The largest population density. "Nerezinovaya": analysis of the number and density of the population of the Earth

To characterize the distribution of the population, the indicator is used density population, which first appeared in the works of economists in the first half of the 19th century. It allows you to more or less clearly judge the degree of population of the territory, it reflects the suitability of one or another type of natural environment for the production activities of people and the direction of the economy, and the demographic capacity of the territory. The most traditional indicator of population density is calculated as the ratio of the number of permanent residents of the territory to its area, excluding large inland water basins, expressed in the number of people per 1 km 2 (gross population density).

In industrialized countries, the indicator of average density, due to the high proportion of city dwellers, does not reflect the nature of the use of the territory. Therefore, the density of the rural population is often determined in relation to either the entire territory of the country, or only to agricultural land, or suitable for agriculture (net population density).

Average density data allow comparisons between countries and areas, especially when comparing agricultural countries. The smaller the area taken for calculation, the closer this indicator is to reality. So, with an average population density in Indonesia of 122 people / km 2 about. Java has a density of over 500 people/km 2 , and some of its areas (Adiverna, Klatena) - more than 2500 people/km 2 [Shuv., p.82].

The overall population density of the Earth is growing in proportion to the growth of the world population. In 1900, this figure was 12 people/km2, in 1950 it was 18, and in 2000 it was approximately 45 people/km2. Rural population density has grown much more slowly and is now half the global average. And in economically developed countries, the density of the rural population does not grow at all or even decreases.

At the same time, in such densely populated countries as India and Bangladesh, where urbanization is developing slowly, the burden of the rural population on agricultural land that has long been used to the limit is growing.

The highest density indicator (126 people / km 2) has a populous Asia, more than 120 people / km 2 - Europe (without the CIS countries), in the rest of the macroregions of the Earth, the population density is lower than the world average: in Africa - 31, in America - 22, and in Australia and Oceania - only 4 people / km 2.

Comparison of the population density of individual countries makes it possible to single out three groups of states according to this indicator. Belgium, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Germany, Japan, India, Israel, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Republic of Korea, Rwanda, El Salvador, etc. have a very high population density (over 200 people / km 2).

Small, mostly island countries, have particularly high population densities: Monaco (33104 people / km 2), Singapore (6785), Malta (1288), Bahrain (1098), Barbados (647), Mauritius (618 people / km 2) and etc.

There are significant contrasts in population density within individual countries. Egypt, China, Australia, Canada, Brazil, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Russia, etc. can be cited as vivid examples of this kind.

For example, in Australia, 4/5 of the country's population lives on 10% of the territory, and only 1% on 65% of the area. In India, more than half of the population lives in the Tanga Valley, in the south of Hindustan and along the coast, i.e. 1/5 of the country. Only 3.5% of the population lives on 3/5 of China's area.

The most important geographical features of the population distribution can be noted:

- about 70% of the population lives on 7% of the land;

- more than 70% of the world's rural population is concentrated in Asia;

- more than 85% of the planet's inhabitants are concentrated in the eastern hemisphere, 90% - in the northern hemisphere;

- the main part of the population and settlements are distributed up to 78 0 n. and 54 0 S;

- about 4/5 of the land population lives no higher than 500 m above sea level, 50% - up to 200 m;

- in the lowlands most people live in Europe (69%), Australia (72%); least of all - in Africa (32%) and South America (42%);

- about 11% of the world's population lives at an altitude of 500-1000 m;

– about 30% of the population lives at a distance of up to 50 km from the sea coast [Shuv., Shitikova].

Population density maps reflect extremely brightly and visually the distribution of the population, and the larger the scale of the map, the higher its value as a source of information.

Five main areas of high density are clearly distinguished on the world population density map. The largest of them is the East Asian one, which includes the eastern provinces of China, Korea, and Japan. The average density here everywhere (except for mountainous regions) is about 200 people. (Kong, and in the Yangtze Valley, in the Republic of Korea and Japan exceeds 300 people / km 2. Approximately 1.5 billion inhabitants live in this area, there are approximately more than 30 cities with a population exceeding 1 million each.

The second population cluster is South Asian (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka) with an average density of about 300 people / km 2 and the largest population concentration in the Tanga and Brahmakutra valleys - up to 500 people / km 2. It is also home to about 1.5 billion people.

The third area is Southeast Asian (Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia) with a population of more than 400 million people. In these regions, high density was formed initially due to the rural population, where it does not fall below 300-500 people / km 2, and in some areas reaches 1500-2000 people, with a further concentration of part of the population in cities, especially in Japan and the Republic of Korea .

The fourth area is Western European (Great Britain (without Scotland), Benelux, North of France, Germany), where the average density exceeds 200 people / km 2.

The fifth cluster of population can be traced to the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada with 14 million-plus cities. The concentration of the population here, as well as in Western Europe, is explained by the high level of development of industry and other sectors of the economy in cities of various ranks.

A small cluster of population is located in the lower reaches of the Nile, where the density reaches 500-800 people / km 2, and in the delta - more than 1300 people / km 2.

More than 2/3 of the total population of the planet is concentrated in these areas.

Along with densely populated areas, vast expanses of land are very sparsely populated. About 54% of the Oikulina area has a population density of less than 5 persons/km2. These areas include the territories of Eurasia and North America with subpolar archipelagos of islands adjacent to the coast of the Arctic Ocean.

A rare population in the deserts of North Africa, Central and Western Australia, Central Asia, the Arabian Peninsula. There is little population in the equatorial forests of the Amazon, in high mountainous areas. These areas are extreme in terms of natural conditions. Naturally, the bulk of people are concentrated in the most favorable areas for living and farming in the temperate, subtropical and subequatorial climatic zones.

The population density in foreign Europe and Asia is more than 2.5 times higher than the world average, while in America it is twice, and in Australia and Oceania 12 times less (Table 1).

Table 1 Change in population density by regions of the world, persons/km2

Note: * without CIS countries

Over half a century, the population density has increased most in Africa (almost 8 times) and in general in developing countries - 3 times.

In the Asian region, the bulk of the population is concentrated in East, Southeast and South Asia. Huge areas of deserts, semi-deserts and mountains do not have a permanent population. As already noted, this region is characterized by intra-country differentiation in density (China, India, etc.).

Countries with the highest population density: Bangladesh - 1035 people / km 2, Japan - 338, India - 344, Lebanon - 377, Israel - 332. In the largest countries of the region, this figure is lower: China - 138, Indonesia - 122, Pakistan - 213 people / km 2. Mongolia has the minimum population density - 2 people / km 2.

Europe has a fairly uniform population density everywhere, there are no vast sparsely populated and uninhabited areas, as well as areas of a dense agricultural population, as in Asia. High density rates are achieved at the expense of the urban population. The highest density of the rural population is observed in Malta, Switzerland and Italy, the lowest - in the countries of Northern Europe (Iceland, Scandinavian countries). Intra-country differentiation in density is most pronounced in the UK and France.

They have the maximum population density (not counting the dwarf and island heads in the Netherlands - 394 people / km 2, Italy - 197, Switzerland - 182, Belgium - 348. In Iceland, this figure is minimal - 3 people / km 2.

Africa is still relatively sparsely populated, especially in the equatorial forests of the river basin. Congo, deserts of North and South Africa. Intra-country differences in population density are pronounced in North Africa (Egypt, Libya). The most densely populated countries are Mauritius (619 people / km 2), Reunion (319), Rwanda (355), Burundi (306).

Of the large states, the highest density is: Nigeria - 156 people / km 2; Egypt -73, Uganda - 188, Ethiopia - 70.

The lowest population density was noted in Mauritania and Namibia - 3 people / km 2 each, Western Sahara - 2 people / km 2.

America is characterized by a sharp differentiation in population density within countries and between countries (Canada, USA, Brazil). The highest population density is observed in the Atlantic regions of the United States and the central highlands of Mexico, on the Pacific coast (California), the Caribbean islands, and the Columbian highlands in South America. The lowest density is observed in the Amazon, the foothills of AID, the Atacama Desert, and the Arctic regions.

The average population density of the largest countries in the region: USA - 31 people / km 2, Mexico - 54, Brazil - 22, Venezuela - people / km 2, the lowest - in Canada (3 people / km 2).

Australia and Oceania is the region with the lowest population density. There are clusters of population on the islands: Nauru (667 people / km 2), Tuvalu (379), Marshall Islands (370), Guam (315). In Australia itself, this figure does not exceed 3 people / km 2.

In Russia, the largest of the CIS countries, the average population density is only 8 people / km 2, and rural - 2.3. The population density map of Russia clearly shows the main strip of settlement, stretching from the Western borders and narrowing towards the Pacific Ocean through the Volga region, the Middle and Southern Urals, the south of Western and Eastern Siberia to the south of the Far East, mainly along the Trans-Siberian Railway. About 2/3 of the entire population of Russia is concentrated within this band. Away from it, on the territory of the North Caucasian Federal District, there are several areas with a high population density, especially in its western part. In natural terms, the main zone of settlement coincides with the steppe, forest-steppe zones and the southern regions of the taiga, the most convenient for living and farming, in which the vast majority of the inhabitants of Russia have been employed for many centuries. At present, the population density in the Moscow region is about 300 people/km2, and in the most densely populated Central Economic Region, this figure is 60 people/km2.

Of the other CIS countries, Moldova (118 people/km2), Armenia (101) and Ukraine (77 people/km2) have the highest population density. The minimum values were noted in Kazakhstan (6 people/km2), Turkmenistan (11 people/km2).

10

Density: 635.19 people/km2
Square: 2040 km 2
Population: 1,295,789 people
Motto:"Star and Key of the Indian Ocean"
Form of government: Parliamentary republic
Capital: Port Louis

Island nation in East Africa. Located in the southwestern Indian Ocean, about 900 km east of Madagascar. The republic includes the islands of Mauritius (the largest, 1865 km 2) and Rodrigues (104 km 2), which are part of the Mascarene archipelago, as well as the Cargados-Carajos archipelago, the Agalega Islands and many small islands. The capital is the city of Port Louis, located on the island of Mauritius.

The economy of Mauritius is based on sugar production (sugarcane is grown on about 90% of cultivated farmland), tourism and the textile industry, which makes it the third country in terms of living standards in Africa (after Libya and the Seychelles) and 7th in terms of GDP per capita (after Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Seychelles, Gabon, Botswana and Tunisia). Recently, offshore and banking business has been developing, as well as the extraction and processing of seafood and fish. In terms of competitiveness in Africa, it ranks 5th (after South Africa, Libya, Botswana and Gabon).

Mauritius has an armed force of about 20 thousand people, which are used to eliminate the consequences of natural disasters (typhoons), and are a kind of analogue of the forces of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, there is a police force, police special forces and a maritime patrol service.

9

Density: 648 people/km2
Square: 35,980 km2
Population: 23,299,716 people
Form of government: mixed republic
Capital: Taipei

A partially recognized state in East Asia that previously had a one-party system, broad diplomatic recognition and control over all of China, has now become a democratic state with limited diplomatic recognition and controls only Taiwan and the surrounding islands. She is one of the founders of the UN and was previously a member of the UN Security Council (in 1971, the seat of the Republic of China in the UN was transferred to the People's Republic of China). The Republic of China is recognized by 22 UN member states, but actually maintains relations with most countries of the world through its representations.

8

Density: 660 people/km2
Square: 439 km 2
Population: 277,821 people
Motto:"Pride and Industry"
Form of government: an independent state within the Commonwealth, led by Great Britain
Capital: Bridgetown

A state in the West Indies on the island of the same name in the Lesser Antilles group, in the east of the Caribbean Sea. It is located relatively close to the South American continent, 434.5 km northeast of Venezuela.

Barbados is one of the leading developing countries in terms of living standards and literacy of the population according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), being in fourth place. Education is based on the British model. It costs about 20% of the country's annual budget. The literacy rate is close to 100%.

Tourism is well developed in the country (suitable climate, developed transport infrastructure), sugar industry. Information technologies and financial services are new directions of economic development.

In Barbados, to a greater extent than in other islands of the West Indies, there is an influence of English culture. A perfect example of this is the national sport - cricket.

7

Density: 1154.7 people/km2
Square: 147,570 km2
Population: 168,957,745 people
Form of government: unitary republic
Capital: Dhaka

Bangladesh is an agro-industrial country with a dynamically developing economy. It is distinguished by significant ethno-cultural diversity and has a rich culture that has absorbed elements of various traditions of the region.

This is one of the poorest states in Asia. 63% of the working population is employed in agriculture. The humid tropical climate allows for year-round farming, although there are droughts in the west of the country. Residents grow rice, jute, tea (in the northeast), wheat, sugar cane, potatoes, tobacco, legumes, sunflowers, spices, fruits (including mangoes). The population periodically suffers from hunger due to floods that destroy rice crops. The country also breeds cattle (bulls and buffaloes), poultry, and fish and seafood are caught in the rivers and the Bay of Bengal (the main fishing port is Chittagong). Fish along with rice is the main element of the diet of the inhabitants of the country. The country is producing natural gas. The main industries are cotton, jute, clothing, tea, paper, cement, chemicals (fertilizers), sugar, textile engineering.

6

Square: 300 km 2
Population: 341,256 people
Density: 1,359 people/km2
Form of government: Presidential republic
Capital: Male

The Republic of Maldives belongs to the states of South Asia and is located on a group of atolls, consisting of 1192 coral islands, in the Indian Ocean to the south of India.

The islands do not rise much above the ocean level: the highest point of the archipelago is on the southern Addu Atoll (Siena) - 2.4 m. Thanks to this, the Maldives is known as the lowest located state.

The total area is 90 thousand km², the land area is 298 km 2. The capital of Male - the only city and port of the archipelago - is located on the atoll of the same name.

As for tourism, it is worth noting that all the main beauties of the Maldives are located below sea level, but there are no special sights on land. There is an unremarkable capital Male, many uninhabited islands similar to each other, where they like to have picnics, as well as a kind of "action" - a fishing excursion. Perhaps the only notable surface excursion is the Photo Flight, a seaplane flight over the islands. Other popular excursions are a yacht cruise or a submarine dive. The most common pastime among tourists in the Maldives is diving, since there are coral reefs near each island. In addition, windsurfing, catamaran, water skiing, snorkeling, beach volleyball, tennis, billiards, squash and darts are popular.

5

Density: 1432 people/km2
Square: 316 km 2
Population: 429,344 people
Motto:"Valor and perseverance"
Form of government: parliamentary republic, democracy
Capital: Valletta

The Republic of Malta is an island state in the Mediterranean Sea. The name comes from the ancient Phoenician malat ("harbour", "refuge").

In 1964, Malta gained independence from Great Britain, and since 1974 a republic has been proclaimed, but until 1979, when the last British naval base was liquidated in Malta, the British Queen was still considered the head of state.

The territory of Malta is represented by the Maltese archipelago, consisting mainly of the island of Malta and Gozo. It also includes the uninhabited islands of St. Paul and Filfla, the uninhabited island of Comino, and tiny Cominotto and Filfoletta. The length of Malta is 27 km, the width is 15 km (less than the diameter of the Moscow Ring Road). Gozo is half the size, while Comino is only 2 km long. Malta is the only country in Europe without permanent rivers and natural lakes.

4

Density: 1626 people/km2
Square: 765 km 2
Population: 1,343,000 people
Form of government: dualistic monarchy
Capital: Manama

An island state on the archipelago of the same name in the Persian Gulf in Southwest Asia, the smallest Arab state. Bahrain occupies three relatively large and many small islands 16 km east of the coast of Saudi Arabia and is connected to this country by a road bridge.

The kingdom hosts the main operating base of the US Fifth Fleet in Juffair, near Manama.

Prior to the discovery of oil fields in 1932, pearl fishing was a branch of the economy of Bahrain (which still remains one of the main ones). Oil production and refining used to account for 60% of GDP, now it is 30%. Bahraini "black gold" deposits are depleted. Despite this, in 2015 the country produced 18.462 million barrels of oil, which is 3.7% higher than in 2014. The country also produces and processes natural gas, the reserves of which are significant. Developed offshore banking business.

3

Density: 1900 people/km2
Square: 0.44 km2
Population: 842 people
Form of government: absolute theocratic monarchy
Capital:

And, of course, the title of the smallest state in the world belongs to the Vatican. The Vatican is a dwarf enclave state (the smallest officially recognized state in the world) inside the territory of Rome, associated with Italy. The status of the Vatican in international law is an auxiliary sovereign territory of the Holy See, the seat of the highest spiritual leadership of the Roman Catholic Church.

Foreign diplomatic missions are accredited to the Holy See, not to the Vatican City State. Foreign embassies and representations accredited to the Holy See, in view of the small territory of the Vatican, are located in Rome (including the Italian embassy, which is thus located in its own capital.

In antiquity, the territory of the Vatican (Latin ager vaticanus) was not inhabited, since in ancient Rome this place was considered holy. Emperor Claudius held circus games at this place. In 326, after the advent of Christianity, a basilica of Constantine was erected over the supposed tomb of St. Peter, and since then this place has been inhabited.

The Vatican is a theocratic state ruled by the Holy See. The Sovereign of the Holy See, in whose hands absolute legislative, executive and judicial power is concentrated, is the Pope, who is elected by the cardinals for life. After the death or abdication of the Pope and during the conclave until the enthronement of the new Pope, his duties (with significant restrictions) are performed by the Camerlengo.

The Vatican has a non-profit planned economy. Sources of income - primarily donations from Catholics around the world. Part of the funds is tourism (sale of postage stamps, Vatican euro coins, souvenirs, fees for visiting museums). Most of the workforce (museum attendants, gardeners, janitors, and so on) are Italian citizens.

The budget of the Vatican is 310 million US dollars.

The Vatican has its own bank, better known as the Institute of Religious Affairs.

2

Density: 7 437 people/km2
Square: 719.1 km 2
Population: 5,312,400 people
Motto:"Go Singapore"
Form of government: parliamentary republic
Capital:

Singapore is a city-state located on islands in Southeast Asia, separated from the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula by the narrow Strait of Johor. It borders on the Johor Sultanate, which is part of Malaysia, and on the Riau Islands, which is part of Indonesia.

The name Singapore comes from the Malay singa (lion), borrowed from the Sanskrit sinha (lion), and the Sanskrit pura (city).

The area of Singapore has been gradually increasing due to the land reclamation program in place since the 1960s. Currently, the state of Singapore consists of 63 islands. The largest of them are Singapore (main island), Ubin, Tekong Besar, Brani, Sentosa, Semakau and Sudong. The highest point is Bukit Timah Hill (163.3 m).

Singapore maintains diplomatic relations with 186 countries of the world, although many of them do not have its embassies. It is a member of the UN, the British Commonwealth, ASEAN and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Singapore is characterized by a favorable investment climate, a highly competitive environment, leading positions in economic freedom ratings, a highly educated and disciplined population, and a greatly increased standard of living. But here, unfortunately, there is also dependence on imports for almost all food, water and energy.

1

Density: 18 679 people/km2
Square: 2.02 km2
Population: 30,508 people
Motto:"With God's help"
Form of government: dualistic constitutional monarchy
Capital:

A dwarf state associated with France, located in southern Europe on the coast of the Ligurian Sea near the French Cote d'Azur, 20 km northeast of Nice; on land borders with France. It is one of the smallest and most densely populated countries in the world. The Principality is widely known for its casinos in Monte Carlo and the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Monaco held here. The length of the coastline is 4.1 km, the length of land borders is 4.4 km. Over the past 20 years, the country's territory has increased by almost 40 hectares due to the drainage of marine areas.

The first people built their settlements on the territory of Monaco in the X century BC. e., they were the Phoenicians. Much later, the Greeks and Monoiki joined.

The history of modern Monaco begins in 1215 with the founding of a colony of the Republic of Genoa on the territory of the principality and the construction of a fortress.

According to 2014 data, the population of Monaco is 37,800 people, but it is worth noting that most of the full citizens of the state are Monegasques. They are exempt from taxes and have the right to settle in the area of the old city.

The economy of Monaco is developing mainly due to tourism, gambling, the construction of new residences, as well as through the media covering the life of the princely family.

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 one, 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, 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) can be distinguished. 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 earthlings live in the lowlands, which make up less than a third of the land, and a third of 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 particular 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.

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 fairly 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 southeast 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.