Notes Class 8 Chapter 7 Geography Maharashtra Board

Notes For All Chapters – Geography Class 8

Population

1. Introduction to Population

• Population refers to the total number of people living in a particular area.
• It can be measured at different levels:
  • Village
  • Taluka (administrative division)
  • District
  • State
  • Nation
  • World
• Population is a key factor for the development of a region.
• Aspects to consider while studying population:
  • Population growth
  • Population density
  • Population distribution
  • Structure of population

2. Population Growth

Population growth refers to the increase or decrease in the number of people in a region over time. It is influenced by:

(a) Birth Rate

• The number of live births per 1,000 people in a year.
• Higher birth rate = increase in population.

(b) Death Rate

• The number of deaths per 1,000 people in a year.
• Higher death rate = decrease in population.

(c) Life Expectancy

• The average lifespan expected for an individual at the time of birth.
• Longer life expectancy = higher population growth.

(d) Migration

• The movement of individuals or groups from one place to another.
• In-migration – People moving into a region increases population.
• Out-migration – People moving out of a region decreases population.

Natural population change = Birth rate − Death rate Total population change = Natural population change + Net migration

3. Population Distribution

Population distribution refers to how people are spread across a region. It depends on:

• Geographical factors – Climate, terrain, availability of water, etc.
• Economic factors – Job opportunities, industrial development, etc.
• Social and political factors – Peace, security, social acceptance, etc.

Dense population: Areas with abundant resources and favorable conditions.
Sparse population: Regions with poor soil, harsh climate, or limited resources.

4. Population Density

Population density measures how crowded a place is.
Formula:

Population Density=Total Population/Total Area (sq. km)​

• High population density – Example: Kerala, Mumbai
• Low population density – Example: Rajasthan, Gadchiroli

5. Structure of Population

The structure of the population is studied by dividing the population into different categories:

(a) Age Structure

• Young (below 15 years) – Dependent on productive population.
• Productive age group (15 to 59 years) – Active in economic activities.
• Old age group (60 years and above) – Dependent but provide experience.

(b) Sex Ratio

• Ratio of females to males in a population.

• Formula:

$$\text{Sex Ratio} = \frac{\text{Number of Females}}{\text{Number of Males}} \times 1000$$

Sex Ratio=Number of MalesNumber of Females​×1000

• Balanced sex ratio = Indicator of a stable population.
• High sex ratio – Example: Kerala (more females due to male out-migration).
• Low sex ratio – Example: Haryana (lower number of females due to preference for male children).

(c) Literacy

• A person is considered literate if they can read and write.
• Higher literacy = Higher quality of life and better economic development.
• Literacy rate is higher in urban areas compared to rural areas.

6. Occupational Structure

Population is classified based on occupation:

• Primary occupation – Farming, fishing, mining (mostly rural areas).
• Secondary occupation – Manufacturing, construction (mostly urban areas).
• Tertiary occupation – Services like banking, education, healthcare (mostly urban areas).

7. Migration

Migration refers to the movement of people from one place to another:

• Internal Migration – Movement within a country.
• International Migration – Movement between countries.
• Reasons for Migration:
  • Job opportunities
  • Education
  • Natural disasters
  • Political or social instability
• Impact of Migration:
  • Increased pressure on resources in receiving areas.
  • Shortage of labor in regions with out-migration.

8. Human Development Index (HDI)

HDI measures the overall development of a country or region:

• Economic parameter – Standard of living.
• Health parameter – Life expectancy.
• Education parameter – Average years of schooling.
• HDI values range from 0 to 1:
  • Higher value = Higher development
  • Lower value = Lower development
• Developed countries = HDI value close to 1
• Developing countries = HDI value between 0.5 and 0.7

9. Population as a Resource

• Population is an important resource for the development of a region.
• Factors affecting the quality of population:
  • Health and nutrition
  • Education
  • Skills and employment opportunities
• High quality population = Higher economic and social development.

10. Census

• Population data is collected through a census.
• Census in India is conducted every 10 years.
• Last census conducted in 2011 – Population of India was 121 crores.

Advantages and Disadvantages of High and Low Population

Problems in High and Low Population Density Areas