Class 12 Geography Chapter 2 The World Population Handwritten Notes

Class 12 Geography

Chapter 2 – The World Population: Distribution, Density and Growth

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1. Introduction to World Population

The people of a country are its real wealth because they use natural resources and shape economic, social and political systems. Studying population helps us understand the size, structure, distribution and growth of human resources across the world.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the world population crossed 6 billion, showing rapid growth and uneven distribution across regions.

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2. Population Distribution

Meaning of Population Distribution

Aspect	Explanation
Definition	Population distribution refers to the way people are spread over the earth’s surface
Global Pattern	About 90 percent of the world’s population lives on nearly 10 percent of the land area
Concentration	A small number of regions support a very large population

Key Observations

Point	Description
Uneven Distribution	Population is not evenly spread due to physical, economic and social factors
Most Populous Countries	The top 10 countries account for nearly 60 percent of the world population
Asia’s Role	Out of these 10 countries, 6 are located in Asia

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3. Density of Population

Meaning of Population Density

Term	Explanation
Definition	Population density is the ratio between the number of people and the size of land
Unit	Measured as persons per square kilometre

Formula of Population Density

Formula	Explanation
Population Density = Population ÷ Area	Shows pressure of population on land

Example

Area	Population	Density
100 sq km	1,50,000 persons	1,500 persons per sq km

This indicates high population pressure on land resources.

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4. Factors Influencing Population Distribution

I. Geographical Factors

Factor	Explanation
Availability of Water	River valleys attract dense population due to water for drinking, agriculture, industry and transport
Landforms	Flat plains and gentle slopes support agriculture, industries and transport, leading to dense population
Climate	Moderate climates attract people, while extreme heat, cold and heavy rainfall reduce population density
Soils	Fertile soils support intensive agriculture and higher population concentration

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II. Economic Factors

Factor	Explanation
Minerals	Mining areas attract industries and workers, increasing population density
Urbanisation	Cities provide employment, education, health and transport facilities
Industrialisation	Industrial regions attract workers and service providers

Examples include industrial belts like the Kobe–Osaka region of Japan.

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III. Social and Cultural Factors

Factor	Explanation
Religious and Cultural Importance	Pilgrimage and cultural centres attract large populations
Political Stability	Areas with unrest and insecurity experience population decline
Government Policies	Incentives may be given to encourage settlement in sparsely populated regions

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5. Population Growth

Meaning of Population Growth

Term	Explanation
Population Growth	Change in population of a region between two points of time
Nature	Can be positive or negative
Expression	Measured in absolute numbers or percentage

Population growth reflects economic development, social progress and historical background.

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6. Basic Concepts of Population Geography

Concept	Explanation
Growth of Population	Difference in population between two time periods
Growth Rate	Percentage change in population
Natural Growth	Births minus deaths
Actual Growth	Births minus deaths plus net migration
Positive Growth	Birth rate higher than death rate or in-migration
Negative Growth	Death rate higher than birth rate or out-migration

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7. Components of Population Change

Component	Explanation
Births	Increase population size
Deaths	Reduce population size
Migration	Redistribution of population

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Crude Birth Rate (CBR)

Formula	Explanation
CBR = (Live Births ÷ Mid-year Population) × 1000	Measures fertility level

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Crude Death Rate (CDR)

Formula	Explanation
CDR = (Deaths ÷ Mid-year Population) × 1000	Measures mortality level

Mortality depends on health facilities, economic conditions and social development.

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8. Migration

Meaning of Migration

Migration refers to the movement of people from one place to another to achieve better balance between population and resources.

Term	Explanation
Place of Origin	Area from which people move
Place of Destination	Area to which people move

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Types of Migration

Type	Explanation
Permanent	Long-term relocation
Temporary	Short-term movement
Seasonal	Movement during specific seasons
Rural to Urban	Most common form
Urban to Urban	Movement between cities

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Migration Terms

Term	Meaning
Immigration	Movement into a place
Emigration	Movement out of a place

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Factors of Migration

Push Factors	Pull Factors
Unemployment	Employment opportunities
Poor living conditions	Better standard of living
Political instability	Peace and security
Natural disasters	Pleasant climate

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9. Demographic Transition Theory

Meaning

Demographic transition explains how population changes from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as societies develop from rural agrarian to urban industrial systems.

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Stages of Demographic Transition

Stage	Characteristics
First Stage	High birth rate and high death rate, slow population growth
Second Stage	High birth rate and declining death rate, rapid population growth
Third Stage	Low birth rate and low death rate, stable or slow growth

Different countries of the world are currently at different stages of this transition.

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10. Population Control Measures

Measure	Explanation
Family Planning	Spacing or limiting births
Awareness Programmes	Education and propaganda
Contraceptives	Free and easy availability
Economic Measures	Tax disincentives for large families

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11. Malthus Theory of Population

Thomas Malthus stated that population increases faster than food supply, leading to famine, disease and war if unchecked. Preventive checks such as family planning are better than physical checks.