Population density and population varies throughout the
Caribbean and the world. We can determine this by observing the population of a
place. Before we do this however, we must understand what each term means.
Population distribution means the actual location of the people spread out
through a country or region. In other terms, population distribution is the way
in which a population is dispersed.
On the other hand, population density is a measure of the
concentration of people within a country or region, expressed as persons per
square kilometer or square mile. So when we talk about the number of people per
square mile or square kilometer we are talking about population density.
The key difference between population distribution and population
density is that population distribution describes how people is spread out over
an area while density describes the number of people per square mile or square
kilometer.
Factors Affecting Population Distribution and Density
There are several factors affect where people live and therefore influence patterns of population distribution and population density. Some factors include physical factors (relief), resources, climate and rivers. Let us consider these factors:
There are several factors affect where people live and therefore influence patterns of population distribution and population density. Some factors include physical factors (relief), resources, climate and rivers. Let us consider these factors:
Physical Geography:
Some places such as deserts, mountainous regions and dense forest
are unbearable to live. These environments tend to have fewer people than areas
with natural advantages such as flat land, rivers etc. for example, in China
few people live in the Himalayan Mountains because it is extremely cold and
with steep hillsides and the soil is not conducive to farming whereas the flat
fertile valley of the Yangtze River is heavily populated.
Climate:
Some regions experience climatic extremes. Places such as northern
Canada, Alaska and Siberia are Polar Regions, they are extremely cold. On the
other had the Sahara desert in Africa is very hot. Few people tend to live in
these areas where it is hard to make a living. Other places where the climatic conditions
are temperate and tropical tend to have a higher population concentration.
Proximity to the Coast:
Approximately two-third of the world’s population lives within 500
km of the coast and many live on the coast itself. The main reason for this are
trade with other countries, the developing of fishing, and more recently, the
development of tourism.
Resources:
The presence of resources especially energy resources has
influences the distribution and density of the population. People are attracted
to these areas to take advantage of them as long as they have the necessary
technology to do so. Many Caribbean settlements have grown as a result of resources.
Resources provide jobs and economic activity which attract population. For
example, in the UK, most major cities grew close to coalfields, coal being vital
for the development of industry.
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