A population is a subgroup of individuals within the same species that are living and breeding within a geographic area. The number of individuals living within that specific location determines the
population
density, or the number of individuals divided by the size of the area.
Population
density can be used to describe the location, growth, and migration of many organisms. In the case of humans,
population
density is often discussed in relation to urbanization, im
migration
, and
population
demographics.
Globally, statistics related to
population
density are tracked by the United Nations
Statistics
Division, and the United States Constitution requires
population
data to be collected every 10 years, an operation carried out by the U.S. Census Bureau. However, data on human
population
density at the country level, and even at regional levels, may not be very informative; society tends to form clusters that can be surrounded by sparsely inhabited areas. Therefore, the most useful data describes smaller, more discrete
population
centers.
Dense
population
clusters generally coincide with geographical locations often referred to as city, or as an urban or metropolitan area; sparsely populated areas are often referred to as rural. These terms do not have globally agreed upon definitions, but they are useful in general discussions about
population
density and geographic location.
Population
density data can be important for many related studies, including studies of ecosystems and improvements to human health and infrastructure. For example, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the U.S. Global Change Research Program, and the U.S. Departments of Energy and Agriculture all use
population
data from the U.S.
Census
or UN
statistics
to understand and better predict resource use and health trends.
Key areas of study include the following:
This list is not inclusive—the way society structures its living spaces affects many other fields of study as well. Scientists have even studied how happiness correlates with population density. A substantial area of study, however, focuses on demographics of populations as they relate to density. Areas of demographic breakdown and study include, but are not limited to:
FAQs
The number of individuals living within that specific location determines the population density, or the number of individuals divided by the size of the area. Population density can be used to describe the location, growth, and migration of many organisms.
What is meant by population density? ›
Population density is the number of people per unit of area, usually transcribed as "per square kilometer" or square mile, and which may include or exclude, for example, areas of water or glaciers. Commonly this is calculated for a county, city, country, another territory or the entire world.
What is an example of a population density? ›
Population density is the average number of individuals in a population per unit of area or volume. For example, a population of 100 insects that live in an area of 100 squar e meter s has a density of 1 insect per square meter.
What is population density dictionary? ›
noun. : the number of people living in each unit of area (such as a square mile) This part of the country has a high population density.
What is density in a simple definition? ›
Density is a word we use to describe how much space an object or substance takes up (its volume) in relation to the amount of matter in that object or substance (its mass). Another way to put it is that density is the amount of mass per unit of volume. If an object is heavy and compact, it has a high density.
What is population density for kids? ›
Population density is a measure of population in relation to land area. It is expressed as the number of people per square mile or square kilometer. In 2012 the most densely populated continent by far was Asia, with an average of 343 people per square mile (132 per square kilometer).
What causes population density? ›
The main factors determining population distribution are : climate, landforms, topography, soil, energy and mineral resources, accessibility like distance from sea coast, natural harbours, navigable rivers or canals, cultural factors, political boundaries, controls on migration and trade, government policies, types of ...
What is high population density? ›
High population density refers to the number of people who live in a given area. It has advantages and disadvantages that should be considered when deciding where to live or invest.
What is the most densely populated place on Earth? ›
The five most densely populated are Macao, Monaco, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Gibraltar. Singapore has 8,430 people per km²; that's more than 200 times as dense as the United States and 2,000 times as Australia. Of the larger countries1, Bangladesh is the most densely populated, with 1,342 people per km².
What is an example of a population density problem? ›
If New York City is 468 square miles, approximately how many people live in New York City? 17,620 is the population density of New York City. Solve this equation by multiplying both sides by 468. New York City has approximately 8,246,160 people.
Student answers and choice for density type will vary but should demonstrate understanding of how arithmetic, agricultural, and physiological densities differ and are relevant to different areas of the world.
How to find population density? ›
To calculate the population density, you will divide the population by the size of the area. Thus, Population Density = Number of People/Land Area. The unit of land area should be square miles or square kilometers. You can use square feet or meters if you are finding the density of a smallish space.
What is a population density in biology sentence? ›
Population density is the number of species members within a defined geographic boundary. A population, as defined in biology, includes all members of one species that live generally close to one other and interbreed. As of 2022, the population density of Hong Kong was an incredible 17,311 people per square mile.
What is the definition of population density on a map? ›
A population density map shows how many people live in each square mile or square kilometer of a given area by using shading or colors. For areas of low density, or where there are few people, population density maps use lighter shading or colors.
What is the population density formula? ›
The formula for population density is Dp= N/A, where Dp is the population density, N is the total population, and A is the land area covered by the population. For human populations, A is typically expressed as square miles or square kilometers.
Why is there population density? ›
Population density is an important factor influencing growth. The effect can be due to social interactions, lack of shelter or suitable habitat, or to a deterioration in environmental conditions such as oxygen levels or food availability.
What is the population density in Quizlet? ›
Population Density. The number of individuals of a species per unit of area or volume at a given time.
