Definition of Population Density

The concept of density of population is part of the terminology of demography, a discipline which, in turn, belongs to the human geography. Demography studies everything concerning populations and a relevant aspect is precisely population density. It is a numerical value that establishes the number of inhabitants based on the area of ​​a territory determined, which is normally measured in inhabitants per square kilometer.

What does population density mean

When we consult the data of a country, a series of relevant data appears that allows us to have a approximate idea about its social reality (population, extension, borders, kilometers of coastline, languages, etc.). The number of inhabitants / square kilometer is more than just a numerical value, since it represents a basic aspect of the population of a country and it is worth mentioning why this data is important: 1) it allows knowing the relative population of a country, that is, the proportion between its extension and the number of people who inhabit, 2) the population density is related to the idiosyncrasy of a

nation (predominance of the urban over the rural, politics birth rate and a whole series of factors associates) and 3) the number of people in a given extension is a condition of the economy and of social life in general.

Significant data

Some territories have a very high population density rate. This phenomenon exists in some Asian urban centers, in city-states such as Monaco or the Vatican and in countries such as Israel, Rwanda or El Salvador. However, there are countries with a high population but a low density (for example, the United States, Mexico or Brazil). To give us a general idea, there are three data that can be enlightening: the population density on Earth is 14 inhabitants / square kilometer, the city of Manila exceeds 40,000 inhabitants / square km and Mongolia has 2 inhabitants / km square. As a general guideline, coastal areas are highly inhabited and inland areas are reducing their population.

Implications of a high population density

The implications are very diverse. From a social point of view, thousands of people living together in one square kilometer entails a series of drawbacks:

1) potential problems coexistence,
2) difficulties in road traffic, in the mobility of people and in transport in general,
3) a foreseeable rise in the price of land,
4) the need for adequate infrastructure to meet the needs of the population and
5) lack of living space and the consequent stress on the population.

These are some of the disadvantages of a high population density, a circumstance that throughout history has produced mainly for one reason: the global increase in urban population and the decrease of population in the areas rural. This disproportion is a phenomenon that has been increasing, especially in the last hundred years.

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