Q. 1. Define the term "Density of Population".
Ans. Density of population is the number of people living per unit area of land. It is commonly expressed as persons per square kilometre. Density of population = Population / Area. It gives a simple measure of how crowded a region is and is useful for comparing population concentrations between places.
Density of Population = Population /Area
Q. 2. How is density of population of a region calculated?
Ans. Density of population is calculated by dividing the total population of a region by its total land area (usually expressed in sq. km.). In formula form: Density of Population = Population / Area. This yields the number of persons per sq. km.
Q. 3. Mention any two sparsely populated regions of the world with less than 1 person per sq. km.
Ans. Areas with very hot or cold deserts and areas with very heavy rainfall or extreme climates are sparsely populated. Polar regions are also sparsely populated.
Q. 4. Why are urbanised areas densely populated?
Ans. Urbanised areas are densely populated because they concentrate services and opportunities. Key reasons are:
- Better employment opportunities in industries, offices and services.
- More educational and medical facilities.
- Better means of transport and communication.
- Improved civic amenities and an attractive urban lifestyle that draw migrants from rural areas.
These factors together cause rural-urban migration and higher population concentration in cities.
Q. 5. Which continent has the highest growth rate of population?
Ans. Africa has the highest growth rate of population.
Q. 6. Which is the most populous continent?
Ans. Asia is the most populous continent.
Q. 7. Explain with examples how the availability of water and landform influence the distribution of population in the world.
Ans.
- Water resources: Water is essential for drinking, irrigation, industry and power generation. Regions with reliable water supplies support agriculture and urban life, so population tends to concentrate there. Ancient civilisations, such as the Indus Valley civilisation, developed along river valleys. Navigable rivers and waterways, for example the Rhine, also encourage trade and settlement and thus higher population density.
- Land forms: Landforms affect economic activity and the ease of settlement. Flat and fertile plains favour agriculture and transport networks, so they support higher population densities. Rugged topography, harsh climates and infertile soils make farming and transport difficult; therefore mountainous areas such as parts of the Himalayas and the Alps have much lower population densities.
Q. 8. Explain with examples the three economic factors influencing the population distribution in the world.
Ans. Three economic factors that influence population distribution are:
(i) Minerals:
(a) Areas with mineral deposits attract industries and related activities.
(b) Mining and industrial development generate employment, drawing skilled and semi-skilled workers and their families. For example, the Katanga (Zambia/Congo) copper belt has attracted settlements and industries.
(ii) Urbanization:
(a) Cities provide a wide range of jobs and services such as education and health care.
(b) Better transport, communication and civic amenities in cities attract migrants from rural areas.
(c) This rural-urban migration causes cities-and especially mega cities-to grow rapidly each year.
(iii) Industrialization:
(a) Industrial belts offer regular wage employment and attract large numbers of people.
(b) Industries support many secondary services - transport operators, shopkeepers, bank staff, doctors, teachers and others - which increases local population.
(c) The Kobe-Osaka region of Japan is an example of high population concentration linked to industrialisation.
Q. 10. "There is a negative correlation between economic development and population growth throughout the world." Support this statement with examples.
Ans. As society progresses from rural-agrarian to urban-industrial and literate stage, both birth rates and death rates decline. This leads to slow or stable population growth. Countries like Canada, Japan and USA show this pattern.
Q. 11. Classify the world into various regions on the basis of population density.
Ans. Broadly, 90 per cent of the world population lives in about 10 per cent of its land area. Densely populated areas include the Ganga plains while sparsely populated areas include the Himalayas and zones with extreme climates.
Q. 12. Define the term 'Population Growth'.
Ans. Population growth (or population change) is the change in the number of inhabitants of a territory during a specific period of time. In simple terms, it is the difference in population between two points in time.
OR
Change of population in a particular area between two points of time is known as growth of population.
Q. 13. Define the term 'Positive Growth of Population'.
Ans. Positive growth of population occurs when, over a given period, the number of births exceeds the number of deaths, or when net migration into an area is positive (more people move in than move out). In either case the total population of the area increases.
Q. 14. Give the meaning of 'Crude Birth Rate' (CBR).
Ans. The crude birth rate is the number of live births in a year per 1,000 people in the population.
Q. 15. Define the term "Natural Growth of Population".
Ans. Natural growth of population is the increase in population resulting from the difference between births and deaths during a specific period. Natural Growth = Births - Deaths.
Q. 16. Define the term 'Migration'.
Ans. Migration refers to the movement of people from one place to another, either within a country (internal migration) or across international boundaries (international migration). Migration may be temporary or permanent.
Q. 17. How is the crude birth rate expressed ?
Ans. Crude birth rate is expressed as the number of live births in a year per thousand of population. Formula: CBR = (Bi / P) × 1000, where Bi is the number of births in the year and P is the mid-year population.
Q. 18. Name three components of population change.
Ans. The three components of population change are birth rate, death rate and migration.
Q. 19. Differentiate between Positive and Negative Growth of population.
Ans. Positive growth of population occurs when births exceed deaths over a period of time or when net migration into a region is positive; the total population increases. Negative growth of population occurs when deaths exceed births or when net migration out of a region is greater than migration in; the total population decreases.
Q. 20. Distinguish between birth rate and death rate.
Ans.
Q. 21. Describe any three characteristics of the last stage of the "Demographic Transition Theory".
Ans. The three characteristics are :
(i) Both birth and death rates are low, so the total population becomes stable or shows only very slow growth.
(ii) Death rates are low mainly because of improved public health, better nutrition and a reliable food supply.
(iii) Birth rates are low due to widespread use of contraception, greater educational and work opportunities for women, and deliberate family-size choices, leading to small family norms.
Q. 22. Describe any three characteristics of the first stage of the 'Demographic Transition Theory'.
Ans. The three characteristics of the first stage of the 'Demographic Transition Theory' are:
(i) High fertility and high mortality rates, so both births and deaths are large.
(ii) Slow rate of population growth because high deaths offset high births.
(iii) Low levels of social development such as high illiteracy, limited healthcare and poor sanitation that keep mortality high.
Q. 23. Describe any three characteristics of the second stage of 'Demographic Transition Theory'.
Ans. The three characteristics of the second stage of 'Demographic Transition Theory' are:
(i) Fertility remains relatively high at the start but may begin to decline gradually over time.
(ii) Mortality declines markedly because of improvements in sanitation, public health and basic medical care.
(iii) As deaths fall while births remain high, the net addition to population is large and population growth accelerates.
