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The World Population: Distribution, Density and Growth – Class 12 Geography notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 12 Geography, chapter 2. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

The world's population is unevenly distributed: about 90% of people live on about 10% of the land. Distribution is influenced by geographical factors (water, landforms, climate, soils), economic factors (minerals, urbanisation, industrialisation) and social and cultural factors. Population growth has accelerated since the Industrial Revolution, and the demographic transition theory explains how birth and death rates change as societies develop.

Distribution and density

Densely populated regions include eastern and southern Asia, north-western Europe and the north-eastern USA; deserts, polar regions and high mountains are sparsely populated.
Population density is the number of people per unit area (persons per sq km).
People prefer areas with fresh water, flat plains, moderate climate, fertile soils, minerals, jobs in cities and industries, and religious or cultural significance.

Population growth and change

Population change depends on births, deaths and migration; natural growth is the difference between births and deaths.
The world population crossed 8 billion in 2022; growth was slow until the 18th century and rose sharply afterwards due to better food, medicine and sanitation.
Migration is caused by push factors (unemployment, poor living conditions, disasters) and pull factors (better jobs, safety, services).

Demographic transition

Stage 1: high birth rate and high death rate, slow growth (pre-industrial societies).
Stage 2: high birth rate but falling death rate, rapid growth (many developing countries).
Stage 3: low birth and death rates, slow or stable growth (developed countries); population control measures include family planning.

Key terms

Population density: number of people per unit area
Natural growth: difference between births and deaths
Push factors: conditions that make people leave a place
Pull factors: attractions that draw people to a place
Demographic transition: change from high to low birth and death rates as a society develops

Important questions with answers

What are push and pull factors of migration?2 marks

Push factors are conditions that force people to leave a place, such as unemployment, poverty, poor services, disasters and conflict. Pull factors are attractions that draw people to a place, such as jobs, better wages, education, health care, safety and better living conditions.

What are the factors influencing the distribution of population?3 marks

Geographical factors include availability of water, flat landforms, moderate climate and fertile soils. Economic factors include minerals, industrialisation and urbanisation, which create jobs. Social and cultural factors, such as religious importance, and political stability also attract people.

Explain the demographic transition theory.5 marks

The demographic transition theory describes how the population of a region changes from high births and high deaths to low births and low deaths as a society moves from a rural, agrarian and illiterate stage to an urban, industrial and literate stage. In the first stage, both fertility and mortality are high; people have many children to compensate for deaths from epidemics and food shortages, life expectancy is low, and population grows slowly. Most of the world was in this stage before the Industrial Revolution. In the second stage, fertility remains high at first, but mortality falls because of improvements in sanitation, medicine and food supply; the gap between births and deaths causes rapid population growth. Later in this stage, fertility also starts to decline. Many developing countries are in this stage. In the third stage, both fertility and mortality are low; population is either stable or grows slowly, the population becomes urbanised, literate and technologically advanced, and families choose to have fewer children. Some countries even experience declining populations. The theory helps predict future population trends, though the pace of transition differs among countries.

Quick revision

Uneven distribution; 90% on 10% of land.
Factors: geographical, economic, social.
Growth: births, deaths, migration; push and pull.
Demographic transition: three stages.

Exam tips

Draw the three stages of the demographic transition as a graph.
List three geographical and three economic factors affecting distribution.

Practice MCQs

The number of people per unit area is called
1. population density
2. growth rate
3. sex ratio
4. literacy rate
Show answer
Answer: (a) population density. It is measured per sq km.
Factors that attract people to a place are
1. push factors
2. pull factors
3. death factors
4. natural factors
Show answer
Answer: (b) pull factors. Jobs and safety are examples.
Which region is densely populated
1. Sahara
2. South Asia
3. Antarctica
4. Greenland
Show answer
Answer: (b) South Asia. Fertile plains support many people.
Natural growth of population is the difference between
1. immigration and emigration
2. males and females
3. urban and rural population
4. births and deaths
Show answer
Answer: (d) births and deaths. Migration is not included.
In the second stage of demographic transition
1. birth and death rates are both low
2. both are high
3. birth rate is high and death rate falls
4. population declines
Show answer
Answer: (c) birth rate is high and death rate falls. Population grows rapidly.
The world population crossed 8 billion in
1. 2000
2. 2011
3. 2022
4. 2030
Show answer
Answer: (c) 2022. It was announced by the UN.
Why do deserts have low population density
1. too much rainfall
2. fertile soils
3. too many minerals
4. lack of water and harsh climate
Show answer
Answer: (d) lack of water and harsh climate. Water is essential for settlement.
Which statement about developed countries in stage 3 is correct
1. they have low birth and death rates and slow growth
2. they have high birth and death rates
3. they have rapidly falling death rates only
4. they have no migration
Show answer
Answer: (a) they have low birth and death rates and slow growth. Urbanisation and education reduce birth rates.

All chapters of Class 12 Geography

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.