Distribution of Population

Population distribution denotes the spatial arrangement of human settlement in relation to the land. In Trinidad, the predominant concentration of inhabitants can be observed along the East-West corridor and the western coastline. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that population distribution exhibits disparities globally.

Population

Population can be defined as the total count of individuals residing within a designated territory or state.

Study of Population

Demography encompasses the comprehensive examination of diverse facets pertaining to human population.

Factors Affecting Population Size

• Natural population: This factor encompasses the consideration of birth rate and death rate within a population.
• Migration: Referring to the movement of people both into and out of a specific area, encompassing both emigration and immigration.

Natural Population

• Natural population denotes the disparity between the number of live births and deaths within a population during a given year, without accounting for migration.
• A natural increase indicates population growth, occurring when the number of births exceeds the number of deaths during a specific period.
• Conversely, a natural decrease indicates a decline in population size, transpiring when the number of deaths surpasses the number of births within a specific timeframe.

Crude Birth Rate

• The total number of live births compared to 1000 people living in a country for a specific time period (usually yearly). Also called natality.
• It can be calculated by:
• Birth Rate = Number of live births / Population x 1000

Crude Birth Rate Activity

Calculate the crude birth rate of the following countries for 2000

Factors affecting Birth Rate

• Governmental policies e.g. China’s One Child Policy
• Family planning (Trinidad vs. Haiti)
• Health care of country (Barbados vs. Grenada)
• Education level especially women (Barbados vs. Haiti)
• Fertility Rate
• Cost of living

Crude death Rate

• The total number of deaths compared to 1000 people in a total population in a specified area over a specified period of time.
• It is also called mortality rate.
• It may be calculated by:
• Death Rate = Number of deaths/number of population x 1000

Examples

Factors affecting death Rate

• Age of country's population
• Level of Public healthcare
• Old/ aged population
• Natural disasters
• Standards of diet and housing
• Access to clean drinking water
• Hygiene levels
• Levels of infectious diseases
• Social factors such as conflicts and levels of violent crime
• Amount and quality of health care available
• Crime
• Nutrition levels

Historical Factors that influence population density.

• Developments of ports and urban areas by British incorporations in the Caribbean, the areas that were developed in terms of infrastructure (roads, bridges etc.) and ports etc. by the European are very densely populated up to this day as opposed to areas which were not developed example Mayaro. In fact most coastal ports which were developed in the Caribbean are capital cities example Port-of-Spain.
• Agricultural land- land which was set aside for plantation agricultural by the Europeans were not densely populated as massive amounts of land required for the crops. Up to this day some of those areas are still sparsely populated example Barrack pore Trinidad.

Physical Factors that influence population density.

• Relief on land
• land size
• soil fertility
• vegetation
• damage of the area

Impact of Cultural Factors on Population Concentration

• Proximity to educational institutions
• Proximity to employment opportunities
• Proximity to trade hubs
• Religious beliefs, family planning, values
• Fertility rate

Influence of Socio-Economic Factors on Population Density

• Accessibility to social services
• Business and commercial activities
• Employment prospects
• Infrastructure and utility availability

Visualizing Population Density and Distribution on a Map

Population density is represented using a Choropleth map. This map adopts varying shades or colors to illustrate the average number of individuals residing in a specific area. Darker shades indicate higher population density.

Population distribution is portrayed through a Dot Map. This map employs dots, with each dot representing a specific number of individuals. The presence of more dots in an area signifies higher population concentration.

Note: It is crucial to distinguish between population density and population distribution. Population density refers to the number of individuals residing in a given area, while population distribution focuses on the spatial arrangement and dispersion of these individuals across the land surface.

Spatial Distribution of Population

Population distribution showcases the spatial pattern of human habitation relative to the land. In Trinidad, the majority of the population is clustered along the East-West corridor and the western coastline. The global distribution of population exhibits uneven characteristics.

Influencing Factors on Population Dispersion:

• The majority of individuals in the Caribbean region reside in coastal regions (low-lying land adjacent to the sea).
• The western regions of numerous Caribbean islands exhibit higher population densities due to the presence of protected harbors, facilitating trade winds originating from the northeast.
• Urban areas in the Caribbean are focal points for population concentration, owing to the availability of infrastructure and social amenities, among other factors.
• Sparse population is observed in the forested and swampy regions of Trinidad.

Population distribution is visually represented through a Dot Map. This cartographic representation employs dots, each symbolizing a specific number of individuals. Greater dot density within an area indicates a higher level of population concentration.

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