Countries with low population density. Earth population density

Most of the earthlings, about 90%, live in the northern hemisphere. Also, 80% of the population is concentrated in the eastern hemisphere, against 20% in the western, while 60% of people are Asians (average - 109 people / km2). About 70% of the population is concentrated on 7% of the planet's territory. And 10-15% of the land is completely uninhabited territories - these are the lands of Antarctica, Greenland, etc.

Population density by country

There are countries in the world with both low and high population densities. The first group includes, for example, Australia, Greenland, Guiana, Namibia, Libya, Mongolia, Mauritania. The population density in them is no more than two people per square kilometer.

Asia has the most densely populated countries - China, India, Japan, Bangladesh, Taiwan, the Republic of Korea and others. The average density in Europe is 87 people/km2, in America - 64 people/km2, in Africa, Australia and Oceania - 28 people/km2 and 2.05 people/km2, respectively.

States with a small territory are usually very densely populated. These are, for example, Monaco, Singapore, Malta, Bahrain, Republic of Maldives.

Among the cities with the highest one can distinguish Egyptian Cairo (36,143 people/km2), Chinese Shanghai (2,683 people/km2 in 2009), Pakistani Karachi (5,139 people/km2), Turkish Istanbul (6,521 people/km2). km2), Japanese Tokyo (5,740 people/km2), Indian Mumbai and Delhi, Argentinean Buenos Aires, Mexican Mexico City, Moscow, the capital of Russia (10,500 people/km2), etc.

Causes of uneven settlement

The uneven population of the planet is associated with various factors. First of all, these are natural and climatic conditions. Half of the earthlings live in the lowlands, which make up less than a third of the land, and a third of the people live at a distance of no more than 50 kilometers from the sea (12% of the land).

Traditionally, zones with unfavorable and extreme natural conditions (highlands, tundra, deserts, tropics) were settled inactively.

Another factor is the rate of natural population growth due to the birth rate in different countries, in some states it is very high, and in others it is extremely low.

And another important factor is the socio-economic conditions and the level of production in a given country. For the same reasons, the density varies significantly within the countries themselves - in cities and rural areas. As a rule, the population density in cities is higher than in the countryside, and

In geopolitics there is such a thing as "population density". It determines the demographic and economic potential of a country or a particular region. Of course, this indicator is considered conditional, and its value depends on the area of ​​the analyzed territory.

Definition of the term

In geography, population density is determined by the number of people per unit area (1 square km). The more people live in a city, country, region, the greater this density.

At the same time, this is a purely statistical indicator, which depends on the area of ​​the study area. Thus, the number of people per unit area throughout Russia is much less than in Moscow, and much more than in Siberia, although both of these indicators are taken into account when determining the national density.

And this applies not only to Russia, but to the entire area of ​​the Earth. People are not evenly distributed on it. There are completely uninhabited regions, and there are places where the number of people exceeds 1000 per unit area.

Distribution of the population on the planet

According to statistics, the population density of the world is very uneven. In general, about 40 people per square kilometer live on the planet. At the same time, about 10% of the land is not inhabited at all.

90% of the inhabitants of the earth are concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere and 80% - in the Eastern. Moreover, approximately 60% of all people on earth live in Asian countries.

Therefore, in the Southern and Western Hemispheres, the number of people will be lower than the average figure on the planet.

In the Northern regions of the Earth, the number of people is noticeably decreasing, and there are practically none in Antarctica, except for single research groups. At the same time, the coasts of the seas and large rivers are very densely populated, which was facilitated by various factors of history and ecology.

Thus, we can safely say that the population on Earth has a heterogeneous character, which was influenced by a variety of factors. It is noteworthy that migration processes never stop. This gives the right to assert that the population density of countries is a very dynamic indicator.

Factors that affect the density of the world's population

Scientists argue that the nature of the population of certain territories depends on many factors. Some of them are subject to man, and some he must submit.

First of all, these are climatic conditions. The more favorable weather conditions for human life, the more people will settle in such a territory. Consequently, in tropical countries, places close to water bodies, people settle more often. This also explains why very cold regions are practically undeveloped by man.

Geographic conditions include proximity to fresh water. The larger the river, the larger the population on its banks. Man will not survive in the deserts, because he constantly needs water.

The highlands are also uninhabitable. In such places, there is little oxygen, without which it is also difficult for people to live normally.

Environmental factors determine areas where it is safest to live. For example, the zone around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant is practically deserted, since its territory has a high radiation background.

Economic factors encourage people to flock to places where there is work, and therefore the opportunity to get more money for their work.

Population density indicators in Russia

The large territory of the country guarantees us that Russia's population density is very uneven. Its total figure is close to 9 people per square kilometer. But this is very general information.

Thus, the European part of the country is populated by 75%, although it makes up about 25% of the entire area of ​​the country. Conversely, 25% of people live in 75% of the area of ​​its Asian part.

In large cities, the number of people increases many times, while in the villages there are practically no people left. The closer to the south, the more Russians we will meet per unit area. The only exceptions will be desert regions that are poorly habitable.

The uneven distribution of people across Russia is explained by the presence of different climatic conditions over a large area of ​​the state. It also happened historically that in some regions the resettlement took place more actively than in others. Even today, migration processes further exacerbate the situation with uneven settlement.

european part of Russia

The territory belonging to the European continent in Russia is no more than 25%. But it is here that most of its citizens are concentrated. Together with the Urals, this is 75% of all people living in the country.

This is due to the fact that there are large cultural and economic centers such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Veliky Novgorod. Thus, it turns out that here the average population density is almost 37 people per unit area.

In the European part of the country, the conditions for life are also more favorable. The climate here is mild. It contributes to the development of agriculture and industry. Like a chain reaction, such features attract more and more people to them. Cultural life and infrastructure are developing. Population density is growing like a snowball. This is especially evident in the dynamics of large cities, where thousands of new residents come every year.

Sparsely populated regions

Regrettably, but most of the territory of Russia has a very low population density. In Russian Asia, on average, it is 2.4 people per square kilometer. This is significantly lower than in the entire country as a whole.

Here is also the most uninhabited area - Chukotka. Here, there are 0.07 people per unit area.

This is explained by the fact that the Far Eastern and Northern regions are practically unsuitable for life. At the same time, there are many minerals here. Around the places of their occurrence, modern people settle. Of the indigenous people, mainly nomadic peoples who have learned to live without agriculture in the usual sense of the word prevail here.

Desert regions are also not very attractive for human migration. Therefore, the population density of Russia is extremely uneven. Today, there are many federal programs that promote resettlement in sparsely populated regions.

One of the most crowded cities in the world

There is also a record city on the map of Russia. It has a very high population density even in comparison with other cities in the world. The top ten most densely populated settlements is closed by the capital - Moscow.

As of the beginning of 2015, the population density in this city was 4858 people per square kilometer. This is a very high population density. And every year it only grows. In addition, the statistics are based on the official registration of residents and people temporarily residing in the capital. But there is still a contingent of illegal migrants, not only from neighboring countries, but also from the hinterland of the country itself. Therefore, it can be argued that the real picture of overpopulation is much higher than the statistics give.

At the same time, the entire Moscow region is also very overpopulated. Together with Moscow, it is 320 people per unit area. This is almost five times more than across the country.

Ways of human settlement

To avoid overcrowding and develop uninhabited areas, there are several programs. The easiest way is to make the desert region attractive for migration. In this case, it is best to use labor migrants.

There have been many times in history when new cities very quickly acquired a high population density.

For this, highly qualified personnel were first attracted, who were offered high salaries and housing benefits. In parallel with this, the infrastructure developed, providing jobs for their relatives. In a few years, in previously deserted regions, a large population density formed.

An example of such a rapid settlement is the city of Pripyat near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. In a few years, it was filled with people, although before that there were only forests and swamps, unsuitable for life.

Evgeny Marushevsky

freelancer, constantly travels the world

You might think that the most populous country in the world is China. No wonder the number of the eastern neighbor of Russia has exceeded one billion and amounted to 1.38 billion people. You probably think the same. Or maybe it's India?

Everyone knows that China has a big problem of overpopulation, because of which it has territorial conflicts with Russia. And the cities are multimillionaires in the list of the first in terms of the number of people living in it. However, few have any idea that China is only the 56th most populous country in the world.

There are 139 people per square kilometer in China.

India has an area three times smaller than that of China, and a population of just over a billion.

The population density in India is 357 people per square kilometer - this is the 19th place in the list of the most densely populated countries in the world.

Statistics show that countries with the highest population density are dwarf states consisting of several cities. And the very first place among such countries is occupied by Monaco - a principality with a territory of less than 2 square kilometers. Next come:

• Singapore
• Vatican
• Bahrain
• Malta
• Maldives

Monaco

On the world map, Monaco is located between France and the Mediterranean Sea in the very south of Europe.

Due to the lack of territory, there is a very high population density. The 36,000 residents of the country and foreigners who visit the tourist pearl every year account for 1.95 square kilometers - less than 200 hectares. Of these, 40 hectares were reclaimed from the sea.

The population density of Monaco is 18,000 people per 1 square kilometer.

Monaco consists of four merged cities: Monte-Ville, Monte-Carlo, La Condamine and the industrial center - Fontvieille.

The indigenous people of this country are Monegasques, they are a minority (20%) of the 120 nationalities living here. Next come the Italians, then the French (more than 40% of the population). Other nationalities are represented by 20% of the population. The official language is French. Although there is a local dialect, which is an Italian-French mixture of languages.

According to the form of government, the country is a constitutional monarchy, power here is inherited. The prince rules together with the National Council, which consists exclusively of Monegasques.

The country does not have its own army, but there is a police force, as well as a royal guard of 65 people. In accordance with the agreement between France and Monaco, the first of them deals with defense issues.

The tiny state prospers at the expense of other states of offshore companies located in the country, and tourism. It is here that the starting stage of the famous Formula 1 races begins, and here is the world-famous casino of Monaco, where gamblers flock, in whose countries gambling is prohibited.

Monaco is rich in sights. Here you can find medieval and modern architecture in combination, and it will look harmonious.

Here are:

The Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology, the Museum of Old Monaco, the Museum of the Prince, represented by cars, the Museum of Postage Stamps and Coins and other museums.

Among the historical monuments stand out: Fort Antoine, two churches and a chapel, the palace of justice and the prince's palace.

Fontvey Gardens and Princess Grace Gardens, rose gardens, zoo and more.

Also other popular places here are the wax museum of the princely family or the oceanographic museum. The latter was discovered by Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

Since the country does not have its own airport, you can get to Monaco by flight to Nice or Côte d'Azur, and then take a taxi.

The country introduced speed limits - about 50 km / h. There are also pedestrian zones in the old town. You can get around the city by bus or taxi. Travel by public transport will cost 1.5 euros.

Singapore

The city-state has an area of ​​719 square kilometers. It is located on 63 islands in Southeast Asia. It borders the islands of Indonesia and Malaysia.

The population density is 7,607 people per 1 square kilometer.

Its main population is made up of Chinese (74%), Malays (13.4%) and Indians (9%).

There are four official languages ​​here:

• English
• Tamil
• Chinese (Mandarin)
• Malay

Of the attractions, the most famous are: the Chinatown Chinatown, the Indian district, the zoo and gardens by the bay. You can get to Singapore by plane. Accommodation is possible in a budget hotel, since there are enough of them here. And you can get to it from the airport by taxi costing from 10 Singapore dollars, or you can use the subway for a price of $ 2.

Vatican

A dwarf enclave state on the territory of Rome was founded in 1929. The Vatican is the smallest state in the world, its area is only 0.4 square kilometers, the second after it is Monaco.

The population density is 2,030 people per square kilometer.

The population of the Vatican is 95% male, the total number of people living is 1,100.The official language of the Vatican is Latin. The head of the Vatican, the Pope, represents the Holy See.

On the territory of the Vatican there are palace complexes and museums (Egyptian and Pio-Clementino), the residence of the Pope, St. Peter's Cathedral, the Sistine Chapel and other buildings. Since all the embassies in the Vatican do not fit, some of them, including the Italian one, are located in Italy, in the eastern part of Rome. There are also located: the University of Pope Urban, the University of Thomas Aquinas and other educational institutions of the Vatican.

If you do not take into account the dwarf city-states, then the most populous country can be called Bangladesh. Next come:

• Taiwan,
• South Korea,
• Netherlands,
• Lebanon,
• India.

Mongolia is the most sparsely populated country in the world. There are only 2 people per square kilometer.

Bangladesh

The area of ​​Bangladesh is 144,000 square kilometers.

The population density is 1,099 people per square kilometer.

The state is located in South Asia. The total number of people living in the country is 142 million. Bangladesh was formed in 1970. It borders India and Myanmar. The official languages ​​in the country are English and Bengali.

The rich fauna and flora is the main attraction of this country. 150 species of reptiles, 250 mammals and 750 birds.

Among the attractions of the country are:

Sundarbans National Park, Madhupur and other nature reserves,

architectural structures: Ahsan-Manzil Palace, Dakeshvari Temple, mausoleums and mosques.

Also in Bangladesh there is a copy of the famous Taj Mahal.

You can get to Bangladesh by plane with a transfer, as there are no direct transfers from Russia.

Taiwan

The Republic of China is not yet recognized by everyone, officially it is considered a province of China. The area of ​​the country is 36,178 square kilometers with a population of 23 million people.

The population density is 622 people per square kilometer.

The official language is Beijing Chinese. 20% of the country's territory is under state protection: nature reserves, reserves and much more. 400 species of butterflies, more than 3,000 species of fish, a large number of mammals and other animals attract tourists. There is also the opportunity to relax in the mountains.

You can get to Taiwan via Hong Kong to Kaohsiung International Airport. Within the country, rail travel is especially popular.

The world population density map shows the number of inhabitants per square meter of each country. km.

The population density of the earth is 55 persons per 1 square kilometer. According to statistics, the total number of people living in all countries of the world in 2016 was 7,486,520,598 people. By the end of 2017, this indicator is expected to grow by 1.2%.

Top 10 countries by population density:

1. The first place in the ranking of countries in terms of population density is occupied by a dwarf state on the Cote d'Azur -. The population of Monaco is only 30,508 people, and the total area of ​​the state is 2.02 square meters. km. For 1 sq. km kilometer is home to 18,679 people.

This population density is astonishing. Monaco is considered one of the most expensive countries in the world. The state gained its popularity thanks to the annual holding of the famous Formula 1 racing championship on its territory. And also the kingdom is famous for its gambling business and a highly developed tourism sector.

The country ranks first in the world in terms of population density

More than 3 thousand people work on the territory of the Catholic monastery, but all employees are citizens of the Italian Republic. They do not live in the Vatican, but only work, so the labor force cannot be considered the population.

The Vatican has officially received the status of the smallest state on the world map. Its area does not exceed 1 sq. km (only 0.44 sq. km.). Therefore, the density of the population living in this country is 2,272 people per 1 sq. km. km.

1. Kingdom of Bahrain. This is the smallest Arab state in the Middle East, consisting of 33 islands. The average population density of Bahrain is 1997.4 people. In recent years, the population of the country, called the pearl of the Arab world, has grown from 1,343,000 to 1,418,162 people. The population growth in 2016 is 1.74%, and in 2017 the number of residents increased by 1.76%. According to statistics, 18 migrants come to Bahrain every day for permanent residence. .
2. - an island nation known for the absence of permanent rivers and lakes. In 2016, the population of this country in southern Europe was 420,869 people, and the density was 1315.2. In 2017, it is planned to increase the population of this state by 1343 people. According to forecasts, already at the end of 2017, the growth rate of people living here will increase by 4 persons per day.
3. This state is one of the most expensive resorts in the world. The population density of the Republic of Maldives is 1245, 1 person per 1 sq. km. m. In 2017, population growth is expected at the level of 1.78%. The number of people living in the Republic of Maldives is governed solely by the processes of birth and death. On average, 22 babies are born in the Maldives in 1 day, and 4 people die. It is difficult for immigrants to obtain citizenship of the Republic of Maldives.

   The capital of the Maldives - the city of Male - is the smallest, in terms of size and population, the capital in the world.

4. Bangladesh is a country in the southern part of Asia. The People's Republic of Bangladesh is not very popular with tourists. Most of the country is covered with rivers and lakes. The population in Bangladesh at the end of 2016 is 163,900,500 people. Despite the fact that the republic is developing the agricultural and industrial sectors, Bangladesh remains one of the poorest countries in Asia. The population density in this country is 1138.2 people per 1 sq. km. km. can be found on our website.
5. - an exotic republic with an abundance of attractions and an interesting national flavor. This state attracts many tourists, but only a few remain in this country for permanent residence. In 2016, 285,675 people lived in Barbados. The birth rate in this republic is also quite good. On average, about 10 children are born a day, and about 7 die. From this we can conclude that the birth rate in the country is higher than the mortality rate. According to forecasts, the number of people living in Barbados by the end of 2017 should increase by 0.33%. To date, the population density of this country is 664.4 people.
6. . In this state, with an area of ​​2040 sq. km is home to 1,281,103 inhabitants. Density - 628 people.
7. The Republic of China completes the ranking of countries in the world by density in 2017. This country is the largest in terms of population in East Asia. The population is 1,375,137,837 people. In 2017, population growth is expected to be 0.53%. The Republic of China has been leading the birth rate for many years. Experts note that this demographic situation is due to cultural and economic factors. The sharp increase in the population forced the Chinese government to introduce a law prohibiting having more than one child in one family. More than 22 million children are born in China every year. The density of the population living in China is 144 persons per 1 square kilometer.

You can find out on our website.

Data by parts of the world

Africa

Africa's population density is 30.5 people per square kilometer.

Table: density of people living in different countries of the African continent

Humanity is distributed over the earth's surface extremely unevenly. In order to be able to compare the degree of population of different regions, an indicator such as population density is used. This concept connects a person and his environment into a single whole, is one of the key geographical terms.

Population density measures how many people live in each square kilometer of a territory. Depending on the specific conditions, the value can vary greatly.

The world average is about 50 people/km2. If we do not take into account the ice-covered Antarctica, then it will be approximately 56 people / km 2.

World population density

Since ancient times, mankind has been more actively populating territories with favorable natural conditions. This is a flat relief, a warm and sufficiently humid climate, fertile soils, and the availability of sources of drinking water.

In addition to natural factors, the distribution of the population is influenced by the history of development and economic reasons. Territories inhabited by man earlier are usually denser than areas of new development. Where labor-intensive branches of agriculture or industry develop, the population density is greater. "Attract" people and developed deposits of oil, gas, other minerals, transport routes: railways and roads, navigable rivers, canals, coasts of non-freezing seas.

The actual population density of the countries of the world proves the influence of these conditions. The most populous are small states. The leader can be called Monaco with a density of 18680 people / km 2. Countries such as Singapore, Malta, Maldives, Barbados, Mauritius and San Marino (7605, 1430, 1360, 665, 635 and 515 people / km 2, respectively), in addition to a favorable climate, also have an exceptionally convenient transport and geographical position. This led to the flourishing of international trade and tourism in them. Bahrain stands apart (1720 people / km 2), developing due to oil production. And the Vatican, which is in 3rd place in this rating, has a population density of 1913 people / km 2, not due to the large number, but to a small area, which is only 0.44 km 2.

Among large countries, Bangladesh has been the leader in terms of density for ten years (about 1200 people / km 2). The main reason is the development of rice cultivation in this country. This is a very labor-intensive industry, so a lot of labor is required.

The most "spacious" territories

If we consider the density of the world's population by country, we can single out another pole - sparsely populated areas of the world. Such territories occupy more than ½ of the land area.

Rare is the population along the shores of the Arctic seas, including the subpolar islands (Iceland - a little over 3 people / km 2). The reason is the harsh climate.

The desert regions of North (Mauritania, Libya - a little more than 3 people / km 2) and South Africa (Namibia - 2.6, Botswana - less than 3.5 people / km 2), the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia (in Mongolia - 2 people / km 2), Western and Central Australia. The main factor is poor hydration. With enough water, the population density immediately increases, as can be seen in the oases.

The sparsely populated areas include rainforests in South America (Suriname, Guyana - 3 and 3.6 people / km 2, respectively).

And Canada, with its Arctic archipelago and northern forests, has become the most sparsely populated among the giant countries.

There are no permanent residents on the whole mainland - Antarctica.

Regional differences

The average population density of the countries of the world does not give a complete picture of the distribution of people. Within countries there can be significant differences in the degree of development. A textbook example is Egypt. The average density in the country is 87 people / km 2, but 99% of the inhabitants are concentrated on 5.5% of the territory in the valley and delta of the Nile. In desert areas, each person has several square kilometers of area.

In the south-east of Canada, the density can be above 100 people/km 2, and in the province of Nunavut - less than 1 person/km 2.

There is an order of magnitude greater difference in Brazil between the industrial southeast and the hinterland of the Amazon.

In highly developed Germany there is a cluster of population in the form of the Ruhr-Rhine region, in which the density is more than 1000 people / km 2, and the average for the country is 236 people / km 2. Such a picture is observed in most large states, where natural and economic conditions differ in different parts.

How are things in Russia?

Considering the density of the world's population by country, one cannot ignore Russia. We have a very large contrast in the placement of people. The average density is about 8.5 people / km 2. This is 181 places in the world. 80% of the country's inhabitants are concentrated in the so-called Main Settlement Zone (south of the Arkhangelsk-Khabarovsk line) with a density of 50 people/km2. The strip occupies less than 20% of the territory.

The European and Asian parts of Russia differ sharply from each other. The northern archipelagos are almost uninhabited. You can also name the vast expanses of the taiga, where hundreds of kilometers can be from one dwelling to another.

Urban agglomerations

Usually in rural areas the density is not that high. But large cities and agglomerations are places of extremely high concentration of the population. This is due to the high-rise buildings, and the huge number of enterprises and jobs.

The population density of the world's cities also varies. Tops the list of the "closest" agglomerations of Mumbai (more than 20 thousand people per sq. km). In second place is Tokyo with 4,400 people/km 2 , and in third place are Shanghai and Jakarta, yielding only slightly. The most populous cities also include Karachi, Istanbul, Manila, Dhaka, Delhi, Buenos Aires. Moscow is on the same list with 8,000 people/km2.

You can clearly imagine the population density of the countries of the world not only with the help of maps, but also with night photographs of the Earth from space. The underdeveloped territories on them will remain dark. And the brighter the area on the earth's surface is illuminated, the denser it is populated.