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Population, Settlement and Economic Activities

16 min read

Population distribution and density

Population distribution is the way people are spread over an area. Population density is the average number of people per square kilometre.

For example, 6 000 000 people in 20 000 km² is 300 people per km².

Factors affecting the distribution of population

FactorDense where...Sparse where...
ClimateModerate rainfall and temperatureVery dry, very wet or very cold
ReliefFlat or gently sloping landSteep mountains, swamps
SoilFertile soils (volcanic, alluvial)Poor or stony soils
ResourcesMinerals, water, energy, fertile landNo resources
Economic activityIndustry, trade, mining, farmingFew jobs
Disease, pestsHealthy areasTsetse fly, malaria
Government policy, historyPlanned settlements, portsReserves, parks

In Tanzania the people live mainly around Lake Victoria, the highlands (Kilimanjaro, Mbeya, Iringa), the coast and the big cities such as Dar es Salaam, where there are fertile soils, good rainfall and jobs. The central and western plains with poor rainfall and tsetse flies are sparsely populated.

A population pyramidBars for each age group, males on the left and females on the right. This pyramid has a wide base and narrows quickly: many children and few old people, which is typical of a country with a high birth rate and a high death rate, like many developing countries. A column-like pyramid shows a stable or ageing population.0–1415–2930–4445–5960–7475+malesfemalesage group
A population of 1 million growing at 3% per year more than doubles in 24 years (doubling time ≈ 70 ÷ rate).
Try itPopulation growth

Choose the population now, the growth rate and the number of years.

Settlement

A settlement is a place where people live. Rural settlements (villages, hamlets) depend mainly on farming, fishing, herding or mining. Urban settlements (towns, cities) depend on trade, industry and services. Patterns of settlement are nucleated (houses clustered together, often near a water source or a road), dispersed (scattered farms) or linear (along a road, river or coast).

PatternDescriptionFound where
NucleatedHouses close together round a centreWater, crossroads, safety
DispersedHouses far apartLarge farms, poor soils
LinearHouses in a lineRoads, rivers, coasts

Economic activities

Economic activities are the ways people earn a living. Primary activities take resources from nature (farming, fishing, mining, forestry). Secondary activities process them (manufacturing, construction). Tertiary activities provide services (trade, transport, tourism, banking, education). Large populations give a supply of labour and markets, but too many people can cause deforestation, soil erosion, pollution, overcrowding, unemployment and pressure on services.

Check yourself Population density is
Check yourself Houses built in a line along a road form a
Check yourself Tourism is a

Key terms

Population density
The number of people per square kilometre.
Settlement
A place where people live.
Primary activity
An activity that takes resources from nature.
Sustainable development
Development that meets present needs without harming the future.

Summary

  • Population distribution depends on climate, relief, soils, resources and economic activity.
  • Settlement patterns may be nucleated, dispersed or linear.
  • Economic activities are primary, secondary and tertiary.
  • Rapid population growth puts pressure on resources and the environment.