The Geographic Factors Of Population Distribution History Essay

These factors provide the necessary explanation for particular patterns of population distribution are generally grouped into three categories: (1) Geographical factor (2) Economic and social factors; and (3) Demographic factors. The categories, however, are in no way like water-tight compartment.

There is a great deal of interaction among the three types of facto which makes it difficult for us to identify one type of factor being exclusively responsible for a particular pattern of population distribution.

Geographic Factors of Population Distribution

Physical conditions, such as climate (temperature and rainfall), landforms in terms of altitudes, the quality of the soil and the availability of energy and mine resources are the important geographical determinants of population distribution. Another important factor is the relationship between the location of one place and other places of importance.

Climate is one of the most important natural conditions which have historically played a vital role in the development of hum life, for it is the main factor determining the formation of botany environment and of vegetable and animal associations.

Geography therefore, usually considers the main climatic belts of the earth as the framework within which human activity takes place.

With technological progress and increasing control over nature, man has been able to affect many of the influences of climatic conditions. The importance of the role of climatic conditions with respect to population distribution is, therefore, inversely related to the stage of technological advancement reached by any country.

Temperature is an important factor to be considered in climate conditions. It is obvious that wherever there are extremes of temperature, human life is difficult to sustain, and consequently such areas are sparsely inhabited.

The most appropriate example of temperature affecting population distribution is the one provided by the Arctic and Subtract Regions where, because of long and very cold winter nights and low intensity of solar radiation even during the summer, living conditions are extremely difficult and the energy of human beings is spent mainly on struggling against the difficult conditions created by nature.

It has been estimated that 6.4 million square miles of the earth are too cold for cropping. When temperatures are very high and are combined with humidity, such conditions may not be too attractive for those who may wish to migrate to these places for other reasons, thus affecting population growth due to immigration.

As water is essential for human survival, population distribution is largely determined by rainfall and other sources of water supply like rivers, wells, etc.

The extreme case is that of large expanses of deserts, where there is no population at all because of the absence of any source of water supply. On the other hand, several ancient civilisations flourished on the banks of rivers.

In this context, the role of the Nile in Egypt and the Ganges in India is worth noting. Writing about the distribution of population in pre-partition India on the basis of the 1941 census, Kingsley Davis observes: “In other words, the region’s population is heavily concentrated in the well-watered river and coastal plains.”

The nature of the terrain is also an important geographic feature determining population distribution. Wherever the terrain is difficult, the area is sparsely populated.

For instance, in a mountainous region, population density is low because the area of arable land is limited, and it is difficult to maintain even the existing arable land.

In addition, the cost of transportation and of constructing, maintaining and operating agricultural equipment, is high; and the high altitude also adversely affects human activity.

It has been estimated that high mountains, which generally tend to discourage human settlements, occupy more than one million square miles of the earth’s land surface.

Low-lying plains are the most favourable to population settlements. For instance, the plains of North America and Europe are densely populated areas, so is the Ganges Valley in India.

The quality of the soil is yet another geographic determinant of population distribution. There are two kinds of soil, the superficial matter which covers the solid rock below.

The first kind of soil, called the residual soil, is formed by autogenously decomposition and is generally poor in quality. The other kind of soil is that which is transferred from other places by water, ice or wind, and such soil is richer than residual soil.

The deltas in India and Indo-China and the Nile Valley provide examples of this type of rich soil. An approximate estimate has been made of the proportion of the world’s soil that is fit for cultivation in the present times.

“In Europe, it is 50 per cent of the land surface, in South America 25 per cent, in Asia 25 per cent, in the North America and Africa each 20 per and in Australia 10 per cent.”

Though the quality of the soil was an important determinant of population distribution in the past, modern times, and its role may become less important because mod scientific agricultural technology has devised ways to modify that physiochemical structure of the soil and to make it more fertile, it is sterile or exhausted following over-use and/or wrong use.

It the past, because of lack of such knowledge, degradation of the sort has been known to be the cause of the disappearance of flourish” civilisations like that of the Mayas in Central America.

The role of energy sources and raw material resources in determining population distribution is less evident in recent times than it was in the past, when the presence of these factors was a fundamental condition for the location of an industry and the consequent demand for labour to man that industry.

Today, beater: of cheap means of transport, it may be possible for industries to be set up in places that are naturally deficient in raw materials.

Among the many kinds of minerals, coal was the first to be used as a source of both heat and motive power, and soon became a symbol of man’s control over nature.

More than any other mineral, coed attracts industries and resultant population concentration. Sites of water power are also able to attract population, though not to the same extent as minerals, because electricity can be transmittal over long distances, and industries do not have to be set up at the place where electricity is generated.

The location of a certain place in relation to other areas is another geographic factor which determines how far it will be able to attract population and support it.

For instance, one of the main reasons for the development of industries in and around Pune is the proximity of that area to Mumbai and the excellent modes of transportation that are available.

It has also been observed that “two-third of the inhabitants of the temperate zones live in less than 500 kilometres from the sea, and almost one-half of the remainder live in less than 1,000 kilometres inland.”

This review of the geographical factors affecting population distribution clearly indicates that, generally, no factor by itself is responsible for the concentration of population or lack of it.

All these factors are usually inter-related. It is only in some exceptional areas like those with extremely cold climate that the factor of climate itself determines population growth. On the other hand, in some areas all the factors appear to be favourable to high population concentration.

Social and Economic Factors of Population Distribution

Geographers are not unanimous in their opinion that the distribution of population is determined mainly by physical factors. Some are of the view that social and economic factors are more important than physical factors, and that, as society becomes more complex, these physical factors become less important in determining population distribution.

The main reason for this is the fact that, as man gains increasing control over natural phenomena, he is less inclined to accept the natural conditions in which he finds himself, but tends to modify these to suit his own requirements, if other conditions of habitation social and economic conditions are attractive.

The social and economic factors affecting population distribution are: (1) the type of economic activity; (2) the type of technology employed; and (3) social policy.

Type of Economic Activity:

In rural areas, most people make direct use of the surrounding land to support themselves through agriculture, hunting and mining; if land cannot support its population, the surplus moves out.

On the other hand, in urban areas, people do not depend on land for sustenance and, therefore, can live in one area, though they depend on products from other areas. The concentration of population in urban areas is a result of diverse economic activities which cam be carried out in these areas.

When a great variety of economic activity is concentrated in a single area, the result is high population density. These economic activities include wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, finance and business, and even Government and medical services as well as communication.

Because of the diverse types of economic activities undertaken in urban areas, small land areas can be inhabited by large populations.

Type of Technology:

Various economic activities are interrelated with the types of technology that are used, and jointly they influence population distribution.

It has, however, been pointed out that technology, “has an important influence, for changes in the techniques employed in any type of economic activity may open new areas which formerly held little possibility of human habitation, or render unattractive the sites which formerly were advantageous.”

Social Policy:

Most countries have strict laws governing immigration, and can, therefore, control the size as well as the internal distribution of their populations.

On the other hand, population distribution within a country is not as easily controlled because, in most countries, citizens have the constitutional right to decide the place of residence within a country. Government however, may and often do and indirectly influence decisions individuals in this matter.

When the Government of India set i steel plants in the public sector at Durgapur, Rourkela people were attracted to these “steel towns” for employment.

Similarly, when the Government of India announced that no licenses would be issued to start new industries or to expand existing industries in Greater Mumbai, the flow of migrants into that metropolis was expected to be arrested at least to some extent.

Demographic Factors of Population Distribution

Though the three demography variables fertility, mortality and migration are themselves determined by social, economic and geographic factors, it is possible to consider them in the light of their influence on population distribution.

Differential fertility and mortality rates lead to differential growth rates which, in turn, lead to changes in the population of a country over a long period of time. Migration, on the other hand, is the most important demographic variable influencing population distribution.

Migration influences population distribution within a country, for people migrate to large industrial centres in search of employment opportunities, thus bringing about population redistribution.

International labour movements take place when there is shortage of labour in one country and a surplus in other countries. Africa provides an example of how international labour movements took place because of the demand for labour which could not be met within the continent itself.

In the latter part of the nineteenth century rich mineral deposits were discovered in Africa. African tribesmen, who lived in their own self-sufficient economies, initially had no incentive to work on wages for European enterprises.

The mining areas, therefore, lacked a sufficient labour force, and most of the workers had to come from other areas, either of the same country or from adjoining countries, and sometimes even from distant countries. In more recent times, several Middle East countries have allowed and have even encouraged immigration from neighboring developing countries to man several skilled well as semi-skilled and unskilled jobs.

The existing population distribution sometimes acts as a demographic factor which attracts the setting up of certain industries, which in turn results in further development of the area and encourages concentration of population.

Many industries have to be set up in proximity with the consumers of their products; conversely, wherever population concentration is great, such industries are set up.

The other reason why industries are set up is population centres is the availability of cheap labour; the location (if such industries, therefore, attracts more persons in search of employment opportunities, and thus leads to a concentration of the population.

Physical Features

Agriculture

Fresh Water

Climate

Available Power

Access to Other Communities

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/standards/09/index.html

The Characteristics, Distribution, and Migration of Human Population on Earth’s Surface

Human population has increased dramatically over the last few centuries. In 1830, more than 900 million people inhabited Earth. As the twenty-first century approaches, Earth’s population is nearly six billion. At the same time, extraordinarily large and dense clusters of people are growing: Tokyo has already reached a population in excess of 25 million. The geographically informed person must understand that the growth, distribution, and movements of people on Earth’s surface are the driving forces behind not only human events-social, cultural, political, and economic-but also certain physical events-large-scale flooding, resource depletion, and ecological breakdown.

Students need to develop an understanding of the interaction of the human and environmental factors that help to explain the characteristics of human populations, as well as their distribution and movements. The distribution and density of Earth’s population reflect the planet’s topography, soils, vegetation, and climate types (ecosystems); available resources; and level of economic development. Population growth rates are influenced by such factors as education (especially of women), religion, telecommunications, urbanization, and employment opportunities. Mortality rates are influenced by the availability of medical services, food, shelter, health services, and the overall age and sex distribution of the population.

Another key population characteristic is growth, which may be described in terms of fertility and mortality, crude birth- and death rates, natural increase and doubling time, and population structure (age and sex distribution). These basic demographic concepts help bring focus to the human factors that explain population distributions and densities, growth patterns, and population projections. Population pyramids, for example, indicate the differential effects of past events, such as wars, disease, famine, improved sanitation, and vaccination programs, on birth- and death rates and gender. An analysis of specific age cohorts enables predictions to be made. For example, a large proportion zero to 15 years old suggests rapid population growth whereas a large proportion 45 to 60 years old suggests a mature population, which will soon require significant resources to support the elderly. Both predictions could have significant geographic implications for a community; for example, a young population could create a need for more housing and schools, whereas an older population could create a need for more retirement and medical facilities. Such demographic analyses can be performed at all scales.

Almost every country is experiencing increased urbanization. Across Earth peasant and pastoral life is giving way to the more economically promising lure of life in cities, as people seeking better jobs or more income move to areas where opportunities are better. The majority of the world’s people are moving toward a way of life that only a minority of people experienced less than a century ago. Population geographers predict that Tokyo, São Paulo, Bombay, Shanghai, Lagos, and Mexico City will be the next century’s most massive population centers. However, people in some developed countries are giving up the economic advantages of city life for the ease and attractions of suburbs and small towns, especially those with access to employment in metropolitan areas.

Migration is one of the most distinctive and visible characteristics of human populations, and it leads to significant reshaping of population distribution and character. It is a dynamic process that is constantly changing Earth’s landscapes and modifying its cultures. It takes place at a variety of scales and in different contexts. At international scales geographers track the flows of immigrants and emigrants. At national scales they consider net regional balances of in-and out-migrants or the flows from rural to urban areas, which are a principal cause of urbanization. At a local scale they consider the continuous mobility of college students, retirees, and tourists or the changes of address that occur without necessarily resulting in a job change or change in friendship patterns.

The context of migration varies from voluntary and discretionary (the search for a better place to live), to voluntary but unavoidable (the search for a place to live), to involuntary and unavoidable (the denial of the right to choose a place to live).

In the two voluntary contexts, migration often results from the weighing of factors at the point of origin and at potential destinations against the costs (financial and emotional) of moving. “Pull” factors may make another place seem more attractive and therefore influence the decision to move. Other factors are unpleasant enough to “push” the migrant out of the local setting and toward another area. These factors reflect people’s objective knowledge of places and also their secondhand impressions. As a consequence, many countries have experienced waves of people going from settled areas to new lands in the interior (e.g., the westward movement in the United States in the nineteenth century and the move from the southeast coast to the interior of Brazil starting in the 1960s, when the new capital city of Brasilia was built).

Voluntary and unavoidable migration occurs when much of a region’s or country’s population is impelled into migration streams, such as the millions of Irish who fled to the United States in the 1840s because of the potato famine or the millions of Somalis, Sudanese, and Rwandans who moved in the 1990s because of drought, famine, and civil war. However, some migrations are forced and involuntary. Such was the case with African Americans who were taken to North and South America in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries to work as slave laborers on sugar, cotton, and tobacco plantations.

Demographic shifts rearrange patterns of population and create new human landscapes. Natural increase, war, famine, and disease play decisive roles in influencing why many people live where they do. Migration sets people in motion as they leave one place, strike out for a second, and possibly settle in a third. Intervening obstacles influence the pattern of migration. Physical barriers such as deserts, mountains, rivers, and seas or cultural barriers such as political boundaries, languages, economic conditions, and cultural traditions determine how people move and where they settle.

It is essential that students develop an understanding of the dynamics of population characteristics, distribution, and migration, and in particular of how population distribution (in terms of size and characteristics) is linked to the components of fertility, mortality, and mobility.

http://tourtasmania.com/tasfaq/people/distribution.html

What is the population distribution?

Tasmania’s population is well distributed between urban and rural settings, with over 31% of people living in towns of less than 2,000 inhabitants.

The ‘Greater Hobart’ area, encompassing the capital city of Hobart, is the most densely populated region, with 190,161 living there. The greater Launceston area follows, with a population of 95,604.

There are 65,900 in the Burnie-Devonport area (including Central Coast and Warratah-Wynyard), and after that there are few notable concentrations of people, with many (as mentioned above) living in towns of fewer than 2,000.

The west coast of Tasmania is the least populated, with just over 6,000 occupying about 15% of the state’s area.

Also see the question What are the major cities. Populations are based on the 2001 census.

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