NCERT – Geography –Class 8 — Why population density on earth varies from place to place …..
If we go back to 2600 BCE to the time the Mohenjo-daro and Harappa civilization started, we will see a clear trend among human beings to settle down near river banks where water was available perennially and land was fertile. The early settlers generally avoided mountainous terrains with extreme climates. The same trend is visible even today. People flock to areas / regions / countries which are conducive to peaceful and comfortable living. In short, demographic variance in the world can be attributed to the following two types of factors.
Geographical Factors …
a. Topography .. Plain, arable and accessible lands attract human beings because people can survive and prosper by engaging in economic activities. The Gangetic plain is far more habitable than the mountainous Northwest Frontier Provinces (NWFP) of Pakistan.
b. Climate .. In India, Bangalore offers the most salubrious climate. This is the reason why it has become the fastest-growing city in Asia. The vast Siberian plains of Russia, although rich in forests and mineral wealth, do not attract settlers because of their harsh winter. So, extreme climates repel people, where as moderate climate attracts.
c. Soil .. Pakistan’s farming lands in the Punjab region are famous for their fertile soil. The vast expanse of vacant lands in Baloochistan are no match to Punjab’s farm lands. This partly explains why the population density in Baloochistan is so less compared to Punjab’s.
d. Water .. Life can not be sustained without water. This is why the water-starved technology hub Chennai scares away many settlers. River valleys around the world have historic cities and towns because of this reason.
e. Mineral wealth .. This is a major pulling factor in this age of industries and technology. The oil-rich Middle East became much more populated after the oil-find in the late 1940s. Townships have sprang up in the mineral-rich regions of Russia with extreme climates because of this predominant economic reason.
Social, cultural and economic factors …
Social … Countries which provide equitable social environment attract people. Example – The United States of America remains the most-favoured destination for migrants. Similarly, inside a country, cities that offer abundant welfare facilities and non-discriminatory environment attract people. Example — Bangalore and Pune of India.
Cultural … Cities such as Jerusalem, Benaras, Paris and New York attract culture-loving migrants.
Economic … People value their livelihood most. This is why migrants from different parts of India flock to live in the appalling slums of Mumbai. This explains why illegal immigrants from Sri Lanka undertake risky sea voyages to Australia, and African immigrants land in the shores of Italy.
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