The World Population: Distribution, Density and Growth, Class 12

What The World Population: Distribution, Density and Growth is about

Weightage: Fundamentals of Human Geography, Unit II: People carries 8 of the 70 theory marks; this chapter shares them with Human Development.Source: CBSE Geography (029) syllabus 2026-27, course structure

Key concepts

Patterns of population distribution

NCERT section Patterns of Population Distribution in the World

Population distribution means the way people are spaced over the earth's surface. Patterns of distribution and density help us understand an area's demographic characteristics.

Key facts:

• Roughly nine-tenths (90 per cent) of humanity occupies only about one-tenth (10 per cent) of the land.
• The ten most populous countries contribute about 60 per cent of the world's population; 6 of them are in Asia.
• Cressey's remark on Asia (many places where people are few, a few places where people are very many) describes the world pattern too.

Why? People prefer some regions because of water, flat land, comfortable climate, fertile soils, minerals, jobs in cities and industries, and social or cultural attractions; other regions (deserts, high mountains, polar lands, dense equatorial forests) stay thinly populated.

Worked example

What does it tell us that about nine-tenths of the world's people live on roughly one-tenth of its land? (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. It shows that world population is very unevenly distributed.
2. Most people are concentrated in a small share of land with favourable conditions such as water, plains, fertile soil, climate and jobs.
3. Large areas such as deserts, high mountains and polar regions are thinly populated, as Cressey observed for Asia.

Answer: Population is highly concentrated in a few favourable areas, leaving most land sparsely peopled.

Density of population

NCERT section Density of Population

Each unit of land can support only a limited number of people, so we study the ratio of people to land area: the density of population, usually in persons per sq km.

Formula: Density of population = Population / Area.

Textbook example: Region X has area 100 sq km and population 1,50,000. Density = 1,50,000 / 100 = 1,500 persons per sq km, a very high density, suggesting a crowded, probably urban or fertile area that must support many people per unit of land.

Worked example

A district has an area of 2,500 sq km and a population of 10,00,000. Calculate its population density and comment. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Density = Population / Area.
2. Density = 10,00,000 / 2,500 = 400 persons per sq km.
3. This is a fairly high density, suggesting favourable conditions such as plains, water and farming or urban jobs, though lower than Region X's 1,500 per sq km.

Answer: 400 persons per sq km: a fairly dense area.

Geographical factors of distribution

NCERT section Factors Influencing the Distribution of Population: Geographical Factors

(i) Availability of water: the most important factor for life. People prefer places with easily available fresh water for drinking, bathing, cooking, cattle, crops, industries and navigation. So river valleys are among the most densely populated areas.

(ii) Landforms: people prefer flat plains and gentle slopes, good for crops, roads and industries. Mountains and hills hinder transport and, initially, farming and industry, so they are less populated. The Ganga plains are among the world's most densely populated areas; the Himalayan mountain zones are scarcely populated.

(iii) Climate: extreme climates (very hot or cold deserts) are uncomfortable; areas with a comfortable climate and little seasonal variation attract people. Very heavy rainfall or harsh climates mean low population. Mediterranean regions were inhabited from early times because of their pleasant climate.

(iv) Soils: fertile loamy soils support intensive agriculture and hence more people.

Worked example

Explain how water and landforms influence population distribution. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Water is the most important need; people prefer areas with fresh water for domestic use, cattle, crops, industry and navigation, so river valleys are densely populated.
2. Flat plains and gentle slopes favour crops, roads and industries, attracting people (e.g. the Ganga plains).
3. Mountains and hills hinder transport, farming and industry, so they are sparsely populated (e.g. Himalayan zones).

Answer: Water and plains attract dense populations; mountains repel them.

Economic and social-cultural factors

NCERT section Factors Influencing the Distribution of Population: Economic, Social and Cultural Factors

Economic factors:

• (i) Minerals: mineral deposits attract industries; mining and industry create jobs, drawing skilled and semi-skilled workers. Example: the Katanga-Zambia copper belt in Africa.
• (ii) Urbanisation: cities offer better jobs, education, medical facilities, transport and communication, civic amenities and the attraction of city life, causing rural-to-urban migration; mega cities keep attracting migrants (though city life can be taxing).
• (iii) Industrialisation: industrial belts attract factory workers and also transport operators, shopkeepers, bank staff, doctors, teachers and other service providers. Example: the Kobe-Osaka region of Japan.

Social and cultural factors:

• Places of religious or cultural significance attract people.
• People move away from places with social and political unrest.
• Governments sometimes offer incentives to live in sparsely populated areas or to move away from overcrowded places.

Worked example

Explain any three economic factors that affect the distribution of population, with examples. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Minerals: deposits attract mining and industries that create jobs, e.g. the Katanga-Zambia copper belt.
2. Urbanisation: cities offer jobs, education, health care and amenities, attracting rural migrants to mega cities.
3. Industrialisation: industrial belts employ factory and service workers, e.g. the Kobe-Osaka region of Japan.

Answer: Minerals, urbanisation and industrialisation create jobs and draw people.

Population growth: basic concepts

NCERT section Population Growth; Some Basic Concepts of Population Geography

Population growth (change): the change in the number of inhabitants of a territory during a specific period; it may be positive or negative, expressed in absolute numbers or percentage. It indicates economic development, social upliftment and historical-cultural background.

Basic concepts:

• Growth of population: change between two points of time. Example: India's population in 2011 (121.02 crore) minus 2001 (102.70 crore) gives growth of about 18.15 crore (as stated in the textbook).
• Growth rate: change expressed in percentage.
• Natural growth = Births - Deaths.
• Actual growth = Births - Deaths + In-migration - Out-migration.
• Positive growth: birth rate exceeds death rate, or people migrate permanently into a region.
• Negative growth: population falls because birth rate falls below death rate or people emigrate.

Long-term trend: human population increased more than ten times in the past 500 years, and four times in the twentieth century alone.

Worked example

Distinguish between natural growth and actual growth of population. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Natural growth is the increase due to the difference between births and deaths: Births - Deaths.
2. Actual growth also includes migration: Births - Deaths + In-migration - Out-migration.
3. So a region with low natural growth can still grow fast if many people migrate in.

Answer: Natural growth counts births and deaths only; actual growth adds net migration.

Components of population change: births, deaths, migration

NCERT section Components of Population Change; Migration

Three components: births, deaths and migration.

Crude Birth Rate (CBR): live births in a year per thousand population. CBR = (B / P) x 1000, where B = live births in the year and P = estimated mid-year population.

Crude Death Rate (CDR): deaths in a year per thousand population. CDR = (D / P) x 1000. Population grows not only by higher births but also by falling death rates. Mortality depends on the region's demographic structure, social advancement and economic development.

Migration:

• Movement from a place of origin (population falls) to a place of destination (population rises); a spontaneous effort to achieve a better balance between population and resources.
• May be permanent, temporary or seasonal; rural-rural, rural-urban, urban-urban, urban-rural.
• Immigrants move into a new place; emigrants move out. The same person is both.
• Push factors (make origin less attractive): unemployment, poor living conditions, political turmoil, unpleasant climate, natural disasters, epidemics, socio-economic backwardness.
• Pull factors (make destination attractive): better jobs and living conditions, peace and stability, security of life and property, pleasant climate.

Worked example

A town had a mid-year population of 50,000. In the year there were 1,100 live births and 400 deaths. Calculate CBR and CDR and the natural growth. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. CBR = (1,100 / 50,000) x 1000 = 22 per thousand.
2. CDR = (400 / 50,000) x 1000 = 8 per thousand.
3. Natural growth = births - deaths = 1,100 - 400 = 700 persons (14 per thousand).

Answer: CBR 22, CDR 8 per thousand; natural growth 700 persons.

Demographic transition

NCERT section Demographic Transition

Demographic transition theory describes and predicts the future population of an area. A society's population shifts from high births and high deaths towards low births and low deaths as the society moves from rural, agrarian and illiterate to urban, industrial and literate. The stages together are the demographic cycle.

Three stages (Fig. 2.2):
1. Stage I (high fluctuating): high fertility and high mortality; people have many children to make up for deaths from epidemics and variable food supply. Slow growth; most work in agriculture where large families are an asset; low life expectancy, mostly illiterate, low technology. Two hundred years ago all countries were in this stage.
2. Stage II (expanding): fertility stays high at first, then declines; mortality falls with better sanitation and health. The gap makes the net addition high.
3. Stage III (low fluctuating): both fertility and mortality decline considerably; population is stable or grows slowly; people are urbanised, literate, technically skilled and deliberately control family size.

This shows humans are flexible and can adjust their fertility. Today different countries are at different stages (the figure places examples such as rainforest tribes, Bangladesh, Kenya, Peru, Sri Lanka, Canada, Japan and the USA along the stages).

Worked example

Discuss the three stages of demographic transition. (5 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. The theory says population moves from high births and deaths to low births and deaths as society becomes urban, industrial and literate.
2. Stage I: high fertility and mortality due to epidemics and uncertain food; slow growth; agrarian, illiterate, low technology; all countries were here 200 years ago.
3. Stage II: fertility high at first then declining; mortality falls due to better sanitation and health; large gap causes high net addition (expanding stage).
4. Stage III: both fertility and mortality low; population stable or slow-growing; urban, literate people deliberately control family size.
5. Countries today are at different stages, showing humans can adjust fertility.

Answer: Stage I high-high and slow growth; Stage II falling deaths and rapid growth; Stage III low-low and stable population.

Population control measures

NCERT section Population Control Measures

Family planning means spacing births or preventing them. Easy access to such services helps greatly in limiting population growth and improving women's health.

Measures: propaganda (awareness), free availability of contraceptives, and tax disincentives for large families.

Thomas Malthus (1798): population would increase faster than the food supply; any further increase would cause a population crash through famine, disease and war (physical checks). Preventive checks are better than physical checks.

For the sustainability of resources, the world must control rapid population increase.

Worked example

What did Malthus say about population and food? What measures can control population? (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Malthus (1798) said population grows faster than food supply, leading to a crash through famine, disease and war.
2. He argued preventive checks are better than such physical checks.
3. Measures: family planning services, propaganda, free contraceptives and tax disincentives for large families.

Answer: Population outgrows food unless preventive checks such as family planning are used.

The World Population: Distribution, Density and Growth in real life

Each concept, met in an everyday situation. Read the situation, answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Topics in this chapter

• Factors Influencing World Population Distribution
• Components of Population Change
• Demographic Transition Theory

The World Population: Distribution, Density and Growth: key facts

Density

$Density=Population/Area(personspersqkm)$

Region X: 1,50,000 / 100 = 1,500.

CBR

$CBR=(Livebirthsinyear/Mid-yearpopulation)x1000$

Per thousand.

CDR

$CDR=(Deathsinyear/Mid-yearpopulation)x1000$

Measures mortality.

Natural growth

$Naturalgrowth=Births-Deaths$

Excludes migration.

Actual growth

$Actualgrowth=Births-Deaths+In-migration-Out-migration$

Includes migration.

Distribution facts

90% of people on 10% of land; top 10 countries about 60% (6 in Asia)

Cressey's remark on Asia.

Factors

$Geographical(water,landforms,climate,soils);Economic(minerals,urbanisation,industrialisation);Social-cultural$

Examples: Ganga plains, Katanga-Zambia, Kobe-Osaka.

Push vs pull

Push: unemployment, poor conditions, turmoil, climate, disasters, epidemics, backwardness; Pull: jobs, living conditions, peace, security, pleasant climate

Same person: emigrant and immigrant.

Demographic transition

Stage I	high CBR, high CDR (slow growth)
Stage II	high CBR, falling CDR (rapid growth)
Stage III	low CBR, low CDR (stable)

Rural agrarian to urban industrial.

Long-term growth

Population up more than 10 times in 500 years; 4 times in the 20th century

Malthus 1798.

How the board asks The World Population: Distribution, Density and Growth

The question patterns to expect, and the method that works for each.

Tricks to remember The World Population: Distribution, Density and Growth

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

• Geographical factors

  "WLCS": Water, Landforms, Climate, Soils.

  Use it when: Geographical factors.

• Economic factors

  "MUI": Minerals, Urbanisation, Industrialisation.

  Use it when: Economic factors with examples.

• Demographic transition

  "High-High, High-Low, Low-Low" (births-deaths).

  Use it when: Three stages.

• 90-10 rule

  "Nine in ten live on one in ten".

  Use it when: Distribution fact.

The World Population: Distribution, Density and Growth: board-level solved questions

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Cover the solution, write your own, then compare step by step.

Case-study practice (Section E style)

Read the situation, then answer every part. In the board paper this is a 3-mark question split into 1 + 1 + 1 marks.

Where the marks are

How a typical answer is split into step marks. Show every step: a right final answer alone rarely earns full marks.

Where students lose marks in The World Population: Distribution, Density and Growth

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

• ✗Mistake: Saying growth is high in Stage I

  High birth rate seems to mean high growth.

  ✓Do this: Stage I has high births and high deaths, so growth is slow.

  Usually costs: 1 mark.

• ✗Mistake: Forgetting x 1000 in CBR or CDR

  Rates per thousand.

  ✓Do this: Always multiply B/P or D/P by 1000.

  Usually costs: 1 mark in calculations.

• ✗Mistake: Listing medical facilities as a push factor

  Confusion of direction.

  ✓Do this: Good facilities are pull factors; their absence is a push factor.

  Usually costs: 1 mark.

• ✗Mistake: Writing about doubling time or impact of population change

  Older textbooks.

  ✓Do this: These are not in the 2026-27 syllabus.

  Usually costs: Wasted time.

• ✗Mistake: Giving factors without examples

  Students list only.

  ✓Do this: Add Ganga plains, Katanga-Zambia, Kobe-Osaka, Mediterranean.

  Usually costs: 1-2 marks in 5-mark answers.

NCERT exercise guide: The World Population: Distribution, Density and Growth

What each exercise in the NCERT chapter tests, how to approach it, and a question of the same kind solved step by step. Questions here are written in our own words.

Practice questions on The World Population: Distribution, Density and Growth

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

   Which of the following is NOT an area of sparse population?
   (a) The Atacama
   (b) South-east Asia
   (c) Equatorial region
   (d) Polar regions

   Hint

   Deserts, dense forests and cold lands are sparse.

   Answer

   (b).

2. Q2 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

   Which stage of demographic transition did all countries of the world belong to two hundred years ago?
   (a) First
   (b) Second
   (c) Third
   (d) None

   Hint

   High fertility, high mortality.

   Answer

   (a).

3. Q3 · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level

   Assertion (A): Mountainous areas are generally less populated.
   Reason (R): They hinder the development of transport networks and, initially, agriculture and industry.
   Choose (a)-(d).

   Hint

   Landforms.

   Answer

   (a) Both are true and R explains A.

4. Q4 · 1 mark · MCQHarder board level

   Which statement is NOT correct?
   (a) Over the last 500 years, human numbers grew more than tenfold.
   (b) The first stage of demographic transition has high population growth.
   (c) Natural growth equals births minus deaths.
   (d) The same migrant is both an immigrant and an emigrant.

   Hint

   Stage I growth.

   Answer

   (b): growth is slow in the first stage.

5. Q5 · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

   Distinguish between push factors and pull factors of migration. (3 marks)

   Hint

   Origin vs destination.

   Answer

   Push factors make people want to leave the place of origin, for example lack of jobs, poor living conditions, epidemics, natural disasters, political turmoil, harsh climate and socio-economic backwardness. Pull factors make the destination attractive, for example better jobs and living conditions, safety of life and property, peace and stability, and a pleasant climate. Push factors drive people out; pull factors draw them in.

6. Q6 · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

   Suppose a coastal village loses its fishing catch for three years, while a nearby port city opens new factories and hospitals. Many young villagers move to the city. Identify the push and pull factors and the type of migration. (3 marks)

   Hint

   Rural to urban.

   Answer

   Push factors: loss of livelihood (unemployment) and worsening living conditions in the village. Pull factors: jobs in new factories and better medical facilities in the city. Type: rural-to-urban migration (likely permanent or temporary for work); the village loses population and the city gains, reflecting an effort to balance population and resources.

7. Q7 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

   Calculate the CBR of a country with a mid-year population of 8 crore and 16 lakh live births in a year. What does it suggest? (3 marks)

   Hint

   Per thousand.

   Answer

   CBR = (16,00,000 / 8,00,00,000) x 1000 = 20 per thousand. A CBR of 20 is moderate, suggesting the country is likely past the high-fertility first stage and moving through the transition; the death rate is needed to judge growth.

8. Q8 · 5 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

   Explain the population control measures suggested in the chapter, along with Malthus's view. (5 marks)

   Hint

   Family planning, preventive checks.

   Answer

   Family planning (spacing or preventing births) limits growth and improves women's health; access to services is significant. Measures include propaganda and awareness, free availability of contraceptives and tax disincentives for large families. Malthus (1798) argued population grows faster than food supply, leading to a crash through famine, disease and war (physical checks); preventive checks are better. For sustainability of resources, the world must control rapid population increase, as Stage III societies do by deliberately limiting family size.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1. 1.What share of the world's population lives in about 10 per cent of its land?Show answer

   About 90 per cent.

2. 2.What was the density of Region X in the textbook example?Show answer

   1,500 persons per sq km.

3. 3.Which copper belt is cited for mineral-based population?Show answer

   The Katanga-Zambia copper belt in Africa.

4. 4.What are the three components of population change?Show answer

   Births, deaths and migration.

5. 5.In which year did Malthus give his theory?Show answer

   1798.

6. 6.By how many times did population increase in the twentieth century?Show answer

   Four times.

Quick revision checklist

The night before the exam: can you do each of these without looking?

• ☐Can you define population distribution and density?
• ☐Can you calculate density?
• ☐Can you explain four geographical factors?
• ☐Can you explain three economic factors with examples?
• ☐Can you write formulas for CBR, CDR, natural and actual growth?
• ☐Can you distinguish push and pull factors?
• ☐Can you explain the three stages of demographic transition?
• ☐Can you state Malthus's theory and population control measures?

The World Population: Distribution, Density and Growth: frequently asked questions