What is population density?

the number of people living in an area. It is usually given in people per km².

What does sparsely populated mean?

few people live there. The opposite of densely populated.

Which group is at the bottom of a population pyramid?

the youngest people. Age increases up the pyramid.

What does HIC stand for?

high-income country. The World Bank groups countries by income.

What does a wide base on a population pyramid show?

many children are being born. The base is the youngest age group.

A town of 45 000 people covers 15 km². What is its population density?

3000 people per km². 45 000 ÷ 15 = 3000.

Population density, distribution and structure · Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management

In plain words

Eight billion people share the planet, and they are not spread out like butter. Some places hold thousands to the square kilometre, and others almost nobody. And two countries with the same number of people can look quite different once you ask how old everyone is.

8 things to know

Population density is the number of people living in an area, usually measured in people per km². It is the population divided by the area.
A densely populated place contains many people. A sparsely populated place contains few.
Population distribution is how people are spread over an area.
Population structure is the make-up of a population by age and sex. It is shown on a population pyramid, with males on one side, females on the other, and the youngest at the bottom.
The young dependent population is the children, at the bottom. The working population is in the middle. The elderly dependent population is at the top. Dependants rely on the working population.
The World Bank classifies the economies of countries by income into three groups: low-income countries (LICs), middle-income countries (MICs) and high-income countries (HICs).
An LIC usually has a pyramid with a wide base and a narrow top. Many children are born, and few people live to old age. There is a large young dependent population.
An HIC usually has a pyramid with a narrower base and a wider top. Fewer children are born, and people live longer. There is a large elderly dependent population.

Worked example

A country has a population of 12 million and an area of 60 000 km². Calculate its population density.

Population density = population ÷ area.
12 000 000 ÷ 60 000 = 200.
The density is 200 people per km².

Tips and tricks

Density is a number. Distribution is a pattern. "200 people per km²" is density, and "most people live along the coast" is distribution.
Read a pyramid from the bottom up. A wide base means many births. A wide top means long lives.

6 questions, about 2 minutes.

It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.

Population density, distribution and structure: 6 questions and answers

These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.

What is population density?
- how people are spread over an area
- the number of people living in an area (the answer)
- the number of births each year
- the number of people who move away
It is usually given in people per km².
What does sparsely populated mean?
- many people live there
- people live only in cities
- few people live there (the answer)
- the population is ageing
The opposite of densely populated.
Which group is at the bottom of a population pyramid?
- the working population
- the elderly
- females only
- the youngest people (the answer)
Age increases up the pyramid.
What does HIC stand for?
- high-income country (the answer)
- highly industrial country
- high-immigration country
- heavily inhabited country
The World Bank groups countries by income.
What does a wide base on a population pyramid show?
- people live for a long time
- many children are being born (the answer)
- many people have moved away
- the population is falling
The base is the youngest age group.
A town of 45 000 people covers 15 km². What is its population density?Stretch
- 300 people per km²
- 675 000 people per km²
- 3000 people per km² (the answer)
- 30 people per km²
45 000 ÷ 15 = 3000.

6 questions

Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.

Worksheet

3 questions, 8 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.

Population density, distribution and structure

Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 · 8 marks · papermunch.org

Name ______________________________ Date ______________

Define population density and population distribution.[2]
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Population density is the number of people living in an area, usually per km². Population distribution is how people are spread over an area.
I got this one
Name the three income groups that the World Bank uses to classify countries.[3]
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Low-income countries (LICs), middle-income countries (MICs) and high-income countries (HICs).
I got this one
Compare the population pyramid of an LIC with that of an HIC.[3]
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The LIC pyramid has a wider base, because more children are born. It narrows quickly, because fewer people survive to old age. The HIC pyramid has a narrower base and a wider top, because fewer children are born and people live longer.
I got this one

Answers: Population density, distribution and structure

1. Population density is the number of people living in an area, usually per km². Population distribution is how people are spread over an area.
2. Low-income countries (LICs), middle-income countries (MICs) and high-income countries (HICs).
3. The LIC pyramid has a wider base, because more children are born. It narrows quickly, because fewer people survive to old age. The HIC pyramid has a narrower base and a wider top, because fewer children are born and people live longer.