COUNTRY OR REGION WITH A SPARSE POPULATION

CASE STUDY: CANADA

Canada is known for its vast land area, but it has relatively low population density. This can be attributed to a combination of physical and human factors:

PHYSICAL REASONS

Harsh Climate: Canada's northern regions have an extreme climate with very cold winters. The Arctic and subarctic climates make large parts of the country inhospitable for human settlement. Harsh weather conditions, including long and cold winters, can limit the areas where people can comfortably live.

Geography: Much of Canada's land is covered by rugged and challenging terrain, including mountains, forests, and swamps. These geographic features can make large areas difficult to access and develop for residential or agricultural purposes.

Distance and Isolation: Canada is the second-largest country in the world by land area. Many regions are remote and far from urban centers. This geographical isolation makes it more challenging to establish and sustain communities in certain areas.

Limited Arable Land: Only a small portion of Canada's land is suitable for agriculture due to its northern location and climate. This limits the potential for large-scale agricultural settlements.

HUMAN REASONS

Historical Settlement Patterns: Historically, the earliest European settlers in Canada concentrated along the southern border with the United States, near the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River, where the climate is milder and transportation was easier. These early settlement patterns continue to influence population distribution.

Economic Opportunities: Many economic opportunities are concentrated in major urban centers like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. People tend to gravitate toward these urban areas for jobs and services, leaving other regions less densely populated.

Migration Trends: While Canada encourages immigration, many immigrants settle in the larger cities, leading to population concentration in these urban areas. Rural depopulation is a common trend as people move to cities for better opportunities.

Infrastructure: The vast size of Canada makes it costly and challenging to develop infrastructure, such as roads, railways, and utilities, in less populated areas. This lack of infrastructure can deter people from settling in more remote regions.

Resource Extraction: Some sparsely populated regions are used for resource extraction, such as mining and forestry. These industries often require a transient workforce rather than permanent residents, leading to low population densities.

COUNTRY OR REGION WITH A DENSE POPULATION

CASE STUDY: BANGLADESH

Based on United Nations Data 2020 figures for population (164,689,383) and land area (130,170 km2), Bangladesh has the highest population density among large countries, 1265 persons per square km.

POPULATION GROWTH IN BANGLADESH

Bangladesh had high rates of population growth in the 1960s and 1970s. Since then however it has seen significant reduction in its total fertility rate.

Over a period of three decades the fertility in Bangladesh dropped from almost 7 to 0.74 in 2005–2018.

REASONS FOR HIGH POPULATION DENSITY

Bangladesh has one of the highest population densities in the world, and there are several factors that contribute to this phenomenon.

Geographical Constraints

Bangladesh is a relatively small country with a land area of approximately 147,570 square kilometers (56,980 square miles). Its borders are densely populated, and it is home to over 160 million people. The limited land area coupled with a large population naturally leads to high population density.

Fertile Delta

The majority of Bangladesh is situated in the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta, which is characterized by fertile alluvial soil. This makes the land suitable for agriculture and has historically attracted people to settle in this region. The rich agricultural land has contributed to a high population density as it can support a larger population.

Agricultural Economy

Agriculture is the backbone of Bangladesh's economy. A significant portion of the population relies on farming for their livelihood. The need for labor in agriculture has led to a high concentration of people in rural areas, further increasing population density in those regions.

Limited Arable Land

Despite having fertile soil, the available arable land is limited. This leads to intense competition for land, as families often subdivide their land among multiple heirs. Smaller landholdings mean that more people are dependent on a single piece of land, increasing population density.

High Birth Rate

Bangladesh has historically had a high birth rate, although it has been decreasing in recent years. The combination of high birth rates and declining mortality rates has contributed to population growth and increased density.

Urbanisation

Rapid urbanisation, especially in the capital city of Dhaka and other major cities, has further concentrated the population in certain areas. Urban areas tend to have much higher population densities than rural ones.

Migration

Internal and international migration plays a role in population density. People from rural areas often move to urban centers in search of better economic opportunities, which adds to the urban population density. Additionally, Bangladesh has a significant population of refugees, such as the Rohingya, which contributes to population density in specific areas.