Download Chapter B4 Population Distribution-

Chapter 4 Population Distribution
P.1
Chapter B4 Population Distribution--Problems and Solutions
4.1 What is Population Density?
A. Definition:
Population density is the ratio between the total population and land area of
a place.
therefore,
Population density = Total population / Area
Exercise:
Area
(’000sq.km)
Population (million)
Country A
7682.3
17.8
Country B
784.8
15.5
Calculate the population density of Country A and Country B respectively.
Country A:
Country B:
B.
a.
b.
c.
Three Main Types of Population Density
Densely populated area ( over 200 persons per sq.km.)
Moderately populated area ( 10 - 200 persons per sq.km.)
Sparsely populated area ( less than 10 persons per sq.km.)
Chapter 4 Population Distribution
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4.2 Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Factors
Physical factors
1. Location
2. Relief
3. Climate
4. Soil
5. Resources
Socio-economic
factors
6. Level of economic
development
7. Transport
Densely populated
areas
Sparsely populated
areas
a. coastal location
b. route focus
Extensive lowland
a. warm summer and
mild winter
b. moderate rainfall
Thick and fertile
a. abundant reserves
b. easy to exploit
a. isolated region
b. remote location
Rugged relief
a. extreme
temperatures
b. extreme humidity
Thin and infertile
a. limited reserves
b. difficult to access
a. ↑level of economic
development
b.↑employment
opportunities
c. ↑living standard
↑accessibility
a.↓Economic
development
b.↓Job opportunities
c.↓Living standard
↓accessibility
4.3 Spatial Distribution of World’s Population
Fig 4.1 World distribution of population
Chapter 4 Population Distribution
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With the help of the factors affecting the population distribution on P.2
and the world map, describe the spatial characteristics of
(i) densely populated area; and
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(ii) sparsely populated area.
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4.4 Case Study---China
A. Spatial Distribution of China’s Population
Fig 4.2
Population Distribution in China
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With the aid of the map on P.3, describe the spatial distribution of
population pattern in China.
1. China’s population is unevenly populated.
2.About 95% of the population is crowded onto 45% of the land.
3. The most densely settled regions are in the southern and eastern part of
Central China.
They are:
a. North China Plain
b. Middle and Lower Chang Jiang Basin
c. Sichuan Basin
d. Xi Jiang Basin and Jhu Jiang Delta
4. The western half of the country remains uninhibited.
From the news report, which region may encounter the fastest population
growth in the next couple decades. Why?
However, recently, the Public Republic Chinese government intends to develop the
western part of China. In future, population growth might be fast in that part.
Chapter 4 Population Distribution
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Areas With High Population Density (over 200 persons per sq. km.)
Regions
Favourable factors
North China Plain
Physical factors:
Socio-economic
Middle and Lower
a. Along rivers:
factors:
Chang Jiang Basin
abundant river water
a. High level of
Sichuan Basin
for irrigation
economic
Xi Jiang Basin and Jhu
river transport
development and
Jiang Delta
b. Extensive flatland:
urbanization:
c. Long growing seasons
b.↑living standard
allows a wide range of crops c.↑Job
a.Some mineral and energy opportunities
resources
d.↑And stable
income
e.↑Accessibility
f. Long history of
settlement
Areas With Low Population Density (less than 10 persons per sq. km.)
Regions
Unfavourable factors
1. North West
Physical factors
Socio-economic
China
factors
2. Inner Mongolia a. rugged relief
a. inaccessible
3. South West
b. infertile soil
location
China
c. extreme continental
b. poor
4. Tibetan Plateau
climate with hot
communication
5. Loess Plateau
summers and cold winter c. low level of
d.low rainfall
technology
d. unattractive way
of living e.g.
nomadic herding
Areas With Moderate Population Density (10–200 persons per sq. km.)
Regions
Favourable factors
Unfavourable factors
2. North East
a. Long history of
a. Rugged relief
China
development
b. short growing
3. South China
b. Presence of mineral
season
hilly regions
resources
B. Problems Resulting From Uneven Population Distribution in China
1. Densely populated areas suffer form
a. overcrowding
b. high population pressure
c. housing, transport and environmental pollution problems
Chapter 4 Population Distribution
2.
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Sparsely populated areas
a. lack of manpower
b. lack of labour force
c. under-utilization
d. low standard of living
3. The imbalance in economic development between the densely and
sparsely populated areas may cause social and political problems.
C. Government Policies to Solve The Problems Of Uneven Distribution Of
Population In China
1. Population redistribution
a.
b.
Since 1953, the Chinese government has decided to maintain a more
balanced development in the country.
Therefore, it implemented some possible ways to attract migration
from the density populated parts of China to the sparsely populated
parts.
What are the possible ways?
(i)
Improve communication links, e.g. construct new railways to link
Xinjiang with the east.
(ii)
Exploit natural resources
(iii) Develop irrigation projects for arable farming
(iv) Set up research and experimental farms to improve
seeds/introduce drought-resistant strains
(v)
(vi)
2.
a.
b.
Develop H.E.P. for industrial development
Provide some loans to the industrialists who are interested to
move to the sparsely populated areas
Restrict rural-urban migration
Since 1953, the level of urbanization in China has increased from 13% to
over 33% n 1988.
Industrial and economic development in the major urban centers has
attracted large flows of population form the rural areas to these cities.
D. Effectiveness of the Government Policies
These interior regions have significant gains in population since 1953 due to
the population redistribution:
·increase in labour supply
·communication is improved
·industries are developed
·more employment opportunities
·raise of living standard
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·regional self-sufficiency is achieved
CE 1997
1.
A traveler visited places X, Y and Z in China. The three paragraphs
below are extracts from his diary.
Place X: I got off the train. I saw a crowd of young people, mainly
from other provinces, gathering outside the railway station. Some were
chatting; some were sleeping on the ground. They looked rather tired,
hungry and desperate.
Place Y: After traveling for 5 hours, I did not see a single person. In
front of me were either sand dunes or dissected plateaux, with cacti
and thorny trees scattered around.
Place Z: Looking through the window of the train, I saw a lot of
cultivated fields on the hill slopes, with padi and maize grown
throughout the area. Farmers were busy stacking onto the tractors the
produce which would eventually be sent to the market. I guess it is one
of the most densely-populated provinces of the country.
(a) Match the descriptions of the places X, Y and Z with the regions A,
B and C shown in Figure 1.
(3marks)
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(b) What socio-economic problems would be caused by the large influx
of young people to place X?
(7 marks)
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Chapter 4 Population Distribution
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(c) Account for the population density of
(i) place Y
(6 marks)
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(ii) place Z
(6 marks)
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