The distribution of population across the world is highly uneven. Some regions like river valleys and plains have dense population, while deserts, polar regions, and high mountains have sparse population. Many factors affect this distribution. Two important ones are:
1. Physical Factors:
- Relief, climate, and availability of water play a major role.
- For example, the fertile plains of the Ganga and Nile rivers have very high population density, while the Sahara Desert and the polar regions remain sparsely populated due to harsh conditions.
2. Economic Factors:
- Availability of resources, industrialization, and employment opportunities attract people.
- For instance, industrial regions of Europe, the USA, and Japan have dense population because they provide jobs and better living standards.
Thus, physical and economic conditions are the most important factors influencing population distribution.