Geography of Population and Settlement

Course code: 3012

INSTRUCTOR: melsew m.
 Geography of Population and Settlement

Course Objectives:
➢Recognize the dynamics of population change and their
implication on population size
➢Understand the various theories of population and their
application in the real world
➢Understand the population-environment nexus.
➢ Identify the types of population policies being implemented by
different countries of the world including Ethiopia
 Chapter one
Meaning and concepts of Population Geography
• Population in biological view refers to a level of organisms group where all organisms are
belonging to the same species like a group of ants or plant or human being living together
which can mate each other.
• Hence, a single organism cannot be a population if it is not interactive with those belonging
to its species rather it is called organism.
• On the other hand, organisms belonging to two or more different species cannot be a
population rather a group of populations called community.
• Thus, a group of individuals or organisms form population and a group of populations form
community.
• Therefore, population is a group of organisms of the same species within well-
defined occupation or area
Cont..d
• However, population as to this course refers to human population
with specified political boundary
• And also, Population refers to an aggregate of people or of animals
or of plants residing in geographic area
❖Population geography: focuses on the spatial distribution,
composition, and dynamics of human populations on the
environment.
❖It examines patterns and processes related to population growth,
migration, density, distribution, and their interactions with the
environment.
Cont.…d
❖Population geography defined itself as the systematic study of:
➢the simple description of the location of population numbers and
characteristics
➢It focus on the spatial distribution of human population over the
earth surface over time, patterns with related to their physical and
cultural environment
• This often involves factors such as where population is found and
• how the size and composition of these population is regulated by the
demographic processes of fertility, mortality, and migration.
Cont...d
• Some of the popular definitions of population Geography are as follows:

1. According to Trewartha – Population Geography is concerned with understanding

regional differences in the Earth’s covering of people.

2. According to Clark- Population Geography is concerned with how spatial

variation in distribution, composition, migration and growth are related to the
spatial variations in the nature of places.

3. According to Wilbur Zelinsky – Population Geography is the science that deals

with the ways in which the geographic character of places is formed by and vary
within it through both space and time.
Cont….d
• Key concepts or scope of population geography:
➢Population Distribution: The spatial arrangement of people across a particular area
or region.
➢Population Density: The number of individuals per unit area, typically measured in
persons per square kilometer.
➢Population Composition: The demographic characteristics of a population, including
age, sex, ethnicity, education, occupation, and other socio-economic factors.
➢Population Dynamics: The study of changes in population size, structure, and
distribution over time, including fertility, mortality, and migration.
➢Population Growth: The increase or decrease in the size of a population over a
specific period, influenced by natural increase (births minus deaths) and net
migration (immigration minus emigration).
Cont...d
• Spatial Patterns: Analyzing the spatial distribution of populations at various
scales, from local neighborhoods to global regions

• Population Processes: Examining demographic processes such as fertility,

mortality, migration and their impacts on population dynamics and spatial
structures.

• Population-Environment Interactions: including issues related to resource

utilization, environmental degradation, climate change, and sustainability.
Origin and Development of Population Geography

• It emerged as a distinct sub-discipline in the late 19th and early 20th centuries,
influenced by advancements in statistical techniques, cartography, and social
sciences by Thomas Robert Malthus
• Thomas Malthus, Ernst Ravenstein, and Alfred Weber contributed to the early
development of population geography by examining population patterns, migration
flows, and their impacts on socio-economic landscapes.
• The field continued to evolve throughout the 20th century due to:
➢ the improvement of demographic methods,
➢the rise of spatial analysis techniques, and
➢ the growing recognition of population dynamics as crucial factors in
understanding regional development, resource management, and urban
planning.
Cont..d
• Today, population geography remains a vibrant and interdisciplinary field, incorporating
insights from geography, demography, sociology, economics, etc.

• Demography: study of the characteristics of human populations like distribution, size,

dynamics, and composition.

• It is also focused on factors such as birth and death rates, human migration patterns,
and the social and economic factors that influence growth and change in the human
population.

• Population geography: focuses mostly on spatial patterns, distribution and processes of

the human population.

• It studies the interactions between humans and their physical and cultural environments,
including issues such as rural-urban migration, urbanization, population density, and
spatial inequalities.
Nature of Population Geography
➢Systematic nature: focused on systematically studying population distribution and
density, population evolution and composition, resources, population problem etc.

➢Regional nature: study of all aspects of a certain space or region.

➢Dynamic nature: because fertility, mortality and migration are varies from time to time and
space

➢Ecocentric nature: The existing natural resources are under more stress as the
population grows.

➢Multidisciplinary nature: it is related with other disciplines like sociology, statistics etc..

➢Humanistic nature: means it involves more than just quantitative statistical techniques to
explain the causes, effects, and outcomes of population patterns.
Sources and Uses of Population Data

• Population data are the indicators of the various information of

population like birth. death, migration, age, sex, marital status,
'religion, literacy, language, occupation, etc
• This population data are essential for understanding demographic
trends, planning services, and formulating policies across various
sectors.
• Two primary methods used for population census data collection: De
facto and De jure methods
 Cont.…d
❖De facto Method: refers to counts number of actual people present in a specific
area at a particular time

• It includes both residents and non-residents who happen to be in the area

during the data collection period

• individual is recorded at the place where he/she was found at the time of
the census.

• involves counting individuals based on their physical presence within a

defined geographic area, such as a city, region, or country, at the time of the
census or survey.

• The population is enumerated where it is found in the time of census ,

regardless of the respondent’s usual place of residence.

• enumeration may give enlarged totals to holiday resorts.

Cont...d

• In this method, such operation is conducted at night.

• Nights are preferred to days due to the fact that after daylong work the
people will be back to their homes at night. Such night is called census
night or moon light night

• Merits or advantage of Defacto methods of population census:

➢ it is quite simple and clear;

➢ it is easy for international comparisons;

➢ time consumed for the whole operation is very limited; and

➢ the information collected is almost realistic and dependable.

Cont...d
• Drawbacks or disadvantage of Defacto population census :

➢there could be floating and uncounted population-data about such people will be
missing.

➢The system requires a large number of well-qualified and trained field workers
(enumerators)

➢As the time limit is very short, efforts are made to put as few questions as possible
this prohibits the collection of maximum information.

➢ Night time is a time when people want to take rest.

➢ They are tired after day work and as such no enumerator is welcomed at this time.

➢ This can adversely affect the quality of data collected.

Cont…d
• For example, if a person is traveling for work or on vacation during the census, they
would still be counted in the population of the place where they are currently
located, rather than their usual place of residence.

• Similarly, if a person is living in a different place temporarily, such as students living

away at college or university in a different location, they would be counted in the
place where they are currently staying.
Cont…d
❖De jure Method: focuses on counting individuals based on their usual place of
residence or inhabitants, regardless of whether they are physically present in that
area at the time of data collection.

• This method aims to capture the “official” or legal residents of a particular

geographic area, providing insights into the permanent or long-term population
composition
• In this method people are counted in the census according to their normal place of
residence.
• Hence temporary residents are not included.
• Usually two to three weeks are allotted to complete census
registration.
Cont..d
• Merits or advantages De jure methods of population census:
✓The period given to complete the work is quiet sufficient.

❖Hence, a chance of data omission and inaccuracy that may arise due to
shortage of time is minimized.

✓Similarly, due to sufficient time more data on sex, age, social conditions, etc., can
be collected.

✓As the process is completed with no haste, data collected will be more reliable and
can be used for various purposes practically.
Cont..d
✓Some disadvantages of the system include:

✓As the enumeration period is rather too long, after visiting an area, new
births, deaths and migrations were not registered

✓It becomes difficult to collect data on those persons who have no permanent
residence.

✓It also becomes equally difficult to have correct data in respect of persons
who have more than one residence and people who are homeless.

• For example, if a person is traveling for work or on vacation during the census,
they would still be counted as part of the population of their usual place of
residence, rather than where they are currently located
Cont..d
• There are three main sources of population data
A. Census is the total process of collecting, analyzing, compiling and publishing demographic,
economic and social data of all persons in a country or delineated territory at a specified time
• In Ethiopia three censuses have been taken: 1984, 1994, 2007
• The recommended variables can be put into three groups:
• Demographic characteristics include:

➢ (a) place where found at the time of census;

➢ (b) place of usual residence;
➢ (c) place of birth;
➢(d) duration of residence;
➢(e) place of work
Cont...d
• Personal and household characteristics:
• sex, age, relationship to head of household, marital status, age at marriage, children
born alive, citizenship, literacy, school attendance, educational attainment, ethnic
group, language, and religion
• Economic Characteristics:
• type of activity, occupation, industry, status (as employer, employee, etc.)
• The Main Features of Census:
• Government Sponsorship and individual enumeration
• Defined Territory: census covers a specific geographical area or territory, such as a
country, region
• Universality: The census aims to enumerate the entire population
• Simultaneity: data collection must be occurred in a defined period of time
• Periodicity: Censuses should be taken at regular intervals at least ten years
Uses of census
A. It provides primary population data relating to age, sex, marital status, economic
activities, etc.

B. Population data throw light on the socio-economic problems of the country

C. It help researchers, administrators, planners and social organizations to suggest

and adopt measures to solve the various problems.

D. useful for making population projections.

E. Census data are used for carrying out sample surveys.
F. They guide the city planners in planning measures for the future growth of cities
B. Sample Surveys:
• is conducted using a sampling process, which means that only a subset(sample) of the
population is surveyed rather than the whole population

• its cost-effectiveness and efficiency.

• Sample surveys are used for the collection of detailed data on:
➢Socio-demographic characteristics
➢Conditions under which people live
➢Their well-being
➢Activities in which they engage
➢Demographic characteristics and cultural factors which influence behavior,
➢Social and economic change
Cont..d
✓ Less expensive because it does not involve the entire population;
✓ Capable of providing very detailed information about the population;
✓ important source of population statistics in areas where census is not conducted
✓ important for gathering data to fill population information gaps

✓ The data obtained through a sample survey are more reliable.

✓ It requires a smaller number of staff or interviewers, and thus, is less expensive.

Cont..d
• The sampling method has certain limitations:
• It is highly subjective and it is possible to arrive at different data with different
samples of the same population.

• There are bound to be errors in coverage, classification and sampling of

population data.

• As the survey requires many surveyors who may not be efficient and sincere,
it is subject to large errors.

• If the informants in the sample do not cooperate with the surveyors, the survey
will not give accurate results
Cont..d
C. Vital Registration (Civil Registration): is the registration of life or vital events like
birth, death, marriage, divorce, adoption etc.

▪ Unlike the census, registration of vital events is a continuous process throughout the
year.

▪ It is the ability to provide continuous and real-time information on demographic changes

and health indicators.

▪ This data can be used to monitor trends in mortality, morbidity, and fertility rates
Cont...d
❖Important principles of a Vital Registration system:

• Universal coverage: It include all vital events occurring in every geographic

area and in every population group comprising the national area.

• Continuity: Continuity is important to insure that short-term fluctuations

including seasonal movements, as well as long-term movements will be
accounted for.

• Confidentiality: It is important to safeguard confidentiality of personal

information and vital administrative and statistical.
Important of Population information
➢It provides statistical information for making decisions related to social and
economic affairs.

➢It indicates future requirements of the population in terms of social, health,

education, employment and other socio-economic needs.

➢It helps policy makers to forecast the needs of the population

➢For resource allocation, budgeting, and equitable distribution of services such as

education, healthcare, and housing.

➢Essential for academic research in fields such as demography, geography, and public
health and population dynamics
Cont...d
• Factors Affecting the Quality of Population Data

➢ Inadequate finance

➢The use of different methods of census enumeration by different countries.

➢Inadequate awareness about the importance of population data.

➢Double entry (counting of a person twice)

➢Neglecting or ignoring certain group of people

➢False information about age and occupation of people