The country with the highest average population density. Population density of foreign Europe

To characterize the distribution of the population, the indicator is used density population, which first appeared in the works of economists in the first half of the 19th century. It allows you to more or less clearly judge the degree of population of the territory; it reflects the suitability of a particular type of natural environment for the productive activities of people and the direction of the economy, and the demographic capacity of the territory. The most traditional indicator of population density is calculated as the ratio of the number of permanent residents of a territory to its area, excluding large inland water basins, and is expressed in the number of people per 1 km 2 (gross population density).

In industrial countries, the average density indicator, due to the high proportion of city residents, does not reflect the nature of the use of the territory. Therefore, rural population density is often determined in relation to either the entire territory of the country, or only agricultural land, or suitable for agriculture (net population density).

Data on average density make it possible to compare countries and regions with each other, especially when comparing agricultural countries. The smaller the territory taken for calculation, the closer this indicator is to reality. Thus, with an average population density of Indonesia of 122 people/km 2 o. Java has a density of over 500 people/km 2 , and some of its regions (Adiverna, Klatena) have a density of more than 2,500 people/km 2 [Shuv., p. 82].

The overall population density of the Earth is growing in proportion to the growth of the world population. In 1900, this figure was 12 people/km2, in 1950 – 18, and in 2000 – approximately 45 people/km2. Rural population density has grown much more slowly and is now half the global average. And in economically developed countries, the density of the rural population does not grow at all or even decreases.

At the same time, in densely populated countries such as India and Bangladesh, where urbanization is developing slowly, the burden of the rural population on agricultural lands that have long been used to the limit is growing.

Populous Asia has the highest density (126 people/km2), Europe (excluding CIS countries) has more than 120 people/km2, while in other macroregions of the Earth the population density is lower than the world average: in Africa - 31, in America - 22, and in Australia and Oceania - only 4 people/km 2 .

Comparing the population density of individual countries allows us to distinguish three groups of states according to this indicator. Belgium, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Germany, Japan, India, Israel, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Republic of Korea, Rwanda, El Salvador, etc. have very high population densities (over 200 people/km2).

Small, predominantly island countries have particularly high population densities: Monaco (33,104 people/km2), Singapore (6785), Malta (1288), Bahrain (1098), Barbados (647), Mauritius (618 people/km2) and etc.

There are significant contrasts in population density within individual countries. Vivid examples of this kind include Egypt, China, Australia, Canada, Brazil, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Russia, etc.

For example, in Australia, 4/5 of the country’s population lives on 10% of the territory, and only 1% lives on 65% of the area. In India, more than half of the population lives in the Tanga Valley, in the south of Hindustan and along the coast, i.e. on 1/5 of the country's territory. Only 3.5% of the population lives on 3/5 of China's area.

The most important geographical features of population distribution can be noted:

– about 70% of the population lives on 7% of the land;

– more than 70% of the world’s rural population is concentrated in Asia;

– more than 85% of the planet’s inhabitants are concentrated in the eastern hemisphere, 90% in the northern hemisphere;

– the bulk of the population and settlements are distributed up to 78 0 N latitude. and 54 0 S;

– about 4/5 of the land population lives no higher than 500 m above sea level, 50% - up to 200 m;

– most people live in the lowlands in Europe (69%) and Australia (72%); the least in Africa (32%) and South America (42%);

– about 11% of the world’s population lives at an altitude of 500-1000 m;

– about 30% of the population lives at a distance of up to 50 km from the sea coast [Shuv., Shitikova].

The distribution of the population is reflected extremely clearly and clearly by population density maps, and the larger the scale of the map, the higher its value as a source of information.

The world population density map clearly shows five major high-density areas. The largest of them is East Asian, including the eastern provinces of China, Korea, and Japan. The average density here everywhere (except for mountainous areas) is about 200 people. (Kong, and in the Yangtze Valley, the Republic of Korea and Japan exceeds 300 people / km 2. Approximately 1.5 billion inhabitants live in this area, there are approximately more than 30 cities with a population exceeding 1 million each.

The second population cluster is South Asian (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka) with an average density of about 300 people/km 2 and the greatest concentration of population in the Tanga and Brahmakutra valleys - up to 500 people/km 2 . About 1.5 billion people also live here.

The third area is Southeast Asian (Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia) with a population of more than 400 million people. In these regions, high density was formed initially due to the rural population, where it does not fall below 300-500 people/km2, and in some areas reaches 1500-2000 people, with the subsequent concentration of part of the population in cities, especially in Japan and the Republic of Korea .

The fourth area is Western European (Great Britain (without Scotland), Benelux, Northern France, Germany), where the average density exceeds 200 people/km 2 .

The fifth population cluster can be traced in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada with 14 million-plus cities. The concentration of the population here, as well as in Western Europe, is explained by the high level of development of industry and other sectors of the economy in cities of various ranks.

A small cluster of population is located in the lower reaches of the Nile, where the density reaches 500-800 people/km2, and in the delta - more than 1300 people/km2.

More than 2/3 of the total population of the planet is concentrated in these areas.

Along with densely populated areas, vast expanses of land are very sparsely populated. About 54% of the Oikulina area has a population density of less than 5 people/km 2 . Such areas include the territories of Eurasia and North America with subpolar archipelagos of islands adjacent to the coast of the Arctic Ocean.

Rare population in the deserts of North Africa, Central and Western Australia, Central Asia, and the Arabian Peninsula. There is little population in the equatorial Amazon forests, in the high mountainous regions. These areas have extreme natural conditions. Naturally, the bulk of people are concentrated in the most favorable areas for living and farming in the temperate, subtropical and subequatorial climatic zones.

The population density in foreign Europe and Asia is more than 2.5 times higher than the world average, while in America it is twice as much, and in Australia and Oceania it is 12 times less (Table 1).

Table 1 Change in population density by region of the world, people/km 2

Note: * excluding CIS countries

Over half a century, population density has increased most in Africa (almost 8 times) and in developing countries in general - 3 times.

In the Asian region, the majority of the population is concentrated in East, Southeast and South Asia. Huge areas of deserts, semi-deserts and mountains have no permanent population. As already noted, this region is characterized by intra-country differentiation in density (China, India, etc.).

Countries with the maximum population density: Bangladesh - 1035 people/km 2, Japan - 338, India - 344, Lebanon - 377, Israel - 332. In the largest countries in the region this figure is lower: China - 138, Indonesia - 122, Pakistan - 213 person/km 2. Mongolia has the minimum population density – 2 people/km 2 .

Europe has a fairly uniform population density throughout, there are no vast sparsely populated and unpopulated areas, as well as areas of dense agricultural populations, as in Asia. High densities are achieved due to the urban population. The highest rural population density is observed in Malta, Switzerland and Italy, the lowest in the countries of Northern Europe (Iceland, Scandinavian countries). Within-country differentiation in density is most pronounced in the UK and France.

The maximum population density (not counting dwarf and island capitals) is in the Netherlands - 394 people/km2, Italy - 197, Switzerland - 182, Belgium - 348. In Iceland this figure is minimal - 3 people/km2.

Africa is still relatively sparsely populated, especially the areas of the equatorial forests of the river basin. Congo, deserts of North and South Africa. Within-country differences in population density are pronounced in North Africa (Egypt, Libya). The most densely populated countries are Maurinius (619 people/km2), Reunion (319), Rwanda (355), Burundi (306).

Of the large states, the highest density is: Nigeria - 156 people/km 2 ; Egypt –73, Uganda – 188, Ethiopia – 70.

The lowest population density was observed in Mauritania and Namibia – 3 people/km 2 each, Western Sahara – 2 people/km 2 .

America is characterized by sharp differentiation in population density within countries and between countries (Canada, USA, Brazil). The highest population density is observed in the Atlantic regions of the United States and the central highlands of Mexico, on the Pacific coast (California), the Caribbean islands, and the Colombian Highlands in South America. The lowest density is observed in the Amazon, the foothills of the AID, the Atacama Desert, and the Arctic regions.

The average population density of the largest countries in the region: USA - 31 people/km2, Mexico - 54, Brazil - 22, Venezuela - people/km2, the smallest is in Canada (3 people/km2).

Australia and Oceania is the region with the lowest population density. There are population clusters on the islands: Nauru (667 people/km 2), Tuvalu (379), Marshall Islands (370), Guam (315). In Australia itself, this figure does not exceed 3 people/km 2 .

In Russia, the largest of the CIS countries, the average population density is only 8 people/km 2, and the rural density is 2.3. The map of Russian population density clearly shows the main strip of settlement, extending from the Western borders and narrowing towards the Pacific Ocean through the Volga region, the Middle and Southern Urals, the south of Western and Eastern Siberia to the south of the Far East, mainly along the Trans-Siberian Railway. About 2/3 of the total population of Russia is concentrated within this strip. Apart from it, on the territory of the North Caucasus Federal District there are several areas with high population density, especially in its western part. In natural terms, the Main Zone of Settlement coincides with the steppe, forest-steppe zones and southern regions of the taiga, the most convenient for living and farming, in which the vast majority of the inhabitants of Russia have been employed for many centuries. Currently, in the Moscow region the population density is about 300 people/km 2 , and in the most densely populated Central Economic Region this figure is 60 people/km 2 .

Of the other CIS countries, Moldova (118 people/km2), Armenia (101) and Ukraine (77 people/km2) have the highest population density. The minimum values ​​were noted in Kazakhstan (6 people/km2), Turkmenistan (11 people/km2).

There are cities in the world with large populations. And nothing else if the city occupies a large territory and the population density in it is small. What if the city has very little land? It happens that the country is small, but there are rocks and the sea around the city? So the city has to build up. At the same time, the population per 1 square kilometer is growing rapidly. The city goes from simple to densely populated. We immediately note that it is population density that is taken into account here, while there are other ratings where megacities are located by area, number of inhabitants, number of skyscrapers, as well as many other parameters. You can find most of these ratings on LifeGlobe. We will go directly to our list. So, what are the biggest cities in the world?

Top 10 most populous cities in the world.

1. Shanghai

Shanghai is the largest city in China and one of the largest cities in the world, located in the Yangtze River Delta. One of the four cities under central control of the People's Republic of China, an important financial and cultural center of the country, as well as the world's largest seaport. By the beginning of the 20th century. Shanghai has grown from a small fishing town into the most important city in China and the third financial center in the world after London and New York. In addition, the city became a center of popular culture, vice, intellectual debate and political intrigue in Republican China. Shanghai is the financial and commercial center of China. Market reforms in Shanghai began in 1992, a decade later than in the southern provinces. Before this, most of the city's income went irrevocably to Beijing. Even after the tax burden was reduced in 1992, tax revenues from Shanghai accounted for 20-25% of revenues from all of China (before the 1990s, this figure was about 70%). Today Shanghai is the largest and most developed city in mainland China. In 2005, Shanghai became the world's largest port in terms of cargo turnover (443 million tons of cargo).

According to the 2000 census, the population of the entire Shanghai area (including the non-urban area) is 16.738 million people, this figure also includes temporary residents of Shanghai, whose number is 3.871 million people. Since the previous census in 1990, Shanghai's population has increased by 3.396 million people, or 25.5%. Men make up 51.4% of the city's population, women - 48.6%. Children under 14 years old make up 12.2% of the population, the age group 15-64 years old - 76.3%, elderly people over 65 - 11.5%. 5.4% of Shanghai's population is illiterate. In 2003, there were 13.42 million officially registered residents in Shanghai, and more than 5 million more. live and work in Shanghai unofficially, of which about 4 million are seasonal workers, mainly from Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. Average life expectancy in 2003 was 79.80 years (men - 77.78 years, women - 81.81 years).

Like many other regions of China, Shanghai is experiencing a construction boom. Modern architecture in Shanghai is distinguished by its unique style, in particular, the upper floors of high-rise buildings, occupied by restaurants, are shaped like flying saucers. Most of the buildings under construction in Shanghai today are high-rise residential buildings, varying in height, color and design. Organizations responsible for planning the development of the city are now increasingly focusing on the creation of green areas and parks within residential complexes to improve the quality of life of Shanghai residents, which is in keeping with the slogan of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai: “A better city - a better life.” Historically, Shanghai was very Westernized, and now it is increasingly taking on the role of the main center of communication between China and the West. One example of this is the opening of the Pac-Med Medical Exchange, an information center for the exchange of medical knowledge between Western and Chinese health institutions. Pudong has houses and streets very similar to the business and residential areas of modern American and Western European cities. There are major international shopping and hotel areas nearby. Despite its high population density and large number of visitors, Shanghai is known for its very low crime rate towards foreigners.

As of January 1, 2009, the population of Shanghai is 18,884,600, if the area of ​​this city is 6,340 km2, and the population density is 2,683 people per km2.

2. Karachi

KARACHI, the largest city, main economic center and seaport of Pakistan, is located near the delta of the Indus River, 100 km from its confluence with the Arabian Sea. Administrative center of Sindh province. Population as of 2004: 10.89 million people. Originated in the early 18th century. on the site of the Baloch fishing village of Kalachi. From the end of the 18th century. under the rulers of Sindh from the Talpur dynasty, it was the main Sindh maritime and commercial center on the Arabian coast. In 1839 it became a British naval base, in 1843-1847 - the capital of the province of Sind, and then the main city of the region, which was part of the Bombay Presidency. Since 1936 - the capital of the Sindh province. In 1947-1959 - the capital of Pakistan. The favorable geographical position of the city, located in a convenient natural harbor, contributed to its rapid growth and development during the colonial period and especially after the division of British India into two independent states in 1947 - India and Pakistan.

The transformation of Karachi into the main political and economic center of the country led to rapid population growth, mainly due to the influx of immigrants from outside: in 1947-1955. with 350 thousand people up to 1.5 million people. Karachi is the largest city in the country and is one of the largest cities in the world. The main trade, economic and financial center of Pakistan, seaport (15% of GDP and 25% of tax revenues to the budget). About 49% of the country's industrial production is concentrated in Karachi and its suburbs. Factories: metallurgical plant (the largest in the country, built with the assistance of the USSR, 1975-85), oil refining, engineering, car assembly, ship repair, chemical, cement plants, pharmaceutical, tobacco, textile, food (sugar) industries (concentrated in several industrial zones : CITY - Sindh Industrial Trading Estate, Landhi, Malir, Korangi, etc. The largest commercial banks, branches of foreign banks, central offices and branches of insurance companies, stock and cotton exchange, offices of the largest trading companies (including foreign ones). International airport (1992).The port of Karachi (cargo turnover over 9 million tons per year) serves up to 90% of the country's maritime trade and is the largest port in South Asia.Naval base.
The largest cultural and scientific center: university, research institutions, Aga Khan University of Medical Sciences, Hamdard Foundation Center for Oriental Medicine, National Museum of Pakistan, Navy Museum. Zoo (in the former City Gardens, 1870). Mausoleum of Quaid-i Azam M.A. Jinnah (1950s), Sindh University (founded in 1951, M. Ecoshar), Art Center (1960). Architecturally interesting are the central streets, built in the period between the world wars with buildings made from local pink limestone and sandstone. Business center of Karachi - Shara-i-Faisal streets, Jinnah Road and Chandrigar Road with buildings mainly from the 19th and 20th centuries: the High Court (early 20th century, neoclassical), the Pearl Continental Hotel (1962), architects W. Tabler and Z. Pathan), State Bank (1961, architects J. L. Ricci and A. Kayum). To the northwest of Jinnah Road is the Old Town with narrow streets and one- and two-story houses. In the south is the fashionable area of ​​Clifton, built up mainly with villas. Buildings from the 19th century also stand out. in the Ingothic style - Frere Hall (1865) and Empress Market (1889). Saddar, Zamzama, Tariq Road are the main shopping streets of the city, where hundreds of shops and stalls are located. There are a significant number of modern multi-storey buildings, luxury hotels (Avari, Marriott, Sheraton) and shopping centers.

As of 2009, the population of this city was 18,140,625, area 3,530 km2, population density 5,139 people. per km.sq.

3.Istanbul

One of the main reasons for the transformation of Istanbul into a world metropolis was the geographical location of the city. Istanbul, located at the intersection of 48 degrees north latitude and 28 degrees east longitude, is the only city in the world that is located on two continents. Istanbul lies on 14 hills, each of which has its own name, but now we won’t bore you with listing them. The following should be noted - the city consists of three unequal parts, into which it is divided by the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn (a small bay 7 km long). On the European side: the historical peninsula located in the south of the Golden Horn, and in the north of the Golden Horn - the districts of Beyolu, Galata, Taksim, Besiktas, on the Asian side - the "New City". There are numerous shopping and service centers on the European continent, and mostly residential areas on the Asian continent.

Overall, Istanbul, 150 km long and 50 km wide, has an approximate area of ​​7,500 km. But no one knows its true borders; it is about to merge with the city of Izmit in the east. With continuous migration from villages (up to 500,000 per year), the population is rapidly increasing. Every year, 1,000 new streets appear in the city, and new residential areas are built in the west-east axis. The population is constantly increasing by 5% per year, i.e. Every 12 years it doubles. Every 5 residents of Turkey live in Istanbul. The number of tourists visiting this wonderful city reaches 1.5 million. The population itself is unknown to anyone; officially, according to the last census, 12 million people lived in the city, although now this figure has increased to 15 million, and some claim that 20 million people already live in Istanbul.

Tradition says that the founder of the city in the 7th century BC. There was a Megarian leader, Byzantus, to whom the Delphic oracle predicted where it would be better to establish a new settlement. The place really turned out to be very successful - a cape between two seas - the Black and Marmara, half in Europe, half in Asia. In the 4th century AD. Roman Emperor Constantine chose the settlement of Byzantium to build the new capital of the empire, which was named Constantinople in his honor. After the fall of Rome in 410, Constantinople finally established itself as the undisputed political center of the empire, which since then was no longer called Roman, but Byzantine. The city reached its greatest prosperity under Emperor Justinian. It was a center of fabulous wealth and unimaginable luxury. In the 9th century, the population of Constantinople numbered about a million people! The main streets had sidewalks and canopies, and were decorated with fountains and columns. It is believed that Venice represents a copy of Constantinople architecture, where bronze horses taken from the Constantinople Hippodrome after the sack of the city by the Crusaders in 1204 are installed on the portal of St. Mark's Cathedral.
As of 2009, the population of this city was 16,767,433, area 2,106 km2, population density 6,521 people. per km.kv

4.Tokyo

Tokyo is the capital of Japan, its administrative, financial, cultural and industrial center. Located in the southeastern part of the island of Honshu, on the Kanto Plain in Tokyo Bay of the Pacific Ocean. Area - 2,187 sq. km. Population - 15,570,000 people. The population density is 5,740 people/km2, the highest among Japanese prefectures.

Officially, Tokyo is not a city, but one of the prefectures, or rather, a metropolitan area, the only one in this class. Its territory, in addition to part of the island of Honshu, includes several small islands to the south, as well as the islands of Izu and Ogasawara. Tokyo District consists of 62 administrative units - cities, towns and rural communities. When they say “Tokyo City,” they usually mean the 23 special districts included in the metropolitan area, which from 1889 to 1943 formed the administrative unit of the city of Tokyo, and are now themselves equated in status to cities; each has its own mayor and city council. The capital's government is headed by a popularly elected governor. The government headquarters is located in Shinjuku, which is the county seat. Tokyo is also home to the state government and the Tokyo Imperial Palace (also using the obsolete name Tokyo Imperial Castle), the main residence of the Japanese emperors.

Although the Tokyo area has been inhabited by tribes since the Stone Age, the city began to play an active role in history relatively recently. In the 12th century, local Edo warrior Taro Shigenada built a fort here. According to tradition, he received the name Edo from his place of residence. In 1457, Ota Dokan, ruler of the Kanto region under the Japanese shogunate, built Edo Castle. In 1590, Ieyasu Tokugawa, the founder of the shogun clan, took possession of it. Thus, Edo became the capital of the shogunate, while Kyoto remained the imperial capital. Ieyasu created long-term management institutions. The city grew quickly and by the 18th century became one of the largest cities in the world. In 1615, Ieyasu's armies destroyed their opponents, the Toyotomi clan, thereby gaining absolute power for about 250 years. As a result of the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the shogunate came to an end; in September, Emperor Mutsuhito moved the capital here, calling it the “Eastern Capital” - Tokyo. This has sparked debate over whether Kyoto can still remain the capital. In the second half of the 19th century, industry began to develop rapidly, then shipbuilding. The Tokyo-Yokohama railway was built in 1872, and the Kobe-Osaka-Tokyo railway in 1877. Until 1869 the city was called Edo. On September 1, 1923, a major earthquake (7-9 on the Richter scale) occurred in Tokyo and the surrounding area. Almost half of the city was destroyed, and a strong fire broke out. About 90,000 people became victims. Although the reconstruction plan turned out to be very expensive, the city began to partially recover. The city was again seriously damaged during World War II. The city was subjected to massive air attacks. More than 100,000 residents died in one raid alone. Many wooden buildings burned down, and the old Imperial Palace was damaged. After the war, Tokyo was occupied by the military, and during the Korean War it became a major military center. Several American bases still remain here (Yokota military base, etc.). In the mid-20th century, the country's economy began to rapidly revive (what was described as an "Economic Miracle"), in 1966 it became the second largest economy in the world. The revival from war traumas was proven by the holding of the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964, where the city showed itself favorably on the international stage. Since the 70s, Tokyo has been overwhelmed by a wave of labor from rural areas, which led to further development of the city. By the end of the 80s, it became one of the most dynamically developing cities on Earth. On March 20, 1995, a sarin gas attack occurred in the Tokyo subway. The terrorist attack was carried out by the religious sect Aum Shinrikyo. As a result, over 5,000 people were injured, 11 of them died. Seismic activity in the Tokyo area has led to discussions about moving the capital of Japan to another city. Three candidates have been named: Nasu (300 km north), Higashino (near Nagano, central Japan) and a new city in Mie province, near Nagoya (450 km west of Tokyo). A government decision has already been received, although no further action is being taken. Currently, Tokyo continues to develop. Projects to create artificial islands are being consistently implemented. The most notable project is Odaiba, which is now a major shopping and entertainment center.

5. Mumbai

The history of the emergence of Mumbai - a dynamic modern city, the financial capital of India and the administrative center of the state of Maharashtra - is quite unusual. In 1534, the Sultan of Gujarat ceded a group of seven unwanted islands to the Portuguese, who, in turn, gave them to the Portuguese princess Catarina of Braganza on the day of her wedding to King Charles II of England in 1661. In 1668, the British government surrendered the islands leased to the East India Company for 10 pounds of gold per year, and gradually Mumbai grew into a center of trade. In 1853, the first railway line on the subcontinent was built from Mumbai to Thane, and in 1862, a colossal land development project turned seven islands into a single whole - Mumbai was on the path to becoming the largest metropolis. During its existence, the city changed its name four times, and for those who are not experts in geography, its former name is more familiar - Bombay. Mumbai, after the historical name of the area, reverted to its name in 1997. Today it is a vibrant city with a distinct character: a major industrial and commercial center, it still has an active interest in theater and other arts. Mumbai is also home to the main center of the Indian film industry - Bollywood.

Mumbai is the most populous city in India: in 2009, the city's population was 13,922,125 people. Together with its satellite cities, it forms the fifth largest urban agglomeration in the world with a population of 21.3 million people. The area occupied by Greater Mumbai is 603.4 sq. km. The city stretches along the coast of the Arabian Sea for 140 km.

6. Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina, the administrative, cultural and economic center of the country and one of the largest cities in South America.

Buenos Aires is located 275 km from the Atlantic Ocean in a well-protected bay of La Plata Bay, on the right bank of the Riachuelo River. The average air temperature in July is +10 degrees, and in January +24. The amount of precipitation in the city is 987 mm per year. The capital is located in the northeastern part of Argentina, on flat terrain, in a subtropical natural zone. The natural vegetation of the city's surroundings is represented by tree and grass species typical of meadow steppes and savannas. Greater Buenos Aires includes 18 suburbs, with a total area of ​​3,646 square kilometers.

The population of the capital of Argentina proper is 3,050,728 (2009, estimate) people, which is 275 thousand (9.9%) more than it was in 2001 (2,776,138, census). In total, 13,356,715 people live in the urban agglomeration, including numerous suburbs immediately adjacent to the capital (2009 estimate). Residents of Buenos Aires have a half-joking nickname - porteños (literally, residents of the port). The population of the capital and its suburbs is growing rapidly, including due to the immigration of guest workers from Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru and other neighboring countries. The city is very multinational, but the main division of communities occurs along class lines, and not along racial lines as in the United States. The majority of the population is Spanish and Italian, descendants of both the settlers of the Spanish colonial period from 1550-1815 and the larger wave of European immigrants to Argentina from 1880-1940. About 30% are mestizos and representatives of other nationalities, among which the following communities stand out: Arabs, Jews, English, Armenians, Japanese, Chinese and Koreans; there is also a large number of immigrants from neighboring countries, primarily from Bolivia and Paraguay, and more recently from Korea , China and Africa. During the colonial period, groups of Indians, mestizos and black slaves were visible in the city, gradually disappearing into the southern European population, although their cultural and genetic influences are still noticeable today. Thus, the genes of modern residents of the capital are quite mixed compared to white Europeans: on average, the genes of residents of the capital are 71.2% European, 23.5% Indian and 5.3% African. Moreover, depending on the quarter, African admixtures vary from 3.5% to 7.0%, and Indian admixtures from 14.0% to 33%. . The official language in the capital is Spanish. Other languages ​​- Italian, Portuguese, English, German and French - have now practically fallen out of use as native languages ​​due to the mass assimilation of immigrants in the second half of the 19th - early 19th century. XX centuries, but are still taught as foreign languages. During the period of the massive influx of Italians (especially Neapolitans), the mixed Italian-Spanish sociolect Lunfardo became widespread in the city, which gradually disappeared, but left traces in the local linguistic version of the Spanish language (See Spanish in Argentina). Among the city's religious population, the majority are adherents of Catholicism, a small part of the capital's residents profess Islam and Judaism, but in general the level of religiosity is extremely low, since a secular-liberal way of life predominates. The city is divided into 47 administrative districts, the division was initially based on Catholic parishes, and remained so until 1940.

7. Dhaka

The name of the city is derived from the name of the Hindu goddess of fertility Durga or from the name of the tropical tree Dhaka, which produces valuable resin. Dhaka is located on the northern bank of the turbulent Buriganda River almost in the center of the country and is more similar to the legendary Babylon than to the modern capital. Dhaka is a river port in the Ganges Brahmaputra delta, as well as a center for water tourism. Although travel by water is quite slow, water transport in the country is well developed, safe and widely used. The oldest section of the city, lying north of the coastline, is an ancient trading center of the Mughal Empire. In the Old City there is an unfinished fortress - Fort LaBad, dating back to 1678, which houses the mausoleum of Bibi Pari (1684). It is also worth paying attention to the more than 700 mosques, including the famous Hussein Dalan, located in the old City. Now the old City is a vast area between the two main water transport terminals, Sadarghat and Badam Tole, where the experience of observing the daily life of the river is especially charming and interesting. Also in the old part of the city there are traditional large oriental bazaars.

The city's population is 9,724,976 inhabitants (2006), with its suburbs - 12,560 thousand people (2005).

8. Manila

Manila is the capital and main city of the Central Region of the Republic of the Philippines, which occupies the Philippine Islands in the Pacific Ocean. In the west, the islands are washed by the South China Sea, in the north they adjoin Taiwan through the Bashi Strait. Located on the island of Luzon (the largest in the archipelago), Metro Manila includes, in addition to Manila itself, four more cities and 13 municipalities. The name of the city comes from two Tagalog (local Filipino) words "may" meaning "to appear" and "nilad" - the name of the original settlement located along the banks of the Pasig River and the bay. Before the Spanish conquest of Manila in 1570, the islands were inhabited by Muslim tribes who acted as intermediaries in Chinese trade with South Asian merchants. After a fierce struggle, the Spaniards occupied the ruins of Manila, which the natives set fire to escape from the invaders. After 20 years, the Spaniards returned and built defensive structures. In 1595, Manila became the capital of the Archipelago. From this time until the 19th century, Manila was the center of trade between the Philippines and Mexico. With the arrival of Europeans, the Chinese were limited in free trade and repeatedly rebelled against the colonists. In 1898, the Americans invaded the Philippines, and after several years of war, the Spanish ceded their colony to them. Then the American-Philippine War began, which ended in 1935 with the independence of the islands. During the period of US domination, several enterprises in the light and food industries, oil refining plants, and the production of building materials were opened in Manila. During World War II, the Philippines was occupied by the Japanese. The state gained final independence in 1946. Currently, Manila is the main seaport, financial and industrial center of the country. Factories in the capital produce electrical equipment, chemicals, clothing, food, tobacco, etc. The city has several markets and shopping centers with low prices, attracting visitors from all over the Republic. In recent years, the role of tourism has been growing.

As of 2009, the population of this city was 12,285,000.

9. Delhi

Delhi is the capital of India, a city with 13 million people that most travelers cannot miss. A city in which all the classical Indian contrasts are fully manifested - grandiose temples and dirty slums, bright celebrations of life and quiet death in the gateways. A city in which it is difficult for an ordinary Russian person to live for more than two weeks, after which he will begin to quietly go crazy - the incessant movement, general bustle, noise and din, the abundance of dirt and poverty will become a good test for you. Like any city with a thousand-year history, Delhi has many interesting places worth visiting. Most of them are located in two areas of the city - Old and New Delhi, between which is the Pahar Ganj area, where most independent travelers stay (Main Bazaar). Some of the most interesting attractions in Delhi include the Jama Masjid, Lodhi Garden, Humayun Tomb, Qutb Minar, Lotus Temple, Lakshmi Narayana Temple ), military fortresses Lal Qila and Purana Qila.

As of 2009, the population of this city was 11,954,217

10. Moscow

The city of Moscow is a huge metropolis, consisting of nine administrative districts, which include one hundred and twenty administrative districts. There are many parks, gardens, and forest parks on the territory of Moscow.

The first written mention of Moscow dates back to 1147. But settlements on the site of the modern city were much earlier, in a time distant from us, according to some historians, by 5 thousand years. However, all this belongs to the realm of legends and speculation. No matter how everything happened, in the 13th century Moscow was the center of an independent principality, and by the end of the 15th century. it becomes the capital of the emerging unified Russian state. Since then, Moscow has been one of the largest cities in Europe. For centuries, Moscow has been an outstanding center of all-Russian culture, science, and art.

The largest city in Russia and Europe by population (population as of July 1, 2009 - 10.527 million people), the center of the Moscow urban agglomeration. It is also one of the ten largest cities in the world.

According to the latest data, on average, about seven billion people live on the globe. Their distribution is characterized by extreme unevenness: more people live in one part of the world, and fewer in another. Today we are talking about the average population density of Foreign Europe.

General information

Before moving on to the topic “Density of Overseas Europe”, the concepts of “Overseas Europe” and “population density” should be defined. The countries of Foreign Europe include 40 sovereign states located on the European part of the Eurasian continent.

The term “population density” refers to the ratio of the number of inhabitants per 1 sq. km. This indicator is calculated using the following formula: the population of a country, region, or world is divided by the total land area, which is favorable for habitation.

So, if we divide the population of planet Earth - 6.8 billion people, by its total area - 13 million square meters. km, then we get an average population density of 52 people per 1 sq. km.

Rice. 1 Population density of Europe on the map

Population of Europe

Foreign Europe is one of the most densely populated regions in the world. If we take for comparison the average population density on the globe - 52 people per 1 sq. km, then a completely different picture emerges - more than 100 people per 1 sq. km. km. In addition, the distribution of people in Europe is relatively uniform: there are no unpopulated or large sparsely populated regions. A distinctive feature of settlement in Europe is the urbanization of the population. In other words, there are tens of times more city dwellers than residents of rural settlements (more than 70%, and in Belgium 98%).

Rice. 2 Map of night Europe from satellite

Countries of Foreign Europe

The population density of the countries of Foreign Europe is presented in the following table:

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Countries can be divided into three groups based on population density:

• High density (more than 200 people per 1 sq. km): Belgium, Germany, Great Britain and others;
• Average density (from 10 to 200 people per 1 sq. km): Spain, Czech Republic, Slovakia, France and others;
• Low density (up to 10 people per 1 sq. km): Iceland.

As can be seen from the table, the northern territories of Europe - Finland, Sweden, Norway - are sparsely populated. This is due, first of all, to unfavorable natural and climatic conditions for life and economy. Conversely, population concentration is observed in Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands and further south to the Mediterranean coast, where the geographical location (access to the sea), relief, and climate are favorable for the development of agriculture, trade, and industry.

The population density of Monaco is 16,500 people per 1 sq. km, is the highest not only in Europe, but also in the whole world.

Rice. 3 Monaco is the most crowded place on the planet

What have we learned?

Foreign Europe includes 40 countries, the average population density of which is 100 people per 1 sq. km. This figure is quite high. In general, the settlement of people in Europe is uniform. There is only one country with low population density in this region - Iceland.

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If you ask the question: “Which country in the world has the highest population density?”, most people will answer: “Of course China.” However, this is not the case.

Everyone knows that the population of China in 2012 is 1340 million people, and this figure is growing steadily from year to year. Many people have heard that there really is a problem of overpopulation in China, which results in constant territorial conflicts between Russia and China. However, very few people know that in the list of countries with the highest population density, China is in “modest” 56th place. And the state that has the highest population density in the world is Principality of Monaco.

Population density of China and India.

In China, per 1 sq. kilometer is home to an average of 139.6 people. The fact is that the problem of overpopulation is not caused by a large number of residents, but by the fact that they are unevenly distributed throughout the state. The most densely populated regions of China are the eastern, coastal regions, but the population density in the high-mountainous western regions tends to zero.

The number of inhabitants in neighboring India is inferior to China, although it also exceeds 1 billion. But the area of ​​India is three times smaller than the area of ​​China, and the average population density here is much higher - 357 people per 1 sq. kilometer. However, India is not the leader of the list - it ranks only 19th among countries with the highest population density.

The Principality of Monaco confidently holds first place among the countries with the highest population density.

Principality of Monaco the most populous country in the world. Four cities manage to fit into 2 square kilometers: Monte Carlo, Monaco, Fontvieille and La Condamine, and they are home to 30,586 people. This means the population density is 15,293 people per 1 sq. kilometer. It’s hard to even imagine how 50 banks, almost 800 international companies and embassies of 66 countries are located on this piece of land. The Principality of Monaco is home to people of 125 nationalities. Despite its small size, the streets of the Principality of Monaco run along the route of one of the most prestigious motorsport competitions - one of the Grand Prix stages of Formula 1. An interesting fact is that the regular army of Monaco consists of 82 people, which is less than the size of a military band.

In the list of countries with the highest population density, the first six places belong to micro-states and city-states. And this is not surprising - the population density of the entire state consists of the density of one agglomerate or city, which is essentially the state itself. In addition to the Principality of Monaco - Singapore, the Maldives, the Vatican, Malta and Bahrain.

But among non-dwarf states, the most populous country is Bangladesh. At 143,998 sq. kilometers, more than 150 million people live here (from 142 to 164 million, according to various sources). This means the population density is approximately 1084 people per square kilometer.

The United States, being the third most populous country in the world, ranks only 142 on this list (32 people per square kilometer).

Russia, one of the ten countries with the largest population (143 million people), has one of the lowest population densities in the world - 8.36 people per square meter. kilometer, and ranks 181 on this list.

And in last place in the list of the most densely populated countries is Mongolia - 195th place (2.0 people per square kilometer).

The population density of countries around the world varies significantly. In some countries, only 3-4 people live per square kilometer. In others, the same unit of area accounts for several thousand inhabitants. The difference is truly impressive... What is the population density of the world's largest countries? And which states are the absolute leaders in this indicator?

History of the settlement of the planet's population

The population density of the countries of the world today varies greatly across regions and continents. To better understand the nature of this pattern, you need to quickly consider the history of the settlement of the population of our planet.

At the earliest stages of the development of society, people were attracted by flat expanses located on the shores of seas, large rivers or lakes. Obviously, farming was much easier here, it was more convenient to build houses and lay roads. But mountain ranges were developed tens of times slower. Traditionally, Southeast Asia has been characterized by high population density since ancient times. The reason for this is the formation of powerful rice growing centers here.

Later, with the development of technological progress, people began to flock to those areas of the Earth where plants and factories were actively being built, and entire industrial cities and villages arose. Such areas were Central and Western Europe, the Atlantic coast in the USA and others.

Since about the middle of the twentieth century, large cities - megacities - have become the main centers of gravity on Earth for the population. This phenomenon has received its name in science - urbanization.

Population density of countries of the world and continents: regional differences

The population of our planet is distributed extremely unevenly. First, let's look at some interesting numbers. Thus, about 75% of the Earth's population lives on only 7 percent of its area. Almost 80% of the population lives in the Eastern Hemisphere. The average population density of the world's countries is approximately 30 people per square kilometer (including Greenland and Antarctica).

To visualize how the population density of different continents of the planet varies, you need to look at the following map. On it, the whole world is divided by color into 7 zones, each of which is home to one billion people. By comparing the scale of these colored pieces, one can assess the degree of uneven distribution of the earth's population.

Thus, three continents of the Earth are very sparsely populated: Australia, North and South America. But 6 out of 7 billion people on our planet live in Europe, Asia and Africa.

All states are usually divided into four types based on population density:

• countries with low density (0-2 people/km 2);
• countries with average density (2-40 people/km 2);
• countries with high density (40-200 people/km 2);
• countries with maximum density (over 200 people/km 2).

Interestingly, striking contrasts in population density can be observed even within the same state. Vivid examples of such countries are Australia, where only the east coast is heavily populated; Egypt (Nile Valley), Indonesia (Java Island) and others.

If we talk about the regions of the planet, the most populated are the following:

• East Asia.
• South Asia.
• Southeast Asia.
• Western Europe.
• Northeastern states of the USA.

Main factors influencing world settlement

This uneven distribution of the world population is explained by a number of specific reasons (factors). Among them:

• natural-climatic factor (the settlement of people is affected by the topography of the territory, climatic conditions, wetlands, the presence of a water source, etc.);
• historical factor (according to scientists, the formation of Homo sapiens is associated with three centers on the planet, which influenced the high population density in these areas of the Earth);
• demographic factor (in some countries and regions, birth rates are several times higher than in others, which also explains regional differences in population density);
• economic factor (in the last two or three centuries, the influence of this factor is especially noticeable: people are attracted to industrialized areas with a sufficient number of cities, enterprises and infrastructure).

Countries in the world with the highest population density: TOP 10

Which modern countries on our planet can be called record holders for population density? As a rule, these are very small states in area. The countries of the world with the highest population density are presented in a table indicating the density indicator.

Russia is in 181st place on this list, the USA is in 142nd, Ukraine is in 99th.

In addition to countries, there are cities in the world where the population density reaches colossal values. The ten most populated cities on the planet include Shanghai, Karachi, Istanbul, Tokyo, Mumbai, Manila, Buenos Aires, Delhi, Dhaka and Moscow.

The most “spacious” countries in the world: TOP 10

However, there are many countries in the world with low population densities. You can drive (or walk) many kilometers through the territory of such states without meeting a single living soul.

Below are ten world countries with minimal population densities.

Finally…

The population density of the countries of the world is not the same in different regions of the planet. Thus, the average density is 30 people per square kilometer of area. However, in some states it reaches values ​​of 1000-2000 inhabitants per 1 km 2. In large cities on the planet, these figures are even higher.