Population, Population Distribution and Population Density

A View From a Global, National and Local Scale

Monaco - 43,000 people per sq. mile

Mongolia - 4.4 people per sq. mile

AP Human Geography & Global Studies - Damon - Fall 2014

Key Definitions• Population: total number of people

• Population Distribution: general pattern of where people live

• Population Density: total number of people per …

– Arithmetic density: square mile or km of land

– Physiologic density: square mile or km of arable (farmable) land

Population Stats To Memorize (Rounded)

2014 World

2014 U.S.

2014 Minnesota

Look ‘em up!

Population: Most Populated Countries and Territories

Why are these numbers estimates?

Know Top 5 Countries!

Map Types Common Used To Illustrate Population

Cartogram

3-D Graduated Symbol Map

Map Types Common Used To Illustrate Population

Choropleth Map

Map Types Common Used To Illustrate Population

“Lights At Night” Map

Map Types Common Used To Illustrate Population

Dot Density Map

Map Types Common Used To Illustrate Population

World’s 4 Major Population Clusters

In which four global regions is the world’s population clustered?

East Asia, South Asia, Western Europe, Eastern North America

Too ColdToo Hot, Too Dry

Too Wet Too High

Why is Population Unevenly Distributed?

Some locations are …

At a Global Scale,Climate, Landforms and Resources

Influence Human Settlement Patterns

Which climate zones are most preferable for human habitation?

Distribution vs. Density

Density in Diagram a? Diagram b?

What differs?

Most Densely Populated Countries and Territories (Arithmetic)

Arithmetic Density

People per square mi or km

Physiologic Density

People per sq mi or km of arable (farmable) land

How are these patterns different from those on the arithmetic density map?

Why Is Physiologic Density Important?

Carrying capacity!Egypt: 98% of the people live on 3% of

the land

Most Populated U.S. States

View interactive here: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/popmap/

View interactive here: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/

Population = Political Power

U.S. Population Distribution

Megalopolis: long chain of continuous metropolitan areas

Megalopolis

20% of U.S. pop.

View animation here: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/center-of-population.php

Most Densely Populated U.S. States and Territories (Arithmetic)

View interactive here: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/

Minnesota Population 2010

Why?

Most Populated

Counties:

1. Hennepin

2. Ramsey

3. Dakota

4. Anoka

5. Washington

View interactive here: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/popmap/

Minnesota Population Density 2010

Where is Minnesota most densely

populated? Why?

Minnesota Population Density 2000(by Census Tract)

Describe Minnesota’s population density patterns using spatial vocabulary.

Describe Minnesota’s population

distribution using spatial

vocabulary.

How does Minnesota’s population

distribution differ from its density?

Connectivity!

Online Census 2010 GIS Tools Allow Us to Explore Population Data Down to the

Census Block!

http://2010.census.gov/2010census/popmap/