01
Front
What does population distribution describe?
Back
Population distribution describes where people live and how they are spread across an area.
Free Online Flashcard Deck
1 Patterns and Causes of Population Distribution Free Online FlashCards
Study 1 Patterns and Causes of Population Distribution with 12 free online flashcards. Review key terms, definitions, and concepts with this interactive flashcard deck.
12 cards
02
Front
What is population density?
Back
Population density is the number of people per unit of land area.
03
Front
What is the average density of 500,000 people across 10,000 km2?
Back
The average density is 10,000500,000=50 people per km2.
04
Front
Why can average population density be misleading?
Back
An average can hide local contrasts: people may be concentrated in a city or fertile valley while much of the area is sparsely settled.
05
Front
Where are some of the world's major population concentrations?
Back
Major concentrations occur in South, East, and Southeast Asia, Europe, and parts of eastern North America.
06
Front
Which environments tend to be sparsely populated?
Back
Deserts, high mountains, polar regions, and some remote forest interiors tend to have fewer people.
07
Front
How was the world's population divided among cities, towns, and rural areas in 2025?
Back
Under the UN's 2025 classification, 45% lived in cities, 36% in towns, and 19% in rural areas.
08
Front
What is a clustered settlement pattern?
Back
A clustered pattern has dense cities and towns separated by less densely populated areas, such as farmland or forests.
09
Front
What is a linear settlement pattern?
Back
A linear pattern follows features such as coastlines, rivers, roads, railways, or valleys.
10
Front
What characterizes a dispersed settlement pattern?
Back
In a dispersed pattern, settlements are spread across agricultural land rather than concentrated in a few dense centers.
11
Front
How do physical factors influence settlement?
Back
Reliable freshwater, fertile soils, moderate climates, level land, and resources can support settlement; harsh conditions and hazards can make it more difficult or costly.
12
Front
How do economic opportunities influence population distribution?
Back
Jobs, markets, transport links, and services attract people; ports, manufacturing centers, and resource sites can become population centers.
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