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Geography · Grades 7–10

Population, settlement and fair comparisons

A total population is not the same as population density or a growth rate.

Make a worksheet

Understand the idea

Counts and rates differ

A total population is not the same as population density or a growth rate.

Averages hide variation

A regional average does not describe every neighbourhood.

Avoid single-cause stories

Settlement and movement can reflect several connected factors.

Worked examples

A fictional region has 24,000 people in 600 km². Find its population density in people per km².

24,000/600 = 40.

40

Two regions have equal population but different land areas. Which is more densely populated?

The same population is divided by a smaller area.

the smaller region

Try it yourself

  1. Why can a regional population density hide important differences within the region?

  2. Which is an example of a service influencing settlement?

    1. the date a worksheet was printed
    2. the colour of a map border
    3. access to a school or clinic
    4. the number of letters in a town name

  3. A fictional town grows from 8,000 to 8,400 people. Find the increase in people.

  4. For that same change from 8,000 to 8,400, find the percentage increase.

Answers and marking notes

Answers and marking notes
  1. People may be concentrated in towns while other areas are sparsely populated.

    Credit internal distribution rather than just a mean.

  2. access to a school or clinic

    Access to services can affect where people live.

  3. 400

    8,400 − 8,000 = 400.

  4. 5

    400/8,000 × 100 = 5%.

Preview material · independent educational review required. Grade bands are approximate, not official curriculum alignment.