Question

Explain the human factors affecting distribution of population.

Answer 1

1. Agriculture: Increase in agricultural production due to use of fertilisers and irrigation make it possible to support more population. Type of agriculture, crops grown, method of cultivation and specialisation of particular crops are other characteristics of agriculture that affect the distribution of population.
2. Mining: Areas with good-quality mineral deposits attract industries. Mining and industrial activities generate employment. So, skilled and semi-skilled workers move to these areas and make them densely populated. Katanga copper belt in Zambia, the Chota Nagpur Plateau in India, coal and iron fields of Western Europe, the Manchurian region of China and the Appalachian mountains of the USA are examples where population is dense due to availability of minerals. Some minerals are highly valuable and they are extracted despite odd physical conditions. In such areas, the population may be dense. This is true for precious and rare minerals like gold and mineral oil. For example, gold mines in the Australian desert, mineral oil in the desert regions of South-West Asian countries.
3. Transportation: On the contrary, if accessibility is difficult, it takes more time and is costlier to reach there, then the region is sparsely populated. Sea transport led to the discovery of new places. Port cities got developed. The population grew there due to trade. For example, the construction of the Suez Canal increased the exchange of raw materials and goods. Therefore, the population appears to be concentrated in coastal regions. Western and eastern coastal regions of India and the western and eastern coastal regions of the United States are examples.
4. Urbanisation: The growth of industries is responsible for the development of towns and cities. Tertiary activities like transportation, trade and other services also increase in order to cater to the needs of the growing urban population. Cities offer better employment opportunities, educational and medical facilities, better means of transport and communication. In many areas of the world, a continuous urban belt is found. For example, Greater Mumbai.
5. Political factors and government policies: Besides all the above factors, the policies of various governments also affect population distribution and density. A government may choose to promote population in an area or depopulate it. For example, the government promoted human settlement in parts of Siberia by giving more opportunities and special incentives. For example, in Japan, the government is giving incentives to people to leave Tokyo, as about one third of Japan lives in Tokyo.