APHG - Topic II Population Geography World Population Distribution

Concentration of the World’s Population Go to http://www. census Concentration of the World’s Population Go to http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb/worldpopinfo.php for a closer look at world population distribution.

3/4s of the world’s population lives on only 5% of Earth’s surface The rest of the Earth’s surface is comprised of oceans (about 75%) and less intensely inhabited land

The ecumene is the portion of the Earth occupied by permanent human settlement. It has expanded from the Middle East, Eastern Europe and East Asia to most of the world’s land area.

The world’s population is clustered in 5 regions: South Asia - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka East Asia - China, Japan, Korea Southeast Asia - mostly islands: Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Sumatra, Borneo Western Europe Eastern North America

These regions display some similarities: Most people live near an ocean or river with easy access to an ocean. Low-lying areas with fertile soil and temperate climate All in the Northern hemisphere between 10N and 55N, except part of the Southeast Asian concentration.

Sparsely populated regions People avoid areas that are too wet, too cold, too dry, or too mountainous. The dry lands Two largest desert regions: Northern Hemisphere between 15 and 50N Sahara, Arabian, Thar, Takla Makan, Gobi Southern Hemisphere between 20 and 50S, including much of Australia

Wet lands: Near the Equator between 20N and 20S In the interiors of South America, Central Africa, and Southeast Asia +50” of rain per year Rain and heat rapidly deplete nutrients from the soil, making it difficult to support populations

Cold lands: North and South polar regions Ice or permafrost

High lands Steep, snow-covered Exceptions: Latin America, Africa