Social and cultural 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
Social and cultural factors of population distribution are reasons linked to religion, culture, peace and government policy. A place with religious or cultural importance attracts people. Social and political unrest, such as conflict or riots, drives people away. Governments may also offer incentives (rewards such as land or jobs) so that people settle in empty areas or move out of crowded ones.
Example
Holy cities such as Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, on the Ganga, attract and hold large numbers of people because of their religious importance. In Brazil, the government built the new capital Brasilia (1960) to draw people into the thinly settled interior.
Don't confuse with
- Economic factors of population distribution: these pull people with jobs and income. Social and cultural factors work through faith, security and state policy.