Question

Explain with reasons the method which is best suited to show the distribution of population in a region.

Answer 1

Population refers to the number of people residing in a clearly demarcated geographic area. Often, for study, this demarcated area is based on administrative divisions. Thus, the number of people living at a given time in a country, state, district, village, etc., refers to the area's population. Two types of thematic maps can be used to show the population distribution of any given site. These are dot distribution maps and choropleth maps.

• Dot distribution maps - Uses dots to represent pre-calculated values of the chosen variable. The value of each dot is calculated based on the highest and lowest recorded population data. The beads used should be uniform in size, corresponding to their index. Dot placement depends on natural and artificial features like rivers, roads, etc. This method makes it easy to read maps and allows for a precise interpretation of population distribution in a given area. But with the increasing density of dots, the map loses its efficiency.
• Choropleth maps - Shades of the same colour or other colours represent the population data for different geographical areas. Every sub-administrative region has one assigned value. Data is divided into classes after ascertaining the highest and lowest matters; each class gets a particular shade. The shade becomes darker with the increasing importance of the given variables. Administrative boundaries play a vital role in this form of maps. Since classes are used for data division, population density is often represented through these maps.

From the above discussion, it is evident that dot distribution maps are ideal for representing the population distribution of an area, as administrative boundaries define the data collected. Choropleth maps should be used only with intensity to convey a clearer picture.