Population map
Topic: Maps and Map Scale · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 1 "Introduction to Maps"
Meaning
A population map is a cultural map about people. It shows how people are spread out (distribution), how crowded an area is (density), and how fast numbers are growing. It can also show the make-up of the population by age, sex, religion, language and occupation. NCERT calls it the most significant map for planning, because schools, hospitals and jobs must go where the people are.
Example
A population density map of India shows very high density in the Ganga plains of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where fertile soil and water support many people. It shows low density in the dry Thar Desert of western Rajasthan.
Don't confuse with
- Political map: shows the boundaries of states and districts, not how many people live in them.