Population Patterns and

Growth
Where do people live and why?
 Population Density vs.
Population Distribution
• Population density is the number of people living in a particular area –
usually 1 square mile or 1 square kilometre. Calculated by dividing
population by area. Example – Population Density of Canada = 3.32/sq.
km

• Population distribution is the spread of people across the world, i.e.

where do people actually live.
Population Distribution - USA
 4 Types of Population Settlement
• Clustered: closely together and unevenly distributed in a given area
• Scattered: spread over a large area and not grouped together
• Linear: forming a line, which can be straight or wavy
• Peripheral: distributed along the outer perimeter of an area
Clustered Settlement:
Mumbai, India
 Dharavi vs. Oakville

Dharavi Oakville
• Area: 2.1km2 • Area: 135.8 km2
• Population: 1,000,000 • Population: 213, 739
• Population Density: 277,136/km2 • Population Density: 1,538.5/km2
 Top 10 Largest Megacities
(2025 estimate)

Number City Name Population (million) Developed or Developing

1 Tokyo, Japan 36.4 Developed
2 Mumbai, India 26.4 Developing
3 Delhi, India 22.5 Developing
4 Dhaka, Bangladesh 22 Developing
5 Sao Paulo, Brazil 21.4 Developing
6 Mexico City, Mexico 21 Developing
7 New York-Newark, USA 20.6 Developed
8 Kolkatta, India 20.6 Developing
9 Shanghai, China 19.4 Developing
10 Karachi, Pakistan 19.1 Developing
Scattered Settlement:
Mongolia
Southeast Asian settlement patterns
(Mongolia v India)
Linear Settlement:
The Nile River
 Peripheral Settlement:
Interlagos F1 Racetrack, Brazil
Peripheral Settlement:
Chicago
 Rural – Urban shift
• 56% of world’s population lives in urban centers (2019), and is projected
to be 68% by 2050.

• “Push” factors (away from rural): poverty in the countryside, drought and famine, poor
housing, a lack of hospitals, doctors and medicine, a lack of schools, disease

• “Pull” factors (towards urban): Increased availability and variety of jobs in urban areas;
more money available; more entertainment opportunities; increased standard of living; better
educational opportunities; greater access to medical care.
 Presentations on Factors that affect
Settlement
• Natural
• Historical
• Political
• Religious
• Economic