The big idea: People are spread very unevenly across the world.
Two words describe this:
- 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.
[Diagram: geo-population-distribution] - Available in full study mode
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.
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.
| 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).
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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: the river gives water and its silt makes fertile soil; 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: On Paper 2 the core opens with Question 1 (Changing population).
A typical part: read a population-density map (Identify / Describe the pattern), then Explain two physical factors that cause an uneven distribution — usually worth [4 marks] (2 marks per developed factor).
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.