Geographical factors of population distribution
Topic: World Population: Distribution, Density, Growth and Migration · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 2 "The World Population: Distribution, Density and Growth"
Meaning
Geographical factors of population distribution are the natural conditions that attract people to a place or keep them away. There are four main ones. The first is fresh water, so river valleys are the most crowded areas. The second is landforms: flat plains attract people, and steep mountains do not. The third is climate. Very hot, very cold or very wet places push people away, while mild places draw them. The fourth is soil, because fertile loamy soils support intensive farming. These factors mattered most before industrialisation.
Example
The Ganga plains of northern India have flat land, rivers and fertile soil, so they are among the most crowded areas in the world. The Himalayas to the north and western Rajasthan, with its poor soils, have far fewer people.
Don't confuse with
- Economic factors of population distribution: these are human-made pulls such as mines, industries and cities. Geographical factors are given by nature.