficult
• Poor infrastructure and communication, only about 20% of the few roads are tarmac
• Many people in rural areas are reliant on livestock herding for their livelihood
  • Severe winters and hot summers can lead to a lack of pastures for grazing
• Low birth rates

Impacts of low population density

• Difficulties in accessing services such as healthcare and education, particularly in rural areas
• Poor access to markets and trade
• A lack of economic activities
• Increased rural-urban migration