Understanding the Statement
The assertion that "more than 90% of the world's population lives on about 10% of the land surface" is actually False. Let's break down why this is the case.
Population Distribution
- The global population is distributed unevenly across various regions.
- Major concentrations of people are found in urban areas, fertile plains, and along coastlines.
- Significant populations exist in countries like China and India, which occupy large land areas.
Land Surface Usage
- While densely populated regions occupy small portions of land, the total area used for habitation is much larger than 10%.
- Urbanization has led to high population densities in cities, but these cities constitute a small fraction of total land area.
Geographical Considerations
- Around 30% of the Earth’s land is habitable, including plains, valleys, and coastal regions.
- The majority of the world’s land surface consists of deserts, mountains, and other uninhabitable areas that do not support large populations.
Conclusion
- The statement overemphasizes the extent of urban concentration by suggesting that such a vast majority of people live on a minimal portion of land.
- In reality, while urban areas are densely populated, they do not account for over 90% of the global population living on only 10% of the land.
In summary, the correct answer is False, as more than 90% of the global population does not reside on just 10% of the land surface.