IB Geography 1.1.1 Factors Affecting Global Population Distribution Notes

Both Physical and Human Factors Influence Where People Live

1. Why do some places teem with life while others remain sparsely populated?
2. The answer lies in a combination of physical and human factors that shape global population distribution.
3. These factors help explain why population densities vary across the world, forming observable patterns that can be analyzed geographically.

Most People Live in Favorable Locations

1. At the global scale, population patterns are influenced by both environmental advantages and challenges.
2. Here's a birds eye view on global population distribution:
   1. 75% of people live within 1,000 km of the sea, benefiting from access to trade and resources.
   2. 85% live in areas less than 500 m above the sea level, where flat terrain supports agriculture and settlement.
   3. 85% live between latitudes 20°N and 68°N, where temperate climates dominate.
   4. Less than 10% live in the southern hemisphere, which has fewer landmasses and, consequently, less areas with temperate climate.

Population Patterns are Closely Linked to Levels of Economic Development

1. The World Bank classifies countries based on Gross National Income (GNI):
   1. High-Income Countries (HICs): Annual GNI per capita above $13,205 (e.g., the USA, Germany) encompassing ~15% of people.
   2. Middle-Income Countries (MICs): Economies transitioning toward urbanization and industrialization. This group includes ~75% of global population and is the most diverse, being divided further into Upper MICs (e.g. Brazil, China) and Lower MICs (e.g. Egypt, India).
   3. Low-Income Countries (LICs): Economies reliant on agriculture and limited infrastructure with annual GNI per capita below $1,085 (e.g. Niger, Zambia) encompassing ~10% of global population.

Physical Factors Play a Key Role in Determining Where People Settle

1. Climate: The Comfort Zone for Living

Would you prefer to live in a region with mild winters and warm summers or in a place where temperatures reach extreme highs or lows?

1. Moderate Climates in temperate zones provide reliable rainfall, fertile soils, and comfortable living conditions, making them ideal for agriculture and urban development.