Geography · Textbook solutions

Population: Part 1

Every textbook question in book order, plus the board's past questions. · 48 questions

Chapter activities

28 q

Try this / Give it a try / Can you tell?

Practice · 28

Observe the pie-charts shown in Fig 1.1 carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Act p00 F1.1(1) $Which continent has the least population?$
Act p00 F1.1(2) $Which continent has the least landmass and also the least population?$
Act p00 F1.1(3) $Which continent has the most landmass as well as most of the population?$
Act p00 F1.1(4) $Which continent is missing in one of the pie charts? Why?$

Act p00 T1.1

Table 1.1 shows the 10 most populated countries in the world in 2018 with their areas. Calculate their population densities and complete the table. Table 1.1 Rank Country Population in Crores (2018) Approx. Area (in lakh sq.km.) Population Density 1 China 142.8 96.0 ......... 2 India 135.3 32.9 ......... 3 United States of America (USA) 32.7 95.3 ......... 4 Indonesia 26.8 19.1 ......... 5 Pakistan 21.2 8.9 ......... 6 Brazil 20.9 85.2 ......... 7 Nigeria 19.6 9.2 ......... 8 Bangladesh 16.1 1.5 ......... 9 Russia 14.6 171.0 ......... 10 Mexico 12.6 19.7 .........

Rank	Country	Population in Crores (2018)	Approx. Area (in lakh sq.km.)	Population Density
1	China	142.8	96.0	.........
2	India	135.3	32.9	.........
3	United States of America (USA)	32.7	95.3	.........
4	Indonesia	26.8	19.1	.........
5	Pakistan	21.2	8.9	.........
6	Brazil	20.9	85.2	.........
7	Nigeria	19.6	9.2	.........
8	Bangladesh	16.1	1.5	.........
9	Russia	14.6	171.0	.........
10	Mexico	12.6	19.7	.........

Act p02 T1.2

Compare the world population distribution map with the physical map of the world, and complete the table showing the impact of physical factors on population distribution. One has been done for you as an example. Table 1.2 Continent Physical Factors Responsible for High Population Physical Factors Responsible for Less or No Population North America Coastal areas Forests, desert, snow-covered land Asia ......... ......... Africa ......... ......... South America ......... ......... Europe ......... ......... Australia ......... .........

Act p02 CYT $Can you think of the factors besides physiography which affect the distribution of population? Make a list.$

Continent	Physical Factors Responsible for High Population	Physical Factors Responsible for Less or No Population
North America	Coastal areas	Forests, desert, snow-covered land
Asia	.........	.........
Africa	.........	.........
South America	.........	.........
Europe	.........	.........
Australia	.........	.........

Act p03 T1.3

Here are some physical and human factors affecting the distribution of population. Fill in suitable examples of countries or regions in the table. Two examples have been solved for your convenience. Table 1.3 Physical / Human Factors High Density Low Density 1) Relief Flat, Lowland e.g. Ganges plains Mountainous area e.g. Himalayas 2) Climate ......... ......... 3) Availability of Resources ......... ......... 4) Economic Business and financial centre. e.g. Tokyo Low economic growth. e.g. Louisiania 5) Social ......... ......... 6) Government Policies ......... ......... 7) Cultural ......... .........

Look at the satellite images given in Fig. 1.5. They show the same area from two different periods.
Act p05 F1.5(1) $What difference do you see between the two images?$
Act p05 F1.5(2) $What might have caused these changes?$
Look at the fig. 1.6 and answer the questions that follow :
Act p06 F1.6(1) $What does the image show?$
Act p06 F1.6(2) $What happens to the population when deaths are more than births?$
Act p06 F1.6(3) $What happens to the population when births are more than deaths?$
Act p06 F1.6(4) $What happens when both are same? Is it possible?$
In 2019 there were 3,250 births in a city with a population of 2,23,000, so its crude birth rate was 14.57 per thousand. In the same year the total number of deaths in that city was 2,986.
Act p07 CDR(1) $Can you calculate the death rate in the above example?$
Act p07 CDR(2) $On the basis of the Birth Rate given earlier and the Death Rate calculated by you, what change in population do you observe?$
Act p07 T1.4 $Observe the table 1.4. Arrange the data in ascending order for birth rates and death rates respectively. Table 1.4 Country Crude BR (2017) Crude DR (2017) Sweden 11.5 9.1 India 18.1 7.2 Greece 8.2 11.6 China 12.4 7.1 USA 11.8 8.5 Niger 46.5 8.5$
Act p07 T1.5 $Birth rates and death rates determine the growth or decline in the population. Complete the table, where different combinations of Birth Rates and Death Rates are given. One has been done for you as an example. Table 1.5 Sr. No. Birth Rate Death Rate Effect on Population Growth 1 High High Stable / Low Increase 2 High Decreasing ......... 3 High Low ......... 4 Decreasing Low ......... 5 Low Low .........$
Look at the graph in Fig 1.7 carefully. Answer the following questions :
Act p08 F1.7(1) $What do the blue and the black lines show?$
Act p08 F1.7(2) $What does the green part in the graph show?$
Act p08 F1.7(3) $What does the blue part in the graph show?$
Act p08 F1.7(4) $In which stages is the birth rate more than the death rate?$
Act p08 F1.7(5) $In which stages is the birth rate same as the death rate?$
Act p08 F1.7(6) $In which stage is the death rate more than birth rate?$
Act p09 UBP $In which stage of demographic transition do you think India is passing right now?$
Look at fig. 1.7, the Demographic Transition Theory graph, and answer :
Act p09 CYT(1) $If the crude birth rate is 7 and the crude death rate is 8 then which stage of demographic transition is the country in?$
Act p09 CYT(2) $If a country has crude death rate of 20 and crude birth rate of 24, then which stage of demographic transition is the country in?$

Physical / Human Factors	High Density	Low Density
1) Relief	Flat, Lowland e.g. Ganges plains	Mountainous area e.g. Himalayas
2) Climate	.........	.........
3) Availability of Resources	.........	.........
4) Economic	Business and financial centre. e.g. Tokyo	Low economic growth. e.g. Louisiania
5) Social	.........	.........
6) Government Policies	.........	.........
7) Cultural	.........	.........

Country	Crude BR (2017)	Crude DR (2017)
Sweden	11.5	9.1
India	18.1	7.2
Greece	8.2	11.6
China	12.4	7.1
USA	11.8	8.5
Niger	46.5	8.5

Sr. No.	Birth Rate	Death Rate	Effect on Population Growth
1	High	High	Stable / Low Increase
2	High	Decreasing	.........
3	High	Low	.........
4	Decreasing	Low	.........
5	Low	Low	.........

Act p10 Timeline

Find out in what multiples the world population has increased over the following timeline, and write down your findings. For example, in the initial phase, the population took 6 centuries (1000 to 1600 A.D.) to double itself. Year (A.D.) World population, approx. (in millions) 100025411003011200360130036014003501500425160055017006001800813190015501910175019201860193020701940230019502400196031001970370019804500199052002000630020107000

Year (A.D.)	World population, approx. (in millions)
1000	254
1100	301
1200	360
1300	360
1400	350
1500	425
1600	550
1700	600
1800	813
1900	1550
1910	1750
1920	1860
1930	2070
1940	2300
1950	2400
1960	3100
1970	3700
1980	4500
1990	5200
2000	6300
2010	7000

Exercise

20 q

Identify the correct correlation : A: Assertion; R : Reasoning
Ex Q1(1) $A : Areas which have fertile soil have dense population. R : Fertile soils are good for agriculture.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Ex Q1(2) $A : Population of a region does not change. R : Birth rate, death rate and migration affect the population of a region.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Ex Q1(3) $A : In stage 2, death rate reduces but birth rate is constant. R : The population increases rapidly in stage 2.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Write short notes on :
Ex Q2(1) $Impact of relief on population distribution.$
Ex Q2(2) $Correlation between birth rates and death rates.$
Ex Q2(3) $Stage 3 of Demographic Transition theory.$
Give geographical reasons :
Ex Q3(1) $India is passing through Stage 3 of demographic transition.$
Ex Q3(2) $Population distribution is uneven.$
Ex Q3(3) $Population increases because of transportation facilities.$
Ex Q3(4) $Secondary and tertiary activities increase in the third stage of demographic transition.$
Ex Q3(5) $Population may increase though birth rates are low.$
Ex Q3(6) $Population density is a function of population and area of a region.$
Answer in detail :
Ex Q4(1) $Explain the physical factors affecting distribution of population.$
Ex Q4(2) $In the first and fifth stage of the demographic transition, population growth is almost nil. What is the difference between the two stages then?$
Ex Q4(3) $Discuss the problems faced by countries in stage 4 and stage 5.$
Ex Q5 $Draw a neat labelled diagram for demographic transition theory and its various stages.$
On an outline map of the world, show the following with index :
Ex Q6(1) $Highly populated region in Australia.$
Ex Q6(2) $Sparsely populated region in India.$
Ex Q6(3) $Any 2 countries in stage 5 of Demographic Transition Theory.$
Ex Q6(4) $Any 2 countries in stage 2 of Demographic Transition Theory.$

What the board has asked from this chapter

Questions per paper · 3 papers · 2024 to 2026

June 2026

8 q

Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(1) $A country having highest density of population in Asia.$
Distribution and Density of Population
Q4(A)(7) $Snow covered continent in Southern hemisphere.$
Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Write short notes on (Any THREE) :
Q5(1) $Impact of climate on population distribution.$
Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Read the following passage and answer the questions given below : Development of the World Population The total number of people living on Earth has more than doubled since the 1950s, and continues to increase. The world population was around 7.38 billion people in 2015. A look at the development of the world population since the beginning of the Common Era shows that such a surge in numbers is unprecedented. The first significant rise in population ocurred during the 14th century, after the Black Death had killed approximately 25 million people worldwide. Subsequently, the global population increased slowly but steadily until it reached record numbers between 1950 and 2000. The majority of the global population lives on the Asian continent. In around 100 years, it is estimated that population levels on the African continent will have reached similar levels to those we see in Asia today. As for a forecast of the development of the world population, the figures are estimated to have reached more than 10 billion by the 22nd century. Growing population numbers pose an increasing risk to the planet, since rocketing numbers equal increased consumption of food and resources. Scientists worry that natural resources, such as oil, and food resources will become scarce, endangering the human race and, even more so, the world's ecosystem.
Q6(A)(1) $When did the first significant rise occur in the global population?$
Components of Population Change
Q6(A)(2) $Which continent supports the maximum population in the world?$
Components of Population Change
Q6(A)(3) $What would be the estimated world population by the 22nd century?$
Components of Population Change
Q6(A)(4) $Do you think the increasing population is a risk to the planet earth? Why?$
Components of Population Change
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(2) $Explain the Demographic Transition Theory.$
Demographic Transition Theory

March 2026

12 q

Complete the chain according to the co-relation of factors in column 'A', 'B' and 'C' :

No.	'A'	'B'	'C'
(1)	Making maps	(a) Delhi	(l) Niger
(2)	Administrative cities	(b) Pampas	(m) Small-Scale Industry
(3)	Grass-Land Region	(c) Observation	(n) Skills of Geographer
(4)	Toys	(d) Bangladesh	(o) New York
(5)	Population Explosion	(e) Paper Industry	(p) Argentina

Q1(A)(5)

Population Explosion

Demographic Transition Theory

Choose the correct option and complete the sentences :
Q1(B)(2) $Human factors affecting the distribution of population -$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Human Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Answer the following questions as per given instructions :
Q1(C)(4) $Identify a country passing through the 'late expanding stage' of Demographic Transition Model / Theory - (a) Germany (b) Sweden (c) Congo (d) China$
Demographic Transition Theory
Write True or False :
Q1(D)(2) $Migration is not a component of population change.$
Components of Population Change
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(2) $Himalaya mountain region have low population.$
Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(1) $Most populated city in India - Mumbai$
Distribution and Density of Population
Observe the pie-chart and answer the following : The pie-chart shows the percentage distribution of world population by continent (2019).
Continent Population (%)
Africa 16.96
Asia 59.65
North America 9.69
South America 8.40
Europe 4.75
Australia 0.55
Q4(B)(1) $Which continent has the highest population?$
Distribution and Density of Population
Q4(B)(2) $Which continent has 9.69 percent of total population of the world?$
Distribution and Density of Population
Q4(B)(3) $Which continent has the least population?$
Distribution and Density of Population
Q4(B)(4) $How many percent of population is in Europe?$
Distribution and Density of Population
Q4(B)(5) $Which continent is missing in this pie-chart? Why?$
Distribution and Density of Population
Write notes on the following (Any THREE) :
Q5(3) $Correlation between birth rate and death rate$
Birth Rate, Death Rate and Growth Rate

Continent	Population (%)
Africa	16.96
Asia	59.65
North America	9.69
South America	8.40
Europe	4.75
Australia	0.55

June 2025

8 q

Complete the chain according to the co-relation of factors in coloumn 'A', 'B' and 'C' :

No.	'A'	'B'	'C'
(1)	Ice covered region	(a) Capital of the country	(l) Harmful farming
(2)	Administrative city	(b) Artificial satellite	(m) Sparsely populated
(3)	Shifting agriculture	(c) Use of manpower	(n) Communication
(4)	Cottage industry	(d) Polar region	(o) Weavers
(5)	Global Positioning System (GPS)	(e) Small size of farm	(p) Tokyo

Q1(A)(1)

Ice covered region

Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution

Choose the correct option and complete the sentences.
Q1(B)(1) $Important component of population change :$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Components of Population Change
True or False :
Q1(C)(3) $Africa's Kalahari desert is the land of Eskimos.$
Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Do as directed :
Q1(D)(2) $Identify the incorrect factor : (a) Plains (b) Lakes (c) Plateaus (d) Mountains$
Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(1) $Climate affects the distribution of population.$
Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(2) $Demographic Transition Theory Stage 1 and Stage 5$
Demographic Transition Theory
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(1) $Lowest populated continent$
Distribution and Density of Population
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(1) $Explain the human factors affecting the distribution of population with suitable example.$
Human Factors Affecting Population Distribution

March 2025

7 q

Complete the chain and rewrite in your answer paper :

No.	'A'	'B'	'C'
(1)	Amazon River basin	(1) Manufacturing Activities	(1) Tata Iron and Steel Industries.
(2)	Constrictive Pyramid	(2) Commercial cattle rearing	(2) Low population density.
(3)	Industrial Region	(3) Individual	(3) Low birth rate and least death rate.
(4)	Pampas Grassland	(4) Dense equatorial Forest	(4) South America
(5)	Private	(5) More old age Population	(5) Availability of Employment

Q1(A)(1)

Amazon River basin

Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution

Do as directed: Choose the correct option and write.
Q1(B)(1) $Appalachian mountain region of U.S.A has dense population because-$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Identify the incorrect factor and write it :
Q1(D)(1) $Densely populated region due to mineral deposits - (a) Gold mine region of Australian desert. (b) Mineral oil region of South West Asia. (c) Mineral producing Chhota Nagpur region of India. (d) Prairie grassland region in North America.$
Human Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(1) $Thinly populated region of South America.$
Distribution and Density of Population
Q4(A)(2) $Show an African Country in second phase of demographic transition.$
Demographic Transition Theory
Q4(A)(8) $Siberian plateau$
Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Write short notes on the following (Any THREE) :
Q5(1) $Correlation between birth rate and death rate$
Birth Rate, Death Rate and Growth Rate

June 2024

7 q

Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(1) $Mountainous regions are sparsely populated.$
Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Distinguish between (Any THREE) :
Q3(3) $Crude birth rate and Crude death rate.$
Birth Rate, Death Rate and Growth Rate
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(1) $Country having the highest poulation in the World.$
Distribution and Density of Population
Q4(A)(7) $Largest desert in Africa.$
Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Q4(A)(8) $Sparsely populated snow covered island in North Atlantic ocean.$
Distribution and Density of Population
Draw neat and labelled diagrams (Any TWO) :
Q6(B)(2) $First and second stages of Demographic Transition Theory.$
Demographic Transition Theory
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(1) $Explain the human factors affecting distribution of population. Give suitable examples.$
Human Factors Affecting Population Distribution

March 2024

4 q

Complete the chain and rewrite in your answer paper :

No.	'A'	'B'	'C'
(1)	Consumer goods	(e) Atlantic ocean	(m) Pharmaceutical product
(2)	Panama canal	(f) Fertile region	(n) Ecological balance
(3)	Plain	(g) Ready for direct consumption	(o) Development of Agriculture
(4)	Food chain	(h) Short term	(p) Pacific ocean
(5)	Migration	(i) Ecosystem	(r) Arabian sea
		(j) Indian ocean	(s) Long term

Q1(A)(3)

Plain

Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution

Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(1) $Population distribution is uneven.$
Distribution and Density of Population
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(1) $Highly populated area in Australia.$
Distribution and Density of Population
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(1) $Explain the human factors affecting distribution of population.$
Human Factors Affecting Population Distribution

The 10 board questions to practise first

The questions and kinds of question the board asked most often come first. Each one says how often and when.

Question 1
This type asked 4 times: Mar 2024, Jun 2024, Mar 2025, Jun 2026. This one: Jun 2026 See all 4 of this type
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(1) $A country having highest density of population in Asia.$
Question 2
Asked 3 times: Mar 2024, Jun 2024, Jun 2025 See all 3 times it was asked
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(1) $Explain the human factors affecting the distribution of population with suitable example.$
Question 3
Asked 2 times: Jun 2025, Jun 2026 See all 2 times it was asked
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(7) $Snow covered continent in Southern hemisphere.$
Question 4
Asked 2 times: Mar 2025, Mar 2026 See all 2 times it was asked
Write notes on the following (Any THREE) :
Q5(3) $Correlation between birth rate and death rate$
Question 5
Asked 2 times: Jun 2024, Mar 2026 See all 2 times it was asked
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(2) $Himalaya mountain region have low population.$
Question 6
Asked 2 times: Jun 2024, Mar 2026 See all 2 times it was asked
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(1) $Most populated city in India - Mumbai$
Question 7
This type asked 2 times: Mar 2025, Mar 2026. This one: Mar 2026 See all 2 of this type
Answer the following questions as per given instructions :
Q1(C)(4) $Identify a country passing through the 'late expanding stage' of Demographic Transition Model / Theory - (a) Germany (b) Sweden (c) Congo (d) China$
Question 8
Asked once: Mar 2025 (same type asked 4 times) See all 4 of this type
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(1) $Thinly populated region of South America.$
Question 9
Asked once: Mar 2025 (same type asked 2 times) See all 2 of this type
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(2) $Show an African Country in second phase of demographic transition.$
Question 10
Asked once: Jun 2024 (same type asked 4 times) See all 4 of this type
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(1) $Country having the highest poulation in the World.$

Quick revision

7 most-asked questions · 13 key points · 4 formulas · 5 derivations · 3 diagrams

Checked against Balbharati Geography Std XII (Maharashtra State Board), Chapter 1.

Most asked in board papers

1
Map: mark densely and sparsely populated places on a world outline map
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
2
Read the continent pie charts: highest, lowest, Europe's share, the missing continent
Asked 2 times: 2026, 2025
3
Give reasons: physical factors (relief, climate) make distribution uneven
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
4
Explain the human factors affecting distribution of population, with examples
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
5
Demographic transition theory: the stages, countries in each, population explosion
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
6
Components of population change; birth rate and death rate and their correlation
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
7
World population growth over time, read from a given graph
Asked in 2026

Must-know points

Population Geography: A branch of Human Geography. It studies human population and its distribution and pattern on the earth's surface, its qualitative and quantitative composition, and how population influences the economy and development of a region.
Population distribution: The way people are spaced over the earth's surface. Human population is unevenly distributed throughout the world, and so is population density.
Population by continent (pie chart, 2019): World population about 7.7 billion. Asia 59.65%, Africa 16.96%, Europe 9.69%, South America 8.40%, North America 4.75%, Australia 0.55%. Antarctica (about 9% of the land) is missing from the population chart: it has no permanent human settlements.
Population density: The number of people living in a unit area: total population divided by total area in sq. km. It is a function of the population and the area of a region.
Population growth (population change): The change in number of inhabitants of a territory during a specific period of time. It may be positive (growth) or negative (decline), in absolute numbers or as a percentage. It is an important indicator of economic development.
Components of population change: There are three: births, deaths and migration. Population grows not only by a rising birth rate but also by a falling death rate.
Crude birth rate (CBR): The number of live births in a year per thousand of population.
Crude death rate (CDR): The number of deaths in a particular year per thousand of population, in a particular region.
Why the rates are called crude: They ignore the age structure of the population: they do not take into account the age group that is actually able to give birth.
Demographic transition theory: Based on the population trends of a country with time: a country passes through different stages of population growth, and may take several years to pass through a stage. Birth and death rates change with economic development.
Population explosion: Stage 2 (early expanding) of the theory: the death rate falls with medical care but the birth rate stays high, so the population grows rapidly. It has the highest growth rate of all stages.
Population composition: All the characteristics of a population that can be measured: rural and urban residence, age, marital status, sex ratio, etc.
Population structure: The overall picture we get by studying the composition of the population, e.g. the percentage of children, young and aged. It gives an idea of the dependency ratio and its effect on the economy.

Formulas

Density of population

\text{Density} = \frac{\text{Total population}}{\text{Total area (in sq. km)}}

Crude birth rate

\text{CBR} = \frac{\text{Live births in a year}}{\text{Total population in that year}} \times 1000

Crude death rate

\text{CDR} = \frac{\text{Deaths in a year}}{\text{Total population in that year}} \times 1000

Population growth and growth rate

\begin{gathered}\text{Growth} = \text{Present} - \text{Earlier population} \\ \text{Growth rate} = \frac{\text{Growth}}{\text{Earlier population}} \times 100\end{gathered}

Derivations

Try each one first, then open its outline.

Explain the physical factors affecting distribution of population

Relief: flat plains and gentle slopes are dense (crops, roads, industry easy), e.g. Ganga plains. Mountains and plateaus are sparse, e.g. Himalayas, except where there is livelihood (Dehradun, Leh).
Climate: extreme heat, cold or very heavy rain repel people; equable climates attract them (Mediterranean). Amazon and Congo basins are sparse; only Eskimos and Lapps live in the cold.
Availability of water: the most important factor, so river valleys and coasts are dense, e.g. Nile valley, coastal plains of India; in deserts people live near oases (Phalodi, Al-Ahsa).
Soils: fertile loamy and alluvial soils support intensive agriculture: flood plains of the Mississippi, Ganga, Irrawaddy, Yangtze; black soil areas; volcanic slopes of Java, Japan, Sicily.

Explain the human factors affecting distribution of population, with examples

Agriculture: fertilisers and irrigation raise production and support more people; type of farming and crops matter (rice-growing regions are dense).
Mining: minerals attract industries and workers: Katanga copper belt, Chota Nagpur Plateau, Appalachians (USA), Manchuria. Gold in the Australian desert and oil in South-West Asia draw people despite odd conditions.
Transportation: roads and highways make a region accessible and raise density (Ambegaon Budruk, Pune); sea trade built port cities, so coasts of India and the USA are dense.
Urbanisation: industries create towns; cities offer jobs, education, health care and transport, giving continuous urban belts, e.g. Greater Mumbai.
Government policies: a government may populate an area (incentives in Siberia) or depopulate it (Japan paying people to leave Tokyo).

Explain the demographic transition theory and its stages

Stage 1, high stationary: high birth and death rates, stable population; agrarian, poor sanitation and medical care. No country is in this stage now.
Stage 2, early expanding: death rate falls with medical care, birth rate stays high: rapid growth (population explosion). E.g. Congo, Bangladesh, Uganda, Niger.
Stage 3, late expanding: both rates fall but birth rate stays above death rate, so the population still grows; incomes, education and family planning rise. E.g. China, India.
Stage 4, low stationary: both rates low and almost equal, minimal growth; very high standard of living, secondary and tertiary activities dominate. E.g. USA.
Stage 5, declining: birth rate very low, at or below the death rate; growth minimal or negative, few children, many elderly. E.g. Sweden, Finland.

Difference between stage 1 and stage 5 (population growth almost nil in both)

Stage 1: birth rate and death rate are both high; families big, economy agrarian, poor health care and high disease.
Stage 5: birth rate is very low and equals or falls below a low death rate; very high standard of living, tertiary economy, many elderly.
So growth is nil in both, but stage 1 is underdevelopment and stage 5 is a developed, ageing population.

Correlation between birth rates and death rates

Birth rates and death rates together decide growth or decline of a population.
High birth rate, high death rate: population stable or a low increase (stage 1).
High birth rate, falling or low death rate: rapid increase (stages 2 and 3).
Low birth rate, low death rate: minimal growth (stage 4); birth rate below death rate: decline (stage 5).

Diagrams to practise

Demographic transition theory graph (Fig 1.7): label five stages named across the top · birth rate line · death rate line · total population line · natural increase shaded · natural decrease in stage 5 · y axis: rates per 1000 people · x axis: time
Pie charts: land and population by continent (Fig 1.1): label Asia: most land and most people · Australia: least land and least people · Antarctica: land but no population · percentages for each continent
World outline map: population distribution (Fig 1.2): label dense: Ganga plains, Bangladesh, China · dense: Mumbai, Nile valley, Western Europe · dense: south-east coast of Australia · sparse: Amazon basin, Sahara · sparse: Siberia, Greenland, Antarctica · sparse: Himalayas

Mistakes that cost marks

Leaving out migration

Population change has three components: births, deaths and migration. "Migration is not a component of population change" is a wrong statement.

Per hundred instead of per thousand

CBR and CDR are per 1000 of population. The growth rate is a percentage: growth divided by the earlier population, times 100.

Mixing up stage 1 and stage 5

Both have almost nil growth. Stage 1 has high birth and death rates; stage 5 has a very low birth rate at or below the death rate. No country is in stage 1 today.

Wrong country for a stage

Stage 2: Congo, Bangladesh, Uganda, Niger. Stage 3: China (and India). Stage 4: USA. Stage 5: Sweden, Finland. A late expanding country is China, not Sweden or Congo.

Calling every mountain or desert empty

Livelihood can concentrate people anyway: Dehradun and Leh in mountains, oases in deserts, gold mines in the Australian desert, coal and iron in the Appalachians.

Reading Europe from the prose

When the question gives the pie chart, answer from it: Europe holds 9.69% of the world's population (2019), Africa 16.96%, Australia 0.55%.

Ebooks Tutor

Geography · Textbook solutions

Population: Part 1

Every textbook question in book order, plus the board's past questions. · 48 questions

Chapter activities

28 q

Try this / Give it a try / Can you tell?

Practice · 28

Observe the pie-charts shown in Fig 1.1 carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Act p00 F1.1(1) $Which continent has the least population?$
Act p00 F1.1(2) $Which continent has the least landmass and also the least population?$
Act p00 F1.1(3) $Which continent has the most landmass as well as most of the population?$
Act p00 F1.1(4) $Which continent is missing in one of the pie charts? Why?$

Act p00 T1.1

Table 1.1 shows the 10 most populated countries in the world in 2018 with their areas. Calculate their population densities and complete the table. Table 1.1 Rank Country Population in Crores (2018) Approx. Area (in lakh sq.km.) Population Density 1 China 142.8 96.0 ......... 2 India 135.3 32.9 ......... 3 United States of America (USA) 32.7 95.3 ......... 4 Indonesia 26.8 19.1 ......... 5 Pakistan 21.2 8.9 ......... 6 Brazil 20.9 85.2 ......... 7 Nigeria 19.6 9.2 ......... 8 Bangladesh 16.1 1.5 ......... 9 Russia 14.6 171.0 ......... 10 Mexico 12.6 19.7 .........

Rank	Country	Population in Crores (2018)	Approx. Area (in lakh sq.km.)	Population Density
1	China	142.8	96.0	.........
2	India	135.3	32.9	.........
3	United States of America (USA)	32.7	95.3	.........
4	Indonesia	26.8	19.1	.........
5	Pakistan	21.2	8.9	.........
6	Brazil	20.9	85.2	.........
7	Nigeria	19.6	9.2	.........
8	Bangladesh	16.1	1.5	.........
9	Russia	14.6	171.0	.........
10	Mexico	12.6	19.7	.........

Act p02 T1.2

Compare the world population distribution map with the physical map of the world, and complete the table showing the impact of physical factors on population distribution. One has been done for you as an example. Table 1.2 Continent Physical Factors Responsible for High Population Physical Factors Responsible for Less or No Population North America Coastal areas Forests, desert, snow-covered land Asia ......... ......... Africa ......... ......... South America ......... ......... Europe ......... ......... Australia ......... .........

Act p02 CYT $Can you think of the factors besides physiography which affect the distribution of population? Make a list.$

Continent	Physical Factors Responsible for High Population	Physical Factors Responsible for Less or No Population
North America	Coastal areas	Forests, desert, snow-covered land
Asia	.........	.........
Africa	.........	.........
South America	.........	.........
Europe	.........	.........
Australia	.........	.........

Act p03 T1.3

Here are some physical and human factors affecting the distribution of population. Fill in suitable examples of countries or regions in the table. Two examples have been solved for your convenience. Table 1.3 Physical / Human Factors High Density Low Density 1) Relief Flat, Lowland e.g. Ganges plains Mountainous area e.g. Himalayas 2) Climate ......... ......... 3) Availability of Resources ......... ......... 4) Economic Business and financial centre. e.g. Tokyo Low economic growth. e.g. Louisiania 5) Social ......... ......... 6) Government Policies ......... ......... 7) Cultural ......... .........

Look at the satellite images given in Fig. 1.5. They show the same area from two different periods.
Act p05 F1.5(1) $What difference do you see between the two images?$
Act p05 F1.5(2) $What might have caused these changes?$
Look at the fig. 1.6 and answer the questions that follow :
Act p06 F1.6(1) $What does the image show?$
Act p06 F1.6(2) $What happens to the population when deaths are more than births?$
Act p06 F1.6(3) $What happens to the population when births are more than deaths?$
Act p06 F1.6(4) $What happens when both are same? Is it possible?$
In 2019 there were 3,250 births in a city with a population of 2,23,000, so its crude birth rate was 14.57 per thousand. In the same year the total number of deaths in that city was 2,986.
Act p07 CDR(1) $Can you calculate the death rate in the above example?$
Act p07 CDR(2) $On the basis of the Birth Rate given earlier and the Death Rate calculated by you, what change in population do you observe?$
Act p07 T1.4 $Observe the table 1.4. Arrange the data in ascending order for birth rates and death rates respectively. Table 1.4 Country Crude BR (2017) Crude DR (2017) Sweden 11.5 9.1 India 18.1 7.2 Greece 8.2 11.6 China 12.4 7.1 USA 11.8 8.5 Niger 46.5 8.5$
Act p07 T1.5 $Birth rates and death rates determine the growth or decline in the population. Complete the table, where different combinations of Birth Rates and Death Rates are given. One has been done for you as an example. Table 1.5 Sr. No. Birth Rate Death Rate Effect on Population Growth 1 High High Stable / Low Increase 2 High Decreasing ......... 3 High Low ......... 4 Decreasing Low ......... 5 Low Low .........$
Look at the graph in Fig 1.7 carefully. Answer the following questions :
Act p08 F1.7(1) $What do the blue and the black lines show?$
Act p08 F1.7(2) $What does the green part in the graph show?$
Act p08 F1.7(3) $What does the blue part in the graph show?$
Act p08 F1.7(4) $In which stages is the birth rate more than the death rate?$
Act p08 F1.7(5) $In which stages is the birth rate same as the death rate?$
Act p08 F1.7(6) $In which stage is the death rate more than birth rate?$
Act p09 UBP $In which stage of demographic transition do you think India is passing right now?$
Look at fig. 1.7, the Demographic Transition Theory graph, and answer :
Act p09 CYT(1) $If the crude birth rate is 7 and the crude death rate is 8 then which stage of demographic transition is the country in?$
Act p09 CYT(2) $If a country has crude death rate of 20 and crude birth rate of 24, then which stage of demographic transition is the country in?$

Physical / Human Factors	High Density	Low Density
1) Relief	Flat, Lowland e.g. Ganges plains	Mountainous area e.g. Himalayas
2) Climate	.........	.........
3) Availability of Resources	.........	.........
4) Economic	Business and financial centre. e.g. Tokyo	Low economic growth. e.g. Louisiania
5) Social	.........	.........
6) Government Policies	.........	.........
7) Cultural	.........	.........

Country	Crude BR (2017)	Crude DR (2017)
Sweden	11.5	9.1
India	18.1	7.2
Greece	8.2	11.6
China	12.4	7.1
USA	11.8	8.5
Niger	46.5	8.5

Sr. No.	Birth Rate	Death Rate	Effect on Population Growth
1	High	High	Stable / Low Increase
2	High	Decreasing	.........
3	High	Low	.........
4	Decreasing	Low	.........
5	Low	Low	.........

Act p10 Timeline

Find out in what multiples the world population has increased over the following timeline, and write down your findings. For example, in the initial phase, the population took 6 centuries (1000 to 1600 A.D.) to double itself. Year (A.D.) World population, approx. (in millions) 100025411003011200360130036014003501500425160055017006001800813190015501910175019201860193020701940230019502400196031001970370019804500199052002000630020107000

Year (A.D.)	World population, approx. (in millions)
1000	254
1100	301
1200	360
1300	360
1400	350
1500	425
1600	550
1700	600
1800	813
1900	1550
1910	1750
1920	1860
1930	2070
1940	2300
1950	2400
1960	3100
1970	3700
1980	4500
1990	5200
2000	6300
2010	7000

Exercise

20 q

Identify the correct correlation : A: Assertion; R : Reasoning
Ex Q1(1) $A : Areas which have fertile soil have dense population. R : Fertile soils are good for agriculture.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Ex Q1(2) $A : Population of a region does not change. R : Birth rate, death rate and migration affect the population of a region.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Ex Q1(3) $A : In stage 2, death rate reduces but birth rate is constant. R : The population increases rapidly in stage 2.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Write short notes on :
Ex Q2(1) $Impact of relief on population distribution.$
Ex Q2(2) $Correlation between birth rates and death rates.$
Ex Q2(3) $Stage 3 of Demographic Transition theory.$
Give geographical reasons :
Ex Q3(1) $India is passing through Stage 3 of demographic transition.$
Ex Q3(2) $Population distribution is uneven.$
Ex Q3(3) $Population increases because of transportation facilities.$
Ex Q3(4) $Secondary and tertiary activities increase in the third stage of demographic transition.$
Ex Q3(5) $Population may increase though birth rates are low.$
Ex Q3(6) $Population density is a function of population and area of a region.$
Answer in detail :
Ex Q4(1) $Explain the physical factors affecting distribution of population.$
Ex Q4(2) $In the first and fifth stage of the demographic transition, population growth is almost nil. What is the difference between the two stages then?$
Ex Q4(3) $Discuss the problems faced by countries in stage 4 and stage 5.$
Ex Q5 $Draw a neat labelled diagram for demographic transition theory and its various stages.$
On an outline map of the world, show the following with index :
Ex Q6(1) $Highly populated region in Australia.$
Ex Q6(2) $Sparsely populated region in India.$
Ex Q6(3) $Any 2 countries in stage 5 of Demographic Transition Theory.$
Ex Q6(4) $Any 2 countries in stage 2 of Demographic Transition Theory.$

What the board has asked from this chapter

Questions per paper · 3 papers · 2024 to 2026

June 2026

8 q

Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(1) $A country having highest density of population in Asia.$
Distribution and Density of Population
Q4(A)(7) $Snow covered continent in Southern hemisphere.$
Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Write short notes on (Any THREE) :
Q5(1) $Impact of climate on population distribution.$
Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Read the following passage and answer the questions given below : Development of the World Population The total number of people living on Earth has more than doubled since the 1950s, and continues to increase. The world population was around 7.38 billion people in 2015. A look at the development of the world population since the beginning of the Common Era shows that such a surge in numbers is unprecedented. The first significant rise in population ocurred during the 14th century, after the Black Death had killed approximately 25 million people worldwide. Subsequently, the global population increased slowly but steadily until it reached record numbers between 1950 and 2000. The majority of the global population lives on the Asian continent. In around 100 years, it is estimated that population levels on the African continent will have reached similar levels to those we see in Asia today. As for a forecast of the development of the world population, the figures are estimated to have reached more than 10 billion by the 22nd century. Growing population numbers pose an increasing risk to the planet, since rocketing numbers equal increased consumption of food and resources. Scientists worry that natural resources, such as oil, and food resources will become scarce, endangering the human race and, even more so, the world's ecosystem.
Q6(A)(1) $When did the first significant rise occur in the global population?$
Components of Population Change
Q6(A)(2) $Which continent supports the maximum population in the world?$
Components of Population Change
Q6(A)(3) $What would be the estimated world population by the 22nd century?$
Components of Population Change
Q6(A)(4) $Do you think the increasing population is a risk to the planet earth? Why?$
Components of Population Change
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(2) $Explain the Demographic Transition Theory.$
Demographic Transition Theory

March 2026

12 q

Complete the chain according to the co-relation of factors in column 'A', 'B' and 'C' :

No.	'A'	'B'	'C'
(1)	Making maps	(a) Delhi	(l) Niger
(2)	Administrative cities	(b) Pampas	(m) Small-Scale Industry
(3)	Grass-Land Region	(c) Observation	(n) Skills of Geographer
(4)	Toys	(d) Bangladesh	(o) New York
(5)	Population Explosion	(e) Paper Industry	(p) Argentina

Q1(A)(5)

Population Explosion

Demographic Transition Theory

Choose the correct option and complete the sentences :
Q1(B)(2) $Human factors affecting the distribution of population -$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Human Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Answer the following questions as per given instructions :
Q1(C)(4) $Identify a country passing through the 'late expanding stage' of Demographic Transition Model / Theory - (a) Germany (b) Sweden (c) Congo (d) China$
Demographic Transition Theory
Write True or False :
Q1(D)(2) $Migration is not a component of population change.$
Components of Population Change
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(2) $Himalaya mountain region have low population.$
Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(1) $Most populated city in India - Mumbai$
Distribution and Density of Population
Observe the pie-chart and answer the following : The pie-chart shows the percentage distribution of world population by continent (2019).
Continent Population (%)
Africa 16.96
Asia 59.65
North America 9.69
South America 8.40
Europe 4.75
Australia 0.55
Q4(B)(1) $Which continent has the highest population?$
Distribution and Density of Population
Q4(B)(2) $Which continent has 9.69 percent of total population of the world?$
Distribution and Density of Population
Q4(B)(3) $Which continent has the least population?$
Distribution and Density of Population
Q4(B)(4) $How many percent of population is in Europe?$
Distribution and Density of Population
Q4(B)(5) $Which continent is missing in this pie-chart? Why?$
Distribution and Density of Population
Write notes on the following (Any THREE) :
Q5(3) $Correlation between birth rate and death rate$
Birth Rate, Death Rate and Growth Rate

Continent	Population (%)
Africa	16.96
Asia	59.65
North America	9.69
South America	8.40
Europe	4.75
Australia	0.55

June 2025

8 q

Complete the chain according to the co-relation of factors in coloumn 'A', 'B' and 'C' :

No.	'A'	'B'	'C'
(1)	Ice covered region	(a) Capital of the country	(l) Harmful farming
(2)	Administrative city	(b) Artificial satellite	(m) Sparsely populated
(3)	Shifting agriculture	(c) Use of manpower	(n) Communication
(4)	Cottage industry	(d) Polar region	(o) Weavers
(5)	Global Positioning System (GPS)	(e) Small size of farm	(p) Tokyo

Q1(A)(1)

Ice covered region

Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution

Choose the correct option and complete the sentences.
Q1(B)(1) $Important component of population change :$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Components of Population Change
True or False :
Q1(C)(3) $Africa's Kalahari desert is the land of Eskimos.$
Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Do as directed :
Q1(D)(2) $Identify the incorrect factor : (a) Plains (b) Lakes (c) Plateaus (d) Mountains$
Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(1) $Climate affects the distribution of population.$
Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(2) $Demographic Transition Theory Stage 1 and Stage 5$
Demographic Transition Theory
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(1) $Lowest populated continent$
Distribution and Density of Population
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(1) $Explain the human factors affecting the distribution of population with suitable example.$
Human Factors Affecting Population Distribution

March 2025

7 q

Complete the chain and rewrite in your answer paper :

No.	'A'	'B'	'C'
(1)	Amazon River basin	(1) Manufacturing Activities	(1) Tata Iron and Steel Industries.
(2)	Constrictive Pyramid	(2) Commercial cattle rearing	(2) Low population density.
(3)	Industrial Region	(3) Individual	(3) Low birth rate and least death rate.
(4)	Pampas Grassland	(4) Dense equatorial Forest	(4) South America
(5)	Private	(5) More old age Population	(5) Availability of Employment

Q1(A)(1)

Amazon River basin

Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution

Do as directed: Choose the correct option and write.
Q1(B)(1) $Appalachian mountain region of U.S.A has dense population because-$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Identify the incorrect factor and write it :
Q1(D)(1) $Densely populated region due to mineral deposits - (a) Gold mine region of Australian desert. (b) Mineral oil region of South West Asia. (c) Mineral producing Chhota Nagpur region of India. (d) Prairie grassland region in North America.$
Human Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(1) $Thinly populated region of South America.$
Distribution and Density of Population
Q4(A)(2) $Show an African Country in second phase of demographic transition.$
Demographic Transition Theory
Q4(A)(8) $Siberian plateau$
Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Write short notes on the following (Any THREE) :
Q5(1) $Correlation between birth rate and death rate$
Birth Rate, Death Rate and Growth Rate

June 2024

7 q

Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(1) $Mountainous regions are sparsely populated.$
Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Distinguish between (Any THREE) :
Q3(3) $Crude birth rate and Crude death rate.$
Birth Rate, Death Rate and Growth Rate
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(1) $Country having the highest poulation in the World.$
Distribution and Density of Population
Q4(A)(7) $Largest desert in Africa.$
Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution
Q4(A)(8) $Sparsely populated snow covered island in North Atlantic ocean.$
Distribution and Density of Population
Draw neat and labelled diagrams (Any TWO) :
Q6(B)(2) $First and second stages of Demographic Transition Theory.$
Demographic Transition Theory
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(1) $Explain the human factors affecting distribution of population. Give suitable examples.$
Human Factors Affecting Population Distribution

March 2024

4 q

Complete the chain and rewrite in your answer paper :

No.	'A'	'B'	'C'
(1)	Consumer goods	(e) Atlantic ocean	(m) Pharmaceutical product
(2)	Panama canal	(f) Fertile region	(n) Ecological balance
(3)	Plain	(g) Ready for direct consumption	(o) Development of Agriculture
(4)	Food chain	(h) Short term	(p) Pacific ocean
(5)	Migration	(i) Ecosystem	(r) Arabian sea
		(j) Indian ocean	(s) Long term

Q1(A)(3)

Plain

Physical Factors Affecting Population Distribution

Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(1) $Population distribution is uneven.$
Distribution and Density of Population
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(1) $Highly populated area in Australia.$
Distribution and Density of Population
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(1) $Explain the human factors affecting distribution of population.$
Human Factors Affecting Population Distribution

The 10 board questions to practise first

The questions and kinds of question the board asked most often come first. Each one says how often and when.

Question 1
This type asked 4 times: Mar 2024, Jun 2024, Mar 2025, Jun 2026. This one: Jun 2026 See all 4 of this type
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(1) $A country having highest density of population in Asia.$
Question 2
Asked 3 times: Mar 2024, Jun 2024, Jun 2025 See all 3 times it was asked
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(1) $Explain the human factors affecting the distribution of population with suitable example.$
Question 3
Asked 2 times: Jun 2025, Jun 2026 See all 2 times it was asked
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(7) $Snow covered continent in Southern hemisphere.$
Question 4
Asked 2 times: Mar 2025, Mar 2026 See all 2 times it was asked
Write notes on the following (Any THREE) :
Q5(3) $Correlation between birth rate and death rate$
Question 5
Asked 2 times: Jun 2024, Mar 2026 See all 2 times it was asked
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(2) $Himalaya mountain region have low population.$
Question 6
Asked 2 times: Jun 2024, Mar 2026 See all 2 times it was asked
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(1) $Most populated city in India - Mumbai$
Question 7
This type asked 2 times: Mar 2025, Mar 2026. This one: Mar 2026 See all 2 of this type
Answer the following questions as per given instructions :
Q1(C)(4) $Identify a country passing through the 'late expanding stage' of Demographic Transition Model / Theory - (a) Germany (b) Sweden (c) Congo (d) China$
Question 8
Asked once: Mar 2025 (same type asked 4 times) See all 4 of this type
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(1) $Thinly populated region of South America.$
Question 9
Asked once: Mar 2025 (same type asked 2 times) See all 2 of this type
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(2) $Show an African Country in second phase of demographic transition.$
Question 10
Asked once: Jun 2024 (same type asked 4 times) See all 4 of this type
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(1) $Country having the highest poulation in the World.$

Quick revision

7 most-asked questions · 13 key points · 4 formulas · 5 derivations · 3 diagrams

Checked against Balbharati Geography Std XII (Maharashtra State Board), Chapter 1.

Most asked in board papers

1
Map: mark densely and sparsely populated places on a world outline map
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
2
Read the continent pie charts: highest, lowest, Europe's share, the missing continent
Asked 2 times: 2026, 2025
3
Give reasons: physical factors (relief, climate) make distribution uneven
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
4
Explain the human factors affecting distribution of population, with examples
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
5
Demographic transition theory: the stages, countries in each, population explosion
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
6
Components of population change; birth rate and death rate and their correlation
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
7
World population growth over time, read from a given graph
Asked in 2026

Must-know points

Population Geography: A branch of Human Geography. It studies human population and its distribution and pattern on the earth's surface, its qualitative and quantitative composition, and how population influences the economy and development of a region.
Population distribution: The way people are spaced over the earth's surface. Human population is unevenly distributed throughout the world, and so is population density.
Population by continent (pie chart, 2019): World population about 7.7 billion. Asia 59.65%, Africa 16.96%, Europe 9.69%, South America 8.40%, North America 4.75%, Australia 0.55%. Antarctica (about 9% of the land) is missing from the population chart: it has no permanent human settlements.
Population density: The number of people living in a unit area: total population divided by total area in sq. km. It is a function of the population and the area of a region.
Population growth (population change): The change in number of inhabitants of a territory during a specific period of time. It may be positive (growth) or negative (decline), in absolute numbers or as a percentage. It is an important indicator of economic development.
Components of population change: There are three: births, deaths and migration. Population grows not only by a rising birth rate but also by a falling death rate.
Crude birth rate (CBR): The number of live births in a year per thousand of population.
Crude death rate (CDR): The number of deaths in a particular year per thousand of population, in a particular region.
Why the rates are called crude: They ignore the age structure of the population: they do not take into account the age group that is actually able to give birth.
Demographic transition theory: Based on the population trends of a country with time: a country passes through different stages of population growth, and may take several years to pass through a stage. Birth and death rates change with economic development.
Population explosion: Stage 2 (early expanding) of the theory: the death rate falls with medical care but the birth rate stays high, so the population grows rapidly. It has the highest growth rate of all stages.
Population composition: All the characteristics of a population that can be measured: rural and urban residence, age, marital status, sex ratio, etc.
Population structure: The overall picture we get by studying the composition of the population, e.g. the percentage of children, young and aged. It gives an idea of the dependency ratio and its effect on the economy.

Formulas

Density of population

\text{Density} = \frac{\text{Total population}}{\text{Total area (in sq. km)}}

Crude birth rate

\text{CBR} = \frac{\text{Live births in a year}}{\text{Total population in that year}} \times 1000

Crude death rate

\text{CDR} = \frac{\text{Deaths in a year}}{\text{Total population in that year}} \times 1000

Population growth and growth rate

\begin{gathered}\text{Growth} = \text{Present} - \text{Earlier population} \\ \text{Growth rate} = \frac{\text{Growth}}{\text{Earlier population}} \times 100\end{gathered}

Derivations

Try each one first, then open its outline.

Explain the physical factors affecting distribution of population

Relief: flat plains and gentle slopes are dense (crops, roads, industry easy), e.g. Ganga plains. Mountains and plateaus are sparse, e.g. Himalayas, except where there is livelihood (Dehradun, Leh).
Climate: extreme heat, cold or very heavy rain repel people; equable climates attract them (Mediterranean). Amazon and Congo basins are sparse; only Eskimos and Lapps live in the cold.
Availability of water: the most important factor, so river valleys and coasts are dense, e.g. Nile valley, coastal plains of India; in deserts people live near oases (Phalodi, Al-Ahsa).
Soils: fertile loamy and alluvial soils support intensive agriculture: flood plains of the Mississippi, Ganga, Irrawaddy, Yangtze; black soil areas; volcanic slopes of Java, Japan, Sicily.

Explain the human factors affecting distribution of population, with examples

Agriculture: fertilisers and irrigation raise production and support more people; type of farming and crops matter (rice-growing regions are dense).
Mining: minerals attract industries and workers: Katanga copper belt, Chota Nagpur Plateau, Appalachians (USA), Manchuria. Gold in the Australian desert and oil in South-West Asia draw people despite odd conditions.
Transportation: roads and highways make a region accessible and raise density (Ambegaon Budruk, Pune); sea trade built port cities, so coasts of India and the USA are dense.
Urbanisation: industries create towns; cities offer jobs, education, health care and transport, giving continuous urban belts, e.g. Greater Mumbai.
Government policies: a government may populate an area (incentives in Siberia) or depopulate it (Japan paying people to leave Tokyo).

Explain the demographic transition theory and its stages

Stage 1, high stationary: high birth and death rates, stable population; agrarian, poor sanitation and medical care. No country is in this stage now.
Stage 2, early expanding: death rate falls with medical care, birth rate stays high: rapid growth (population explosion). E.g. Congo, Bangladesh, Uganda, Niger.
Stage 3, late expanding: both rates fall but birth rate stays above death rate, so the population still grows; incomes, education and family planning rise. E.g. China, India.
Stage 4, low stationary: both rates low and almost equal, minimal growth; very high standard of living, secondary and tertiary activities dominate. E.g. USA.
Stage 5, declining: birth rate very low, at or below the death rate; growth minimal or negative, few children, many elderly. E.g. Sweden, Finland.

Difference between stage 1 and stage 5 (population growth almost nil in both)

Stage 1: birth rate and death rate are both high; families big, economy agrarian, poor health care and high disease.
Stage 5: birth rate is very low and equals or falls below a low death rate; very high standard of living, tertiary economy, many elderly.
So growth is nil in both, but stage 1 is underdevelopment and stage 5 is a developed, ageing population.

Correlation between birth rates and death rates

Birth rates and death rates together decide growth or decline of a population.
High birth rate, high death rate: population stable or a low increase (stage 1).
High birth rate, falling or low death rate: rapid increase (stages 2 and 3).
Low birth rate, low death rate: minimal growth (stage 4); birth rate below death rate: decline (stage 5).

Diagrams to practise

Demographic transition theory graph (Fig 1.7): label five stages named across the top · birth rate line · death rate line · total population line · natural increase shaded · natural decrease in stage 5 · y axis: rates per 1000 people · x axis: time
Pie charts: land and population by continent (Fig 1.1): label Asia: most land and most people · Australia: least land and least people · Antarctica: land but no population · percentages for each continent
World outline map: population distribution (Fig 1.2): label dense: Ganga plains, Bangladesh, China · dense: Mumbai, Nile valley, Western Europe · dense: south-east coast of Australia · sparse: Amazon basin, Sahara · sparse: Siberia, Greenland, Antarctica · sparse: Himalayas

Mistakes that cost marks

Leaving out migration

Population change has three components: births, deaths and migration. "Migration is not a component of population change" is a wrong statement.

Per hundred instead of per thousand

CBR and CDR are per 1000 of population. The growth rate is a percentage: growth divided by the earlier population, times 100.

Mixing up stage 1 and stage 5

Both have almost nil growth. Stage 1 has high birth and death rates; stage 5 has a very low birth rate at or below the death rate. No country is in stage 1 today.

Wrong country for a stage

Stage 2: Congo, Bangladesh, Uganda, Niger. Stage 3: China (and India). Stage 4: USA. Stage 5: Sweden, Finland. A late expanding country is China, not Sweden or Congo.

Calling every mountain or desert empty

Livelihood can concentrate people anyway: Dehradun and Leh in mountains, oases in deserts, gold mines in the Australian desert, coal and iron in the Appalachians.

Reading Europe from the prose

When the question gives the pie chart, answer from it: Europe holds 9.69% of the world's population (2019), Africa 16.96%, Australia 0.55%.

Chapter activities

Try this / Give it a try / Can you tell?

Exercise

What the board has asked from this chapter

June 2026

March 2026

June 2025

March 2025

June 2024

March 2024

The 10 board questions to practise first

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Most asked in board papers

Must-know points

Formulas

Derivations

Diagrams to practise

Mistakes that cost marks

Chapter activities

Try this / Give it a try / Can you tell?

Exercise

What the board has asked from this chapter

June 2026

March 2026

June 2025

March 2025

June 2024

March 2024

The 10 board questions to practise first

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Most asked in board papers

Must-know points

Formulas

Derivations

Diagrams to practise

Mistakes that cost marks