The big idea: People are spread very unevenly across the world. Two words describe this.
Two key terms
- Population distribution — the pattern of where people live (clustered in some places, empty in others).
- Population density — how many people live in an area, measured in people per km².
An area is densely populated when many people live in each km², and sparsely populated when few do. The first thing that shapes this pattern is physical geography — the natural landscape and climate.
People cluster where physical factors are favourable — flat, well-watered, fertile land — and avoid steep, dry or extreme places.
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The main physical factors
- Relief (the shape of the land) — flat lowland is easier to build and farm on than steep mountains.
- Climate — mild temperatures and reliable rainfall attract people; extreme heat, cold or drought repel them.
- Water supply — rivers, lakes and groundwater are essential for drinking and farming.
- Soil fertility — deep, fertile soil (e.g. river silt) supports farming and dense rural populations.
- Resources — coal, oil, minerals or fertile fishing grounds draw people to work and settle.
Physical sets the stage: Physical factors set the stage, but human factors (jobs, transport, history, government) also shape where people live.
In this core topic the exam usually asks about the physical factors — so learn those mechanisms well.
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Each physical factor can attract people (raising density) or repel them (lowering it). A good answer names the factor, then explains the mechanism — why it changes where people live.
Physical factors and population density
| Factor | Dense population where… | Sparse population where… |
|---|---|---|
| Relief | Flat, low-lying land — easy to build, farm and travel | Steep, high mountains — hard to farm or build |
| Climate | Mild temperatures and reliable rainfall | Too hot, too cold, or too dry (deserts, polar areas) |
| Water | Beside rivers, lakes or reliable groundwater | Far from any reliable water source |
| Soil | Deep, fertile soil such as river silt | Thin, infertile or rocky soil |
| Resources | Energy, minerals or rich fishing grounds nearby | Few natural resources to use or sell |
Turning a factor into an answer
- Name the physical factor (e.g. relief).
- Explain the mechanism — how it helps or stops people living there (flat land is easy to farm and build on).
- State the effect on density (so the lowland is densely populated).
Human factors also shape the pattern
- Jobs and the economic core — industry and services pull people to a few cities and regions (the core); the rest is the periphery.
- Internal migration — people move from rural areas to the core, so the core grows denser over time.
- Government policy — a state can draw people somewhere new: Brazil built its capital, Brasília, in the interior in 1960.
- History and transport — early ports and railways fixed where cities grew, and they are still the largest.
- Conflict — war empties areas and crowds others with displaced people.
Which matters more?: Physical factors explain where people cannot easily live (too cold, dry or steep). Human factors explain which habitable places grow. An essay on this topic weighs the two.
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Egypt — the Nile: About 95% of Egyptians live on roughly 5% of the land, packed along the River Nile and its delta.
Why people cluster there
- Water — the river gives water.
- Fertile soil — its silt makes fertile soil.
- Empty desert — the surrounding desert is sparsely populated because it is dry and extremely hot.
Canada — climate: Around 90% of Canadians live within ~200 km of the southern border.
Why: the far north is sparsely populated because the climate is bitterly cold; the milder south is more comfortable to live and farm in.
Bangladesh — fertile delta
The flat Ganges–Brahmaputra delta holds one of the world's densest rural populations.
Why: flat relief, plentiful water and fertile silt make intensive farming possible, supporting many people per km².
Use a named place: Top answers always name a real place and give the physical reason. Keep one or two of these examples ready to drop into an exam answer.
How this is tested: Population usually reaches you as a choropleth map — a country shaded by density.
How to read it
Read the key
Do this first, before you write anything.
Describe
Describe the pattern: where is it dense, where is it sparse?
Explain
Then explain the physical factors behind it.
Key → Describe → Explain
Typical marks: The data part is typically Describe [2] then Explain two factors [4].
Read the key first. Which areas are darkest (densest) and lightest (sparsest)?
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Describe the distribution of population shown on the map.
Model answer plan
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For one country you have studied, explain how two physical factors lead to an uneven distribution of its population.
Model answer plan
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Easy marks: (1) Name a real place. (2) Give the mechanism (why), not just the pattern. (3) End each factor by stating dense or sparse.
“Where people live within a country depends mostly on its physical geography.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Model answer plan
See the answer broken into clear points, with guidance on how each point earns marks.