POPULATION DENSITY
INTRODUCTION:-One of the important indices of population concentration is the density of population. It is a quantitative measure. It is defined as the number of persons per sq. km. It can be calculated by dividing the total population by area, in other words, the numerator in this calculation is population, and the denominator is an area (Chandana, 1986, p.25). Population density allows for a broad comparison of settlement intensity across geographic areas. it‘s a simple and crude measure from population size and land area for assessing the pressure of population on resources.
To more accurately understand the population resource relationship and various utilities, geographers manipulate the numerator or denominator and developed major types of measurement of population density. As –
INTRODUCTION:-One of the important indices of population concentration is the density of population. It is a quantitative measure. It is defined as the number of persons per sq. km. It can be calculated by dividing the total population by area, in other words, the numerator in this calculation is population, and the denominator is an area (Chandana, 1986, p.25). Population density allows for a broad comparison of settlement intensity across geographic areas. it‘s a simple and crude measure from population size and land area for assessing the pressure of population on resources.
To more accurately understand the population resource relationship and various utilities, geographers manipulate the numerator or denominator and developed major types of measurement of population density. As –
G.T.Trewartha suggested three types of density calculations,- Arithmetic Density, Nutritional Density, Agricultural Density.
Geographical or Arithmetic Density is the number of individuals per unit geographic area, for example, number per square meter, per hectare, or per square kilometer or square mile. This variable affects several other population variables. Which is simply the man-land ratio.
Arithmetic Density = The number of individuals per unit geographic area/Total area of that geographic area.
For example, the total population of India was 1210193422 persons in 2011. and the total area is 3287263 sq. km including P.O.K(78,114+5,180 sq. km) and Aksai Chin (37,555 sq. km). there the arithmetic density will be
Arithmetic Density = 1210193422 persons /3287263–(78114+5180+37555) sq.km
OR AD= 382 persons/sq.km
The resulting density is a simple average that does not take into account either clustering mega-cities or the remote mountain hamlet or the uninhabitable desert.
Physiological or nutritional density - For more meaningful density has been obtaining by refining the measurement of arithmetic density here the total area of cultivable land considers as the denominator & the Numerator is the total population.
Physiological Density =Total population / Total cultivable land Comparative Density concept.He suggested population correlated to the land area-weighted according to its productivity.
But both the concept of physiological density and comparative density are not free from criticism because any country could not only be dependent on cultivation alone.
Agricultural Density- In the calculation of agricultural density includes the cultivable land and population engaged in or based on agricultural activities thus is a corrected physiological density. (S.D. Maurya, Human Geography p. 112) Formula -
Agricultural density = Population based on agriculture / Total cultivable land
It’s more useful in agrarian countries.
Physiological Density =Total population / Total cultivable land Comparative Density concept.He suggested population correlated to the land area-weighted according to its productivity.
But both the concept of physiological density and comparative density are not free from criticism because any country could not only be dependent on cultivation alone.
Agricultural Density- In the calculation of agricultural density includes the cultivable land and population engaged in or based on agricultural activities thus is a corrected physiological density. (S.D. Maurya, Human Geography p. 112) Formula -
Agricultural density = Population based on agriculture / Total cultivable land
It’s more useful in agrarian countries.
Economic density According to George it’s the ratio between the requirement of population and the resource made available to it by production.
ED= NK/SK' where N =no. of inheritance
K`=per ca-pita quantity of requirements.
S= area in sq. km.
K= per ca-pita quantity of resources produced per km2.
But George himself keeping in view the complexity of its calculation stated that it was perhaps not possible to make a valid calculation of economic density in a diversified industrial economy.
The nutritional density-This index is used by Dobby as a comparative measure in his study of south-east Asia.
ED= NK/SK' where N =no. of inheritance
K`=per ca-pita quantity of requirements.
S= area in sq. km.
K= per ca-pita quantity of resources produced per km2.
But George himself keeping in view the complexity of its calculation stated that it was perhaps not possible to make a valid calculation of economic density in a diversified industrial economy.
The nutritional density-This index is used by Dobby as a comparative measure in his study of south-east Asia.
Formula, ND = Total population /Total area under principle crop
or ND = Total population /Total area under food crop
The difficulties in the use of density indices (Clarke, 1972, p. 28-29) are:-
(I) That population data are available for administrative of census area rather than per area of homogeneous economy of population distribution.
(II) That such homogeneity is in any case rare.
(III) That densities are merely averages, with all the limitations that this term implies.
(IV) That construction of density maps is dependent upon the criteria used in the selection of class intervals.
(I) That population data are available for administrative of census area rather than per area of homogeneous economy of population distribution.
(II) That such homogeneity is in any case rare.
(III) That densities are merely averages, with all the limitations that this term implies.
(IV) That construction of density maps is dependent upon the criteria used in the selection of class intervals.
(V) That interpretation of such maps depends upon the shading method and shading range.
(VI) That population numbers can be related to many different measures of space.
(VI) That population numbers can be related to many different measures of space.
But due to the lack in availability of data some preceding discussion is relevant. And these attempts have been made to compute the population and its occupied land and finally for the better understanding of population resource relationship. Geographers have made several uses of three types of density suggested by Trewartha. But most use is arithmetic density. And finally, these are interpreted and represented cartographically by geographers. For finally gain the distribution pattern of the population over the earth.
Here are some examples of arithmetic density, physiological density, and agricultural density. As per 2001 data.
Fig- population density map of the world
The above table shows country-wise different types of density patterns. Here we select some major kinds of countries, such as CANADA, which have the lowest density of all types. From where we can say that Canada has the lowest population, also the lower man to agricultural land ratio and lowest the cultivator and agricultural land ratio. That indicates the lowest pressure on the resource base, and high mechanization in the agricultural field. The UK has a more populous country than Canada, and the man-land ratio is higher, physiological density is also high due to the majority of the population being engaged in secondary and other sectors than agricultural. And here the agricultural sector is more mechanized and able to supply sufficient food. JAPAN has one of the highest population densities though it’s a developed country, as Japan is an island country most of it is acquired by mountains. Its highest physiological density depicts that majority of the population is lives in arable plain land, and comparatively low agricultural density indicates how Japan accommodates a large no. of the population by extreme technological implications. But INDIA is an example of a developing country where the population growth rate is decreasing the arithmetic density is too high. And to some extent industrialization and mechanization of the agricultural field have taken place. Therefore physiological density is lower than in other developing countries like EGYPT. Where a most inhabitable part is the Nile basin. Where major cultivators engaged they used mainly very age-old practices, therefore pressure on land is one of the highest.
Temporal changing Density pattern of India From the decadal density data of India we can identify increasing trends population from the given table. India has the second-highest population density after Bangladesh (1141 persons per sq. km.) From the above data table and graph seems that in the 1901 census the population density was 77 persons per sq. km. which increased Up to 382 persons per sq. km. in the 2011 census. But there is a fluctuation in 1921 and the decadal difference becomes negative, which is known as the demographic divide due to several natural checks. And from 1951 to 2001 population density steadily increases due to socio-economic development. But in 2011 the decadal difference of population density rate does not further increase.
The above table shows country-wise different types of density patterns. Here we select some major kinds of countries, such as CANADA, which have the lowest density of all types. From where we can say that Canada has the lowest population, also the lower man to agricultural land ratio and lowest the cultivator and agricultural land ratio. That indicates the lowest pressure on the resource base, and high mechanization in the agricultural field. The UK has a more populous country than Canada, and the man-land ratio is higher, physiological density is also high due to the majority of the population being engaged in secondary and other sectors than agricultural. And here the agricultural sector is more mechanized and able to supply sufficient food. JAPAN has one of the highest population densities though it’s a developed country, as Japan is an island country most of it is acquired by mountains. Its highest physiological density depicts that majority of the population is lives in arable plain land, and comparatively low agricultural density indicates how Japan accommodates a large no. of the population by extreme technological implications. But INDIA is an example of a developing country where the population growth rate is decreasing the arithmetic density is too high. And to some extent industrialization and mechanization of the agricultural field have taken place. Therefore physiological density is lower than in other developing countries like EGYPT. Where a most inhabitable part is the Nile basin. Where major cultivators engaged they used mainly very age-old practices, therefore pressure on land is one of the highest.
Temporal changing Density pattern of India From the decadal density data of India we can identify increasing trends population from the given table. India has the second-highest population density after Bangladesh (1141 persons per sq. km.) From the above data table and graph seems that in the 1901 census the population density was 77 persons per sq. km. which increased Up to 382 persons per sq. km. in the 2011 census. But there is a fluctuation in 1921 and the decadal difference becomes negative, which is known as the demographic divide due to several natural checks. And from 1951 to 2001 population density steadily increases due to socio-economic development. But in 2011 the decadal difference of population density rate does not further increase.
STATE-WISE POPULATION DENSITY IN DIFFERENT STATES IN INDIA
Though the density of the population of India is 382 persons per sq. km. in the 2011 census it has a huge Disparity in density throughout India. There are lots of factors responsible for the unevenness. The Population density as it varies from a minimum of 17 persons per sq. km. in Arunachal Pradesh to a Maximum of 1102 persons per sq. km. in Bihar. Based on unevenness, we can categorize Indian states as follows.
(I) Area of extremely low density (˂ 100) Areas having 100 persons per sq. km. and less than that are included in this class. They include Sikkim, Mizoram, Andaman & Nicobar, Arunachal Pradesh, etc. causes are these states are located in a remote and inaccessible part of north & north-east India covered by mountainous dense forest area. Andaman & Nicobar Island is situated far away from the Indian mainland. Due to physio- climatic factors and very little economic development has taken place here.
(II) Area of low density (100-250) Area having a population density of 101 to 250 persons per sq. km. are included Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur,, Nagaland, etc. Most of them are hilly, forested areas and dissected areas of northeast India and the Deccan plateau. a rest Most of Rajasthan is a sandy desert that does not support high population density.
(III) Area of moderate density (250-500) This class includes those areas which are having 251 to 500 persons per sq. km. are included Jharkhand, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, etc. among them Assam has tea gardens whereas Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Karnataka, and Jharkhand have agricultural and mineral resources. The state of Gujarat has huge potential for industrial growth. These are factors that support moderate population density.
(IV) Area of high density (500-1000) This class includes those areas which are having 501 to 1000 persons per sq km. are those are Uttarpradesh, Haryana, Tamilnadu, Punjab, etc. Punjab and Haryana have highly developed agriculture based Tamilnadu has a high population density which is based on agriculture and industries. Uttarpradesh is located in the fertile Ganga plain and supports high population density.
(V) Area of very high density (more than 1000)Area having a population density of more than 1000 persons per sq. km. These include Delhi, Chandigarh, Bihar, West Bengal, etc. Bihar & West Bengal is located in the fertile plain of Ganga and supports a very high population density. Which is one of the most fertile areas of the world. Delhi has experienced one of the fastest population growths as a result of which its population density has increased mainly due to migration.
Though the density of the population of India is 382 persons per sq. km. in the 2011 census it has a huge Disparity in density throughout India. There are lots of factors responsible for the unevenness. The Population density as it varies from a minimum of 17 persons per sq. km. in Arunachal Pradesh to a Maximum of 1102 persons per sq. km. in Bihar. Based on unevenness, we can categorize Indian states as follows.
(I) Area of extremely low density (˂ 100) Areas having 100 persons per sq. km. and less than that are included in this class. They include Sikkim, Mizoram, Andaman & Nicobar, Arunachal Pradesh, etc. causes are these states are located in a remote and inaccessible part of north & north-east India covered by mountainous dense forest area. Andaman & Nicobar Island is situated far away from the Indian mainland. Due to physio- climatic factors and very little economic development has taken place here.
(II) Area of low density (100-250) Area having a population density of 101 to 250 persons per sq. km. are included Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur,, Nagaland, etc. Most of them are hilly, forested areas and dissected areas of northeast India and the Deccan plateau. a rest Most of Rajasthan is a sandy desert that does not support high population density.
(III) Area of moderate density (250-500) This class includes those areas which are having 251 to 500 persons per sq. km. are included Jharkhand, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, etc. among them Assam has tea gardens whereas Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Karnataka, and Jharkhand have agricultural and mineral resources. The state of Gujarat has huge potential for industrial growth. These are factors that support moderate population density.
(IV) Area of high density (500-1000) This class includes those areas which are having 501 to 1000 persons per sq km. are those are Uttarpradesh, Haryana, Tamilnadu, Punjab, etc. Punjab and Haryana have highly developed agriculture based Tamilnadu has a high population density which is based on agriculture and industries. Uttarpradesh is located in the fertile Ganga plain and supports high population density.
(V) Area of very high density (more than 1000)Area having a population density of more than 1000 persons per sq. km. These include Delhi, Chandigarh, Bihar, West Bengal, etc. Bihar & West Bengal is located in the fertile plain of Ganga and supports a very high population density. Which is one of the most fertile areas of the world. Delhi has experienced one of the fastest population growths as a result of which its population density has increased mainly due to migration.
POPULATION DISTRIBUTION
INTRODUCTION:-Distribution of the population is the spatial arrangement of the population of a definite region in a certain population (Kumar, 2015). At first, a distinction must be made between population distribution and density for better understanding. Population distribution is a locational property where density is proportional (Chandna 1994). In most countries of the world, the geographic distribution of the population is not even with varying degrees of concentration of population giving rise to varying densities in the different parts of the world. The main factors determining population distribution are climate, landforms, topography, soil, energy and mineral resources, accessibility like distance from the sea coast, natural harbors, navigable rivers or canals, cultural factors, political boundaries, controls on migration and trade, government policies, types of economic activities, technology including the type of farming and transportation facilities, social organization and but not the least, demographic factors like changes in natural increase and migration.
Factors affecting population concentration Population distribution is a social phenomenon that exists by the combined affection of a series of factors. In addition, the factor that helps to decide how the population is distributed is the level of the labor force, the property of the economy than the cause of natural conditions, history of the exploitation of that area, the migrations (Nguyễn Hồ Quốc Linh, 2010).
World Population Distribution
Fig. 1 depicts that the maximum share of the population is held by Asian countries. Not only do physical factors promote population size here but socio-economic factors are dominantly influencing to increase the population. So, it can be concluded that developed regions including North America, Europe, Japan, etc. countries represent the decreasing trend of population. On contrary, developing regions like Africa, Latin America, Asia, etc. have an increasing trend of population.
Fig. 1 depicts that the maximum share of the population is held by Asian countries. Not only do physical factors promote population size here but socio-economic factors are dominantly influencing to increase the population. So, it can be concluded that developed regions including North America, Europe, Japan, etc. countries represent the decreasing trend of population. On contrary, developing regions like Africa, Latin America, Asia, etc. have an increasing trend of population.
Fig.1 Distribution of population
Indian Scenario
Fig. 2 depicts that population concentration is very high in the Ganga basin i.e. in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and also in Maharashtra due to the high urbanization rate. On contrary to this population size is quite low in the piedmont of Himalaya i.e. Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Northeastern states. The rest of the part has a moderate population size.
Fig. 2 depicts that population concentration is very high in the Ganga basin i.e. in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and also in Maharashtra due to the high urbanization rate. On contrary to this population size is quite low in the piedmont of Himalaya i.e. Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Northeastern states. The rest of the part has a moderate population size.
Fig. 2 State-wise population distribution of India
Source: Census of India, 2011
Source: Census of India, 2011
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