Human Resources
Focused last-minute revision with clear concepts, high-yield comparisons, diagrams, exam traps and compact practice.
Chapter Snapshot
- People become a valuable resource through knowledge, health, skills and productive abilities.
- Population is unevenly distributed across the world.
- Population density measures the number of people per unit area.
- Relief, climate, water, soil, jobs, transport and services influence settlement.
- Population changes through births, deaths and migration.
- Age, sex, literacy, occupation and health describe population composition.
What You Will Learn
- Explain why people are considered a resource
- Understand population distribution and density
- Identify physical and human factors affecting population distribution
- Explain population change through births, deaths and migration
- Interpret basic population composition
- Understand the population pyramid as a geographical tool
Last-Minute Chapter Map
Revise this chapter in three passes:
- Understand the key geographical idea.
- Memorise comparisons, terms and cause–effect links.
- Attempt the compact questions without looking at the answers.
1. Why People Are a Resource
2. Population Distribution
Population distribution describes how people are spread over an area. The world's population is highly uneven. Plains, river valleys, coastal areas and urban regions often have high concentrations, while deserts, high mountains, very cold regions and dense forests generally have fewer people.
3. Population Density
Population density shows the average number of people living in a unit area, commonly per square kilometre. It helps compare settlement concentration between regions of different size.
4. Factors Affecting Distribution
Physical factors include topography, climate, soil, water and minerals. Human factors include jobs, industries, transport, cities, political stability, education and health services. These factors work together rather than independently.
5. Population Change
Population size changes because of births, deaths and migration. If births exceed deaths, natural increase is positive. Migration can add people to a destination and reduce population in the place of origin.
6. Migration
Migration is movement of people from one place to another with a change in usual residence. It may be internal or international, temporary or long-term, voluntary or forced. People may move for jobs, education, family reasons, safety or environmental pressures.
7. Population Composition
Population composition describes characteristics such as age, sex, literacy, occupation and health. Two places with the same total population may have very different needs if their age structures or skill levels differ.
8. Population Pyramids
A population pyramid is a bar diagram that shows age and sex composition. A broad base usually indicates a relatively high share of children; a larger middle indicates a strong working-age population; a wider upper section indicates a larger elderly population.
Population Distribution Factors
| Physical Factors | Human Factors |
|---|---|
| Relief and topography | Employment opportunities |
| Climate | Transport and communication |
| Water availability | Urban and industrial development |
| Soil and minerals | Education, health and public services |
Population Change
| Component | Effect |
|---|---|
| Births | Add to population |
| Deaths | Reduce population |
| Immigration | Adds people to a destination |
| Emigration | Reduces people from an origin |
Quick Formula / Measure
Formula / Key Relations
Population density
Usually expressed as persons per square kilometre.
Population pyramids help compare age and sex structure, not just total population.
Exam Traps
Exam Focus
What to Revise Before the Exam
- Explain why people are considered a resource
- Understand population distribution and density
- Identify physical and human factors affecting population distribution
- Explain population change through births, deaths and migration
- Interpret basic population composition
- Understand the population pyramid as a geographical tool
Key Terms
Quick Revision
Quick Revision
- People become a valuable resource through knowledge, health, skills and productive abilities.
- Population is unevenly distributed across the world.
- Population density measures the number of people per unit area.
- Relief, climate, water, soil, jobs, transport and services influence settlement.
- Population changes through births, deaths and migration.
- Age, sex, literacy, occupation and health describe population composition.
Compact Practice
Population per unit area is called what?
View Solution
Population density
Movement into a country or region is called?
View Solution
Immigration
Name two physical factors affecting population distribution.
View Solution
Any two of relief, climate, water, soil and minerals.
What does a population pyramid show?
View Solution
Age and sex composition of a population.
Why can two regions with equal population have different density?
View Solution
Their land areas may be different.
Final Chapter Summary
Chapter Summary
- People become a valuable resource through knowledge, health, skills and productive abilities.
- Population is unevenly distributed across the world.
- Population density measures the number of people per unit area.
- Relief, climate, water, soil, jobs, transport and services influence settlement.
- Population changes through births, deaths and migration.
- In Geography, always connect where, why there, how it changes, and how it can be managed sustainably.